2012-08-05 Farewell Sweet Prince

It had been a quiet day. Thor was just drinking and lounging when he was Called. Sif had left shortly thereafter. An hour passed before Thor returned to the apartment, landing on the balcony and pushing open the sliding doors.

"Sif," he calls out the moment he glides into the apartment proper, unwilling to put holes int he floor for all that he might not be able to fully focus on the strength of his footfalls on the floor. His blue-gray eyes are stormy and troubled.

Moments after Thor's arrival, there's a gathering blue light and then a flash as two people teleport their way into the apartment. Axiom, currently mimicking Wiccan's powers, looks up and smiles to the other teen hero with him. "Ha! It worked this time. You were right," he smiles to the other teen. And then he notices Thor and blinks. "Hi..." he trails off, slightly concerned when he notices how Thor looks.

Wiccan grins at laughs nodding at Axiom as he celebrates them flashing into existance in Thor's living room. "I hate to say I told you so, but I did. You have to focus, concentrate, and remember how the place feels as much as what it looks like." Like Thor Wiccan is floating just a bit above the ground, but thats because there always seems less of a jerk to one direction or another when he is floating both on leaving and landing ports. "Oh, Thor...is something wrong?"

Stormy eyes turn to flash of light. "Shield, Spear," greets the Thunderer. "Thou are newly arrived? I shall assume then thou hast not seen Sif," he asks, glancing around the apartment again. It's exactly as he left it. She's a good enough warrior, and she can teleport. She should have gotten clear of the forces at the portal to carve a path to the Bifrost, at least. The worry sets on his face in a frown.

Thor settles upon the ground, folding one arm over his chest, the other perching on a forearm to bring his fingers to his lips to think. It's as close to pacing at the prince gets, eyes narrowing in thought. Finally, Thor looks to Eddie.

"Does thou still have the way to contact Bethany Cabe, Body's Guard," he asks, seemingly out of the blue. There is a sharp tension to his face, lips set unhappily. "I needs to speak with my brother."

Axiom smiles. "I'll follow your advice more often," he tells Billy. He then nods to Thor and then quickly shakes his head. "We were out in the city. Sif wasn't here when we left though," he answers. He glances at his friend with concern. When Thor asks about Bethany, Eddie nods. "Yeah, I still have her card," he replies. There's a pause when Loki is mentioned but Eddie nods and heads for his room to get the card Bethany gave him.

Wiccan blinks at Thor, ands starts to worry because of Thor's tone. "No sir, I did not see her when I showed up to pick up eddie for patrol..." He shares a frown with Axiom when Loki is mentioned but nods. "Is she missing?" Or worse he wonders, please don't let it be worse. "I...I could try to locate her if you want?"

"If she has not yet returned, then she remains in Niflheim," Thor replies, very patiently /impatiently/ waiting for Eddie to return with the way to summon the mortal that is Loki's friend.

"As such, it would be more than unwise to attempt to locate her," Thor adds, the muscles in his jaw working as he fights to keep from grinding his mollars.

As always, Axiom is a quick little thing. He's back from his room with Bethany's card within a few moments. Of course he trips on the way back but pops back to his feet like it didn't happen. "Niflheim?" he asks, holding the card up.

Wiccan nods and then blinks before squeeking out. "Niflheim?" Oh not good, not good. "As in Abode of Mist, Realm of Ice, home of the Frost Giants and one of the primoridal realms Niflheim?" He asks only slightly hoping that Thor is maybe meaning Niflheim, Nova Scotia and that sif was just visiting someone in Canada. Slim chance, but one never knows...right?

"Nay, my Shield. Niflheim, home of Loki's Daughter Hel; Land of the Disgraced Dead," Thor explains, glancing at the card, then up to Eddie's face. "I can not summon this mortal. She is my brother's. Thou must call to her, request of her an audience," he says.

Axiom pales slightly, no longer mimicking and boosting Wiccan. "Oh boy..." he trails off. He nods quickly though, scurrying to the phone to follow that order. He punches in the number quickly, waiting for Bethany to pick up. Bethany is sitting on the floor of her apartment, going through case files. There's a fluffy little kitten in her lap and she's petting it while she works. When her personal phone rings, she grabs it, half-expecting Alex.

"This is Beth, what can I do for you?"

Wiccan heart sinks, it's worse than he thought. "Oh, that one..oh...Hell..." Weather he was using the Judeo/Christian name for the place, the name of the locations ruler, or just generally cursing is up in the air. Knowing him, it was probably all three.

Thor says nothing, merely waiting. Mjolnir still in his grasp, Thor turns is slightly in his hand as the nerves of the moment set him to adjusting his grip onto the haft of the weapon.

Axiom jumps when Bethany picks up. "Hi, Ms. Cabe? It's Axiom...you met me with Thor in the city?" he gives a moment for this to sink in. "Thor needs to see you right now. It's something important...Loki-related."

The kitten's ears are sharp enough to listen in to the conversation, and he perks up at the mention of his name. He blinks those large green eyes of his and stretches, sticking out his one little white sock covered paw to pull down on Bethany's hand holding the phone. Bethany looks down at the cutest ickle paw in the universe (well, one of four cutest paws), then at the big green eyes. This isn't awkward. "One moment, please." She mutes the phone. "Do you have any idea what's going on?" she asks the kitten.

Wiccan starts to pace a little. Thor being nervous is just making his own slightly neurotic nature worse. "Tell her we can provide transport if she needs or wants. And if she does not mind magic teleportation."

Thor glances at Wiccan briefly, then turns away to stand on the balcony. Perhaps there he can get his anxiety back under control. And if not, he'll have a faster egress straight up.

Axiom frowns when told to wait but nods. He keeps the phone to his ear and glaces up at Wiccan. "Good idea," he chimes, waiting for Bethany to come back.

The kitten sits back on its rump and cocks his head slightly, peering up at Bethany. ***I do not know. Perhaps they still assume the portal was my doing and my brother wishes to speak to you about controlling me. Leave them to brood. I am not in the mood for another lecture today.*** the soft touch of Loki's mind supplies. "I don't think he'd call -me- just to lecture you. He should know I'd just tell him where to get off." Bethany pets the kitten. "Let me find out what they want. If it's to lecture you, you'll get to hear me use my bad words." She flips the sound back on the phone.

"I'll need to know what this is regarding before I do anything," she tells Axiom. "I'm not Loki's babysitter or his secretary. If it's important, I'll get in touch with Loki--because we're friends."

Wiccan nods at Axiom and takes a deep breath. This is not good at all. Thor's upset, Loki is needed for help, Sif is probably captured in the one place he is not sure he can even get too. All he needs now is Mephisto to show up and claim his soul for something his biological parents did to make it any worse.

Axiom winces at Bethany's tone. He glances out towards Thor and then at Billy before answering. "Thor said he needs to talk with his brother. Sif's in trouble..."

"Hang on." Bethany mutes the phone again and picks Loki up to talk to him, holding him up to eye-level. "I know you. I know this is hard. But she was your friend and it will hurt far worse to lose her and know you could have done things differently, saved her. I don't want to see what will happen to you if you say no."
 * Of course Sif's in trouble. My brother foolishly sent her through a rip between the mists into Niflheim. No one leaves my daughter's realm without her blessing. Even I find it difficult to move back and forth from Niflheim. What care have I?*** Loki-kitten sends, the emotions attached to the thought showing that he is quite clearly lying. He has a great deal of concern for Sif's safety. And it hurts him to still care so much.

Wiccan paces a little more and then just throws himself onto the sofa. He hates having nothing to do when he is nervous, got to find some way to occupy mind while Axiom is setting things up. Something that does not include blowing out breakers or exploding lightbulbs.

Bethany flicks the phone back on. "Come to my headquarters, I'll provide you with directions or a picture if you're coming by magic." She puts the kitten down and gets up to grab a hoodie. "If he's willing to see you, it'll be here. Tell Thor I'm sorry about Sif. She got into this protecting my people. I'll help how I can."
 * So be it. But my brother comes to me. I will not be /summoned/ to fix his mistake.*** The kitten sends, lifting his cute little head in defiance as his eyes flash darkly. He does have his pride, this one.

When Bethany hangs up, she gives the kitten a tight smile and pulls her hoodie on. "There, now you have an excuse to come if you need one. Keeping me out of trouble." A few minutes later, a photograph of a conference room and directions to the HQ are on Axiom's phone.


 * Don your armor, Bethany Cabe.*** the kitten sends, moving to a patch of sunlight. ***And any source of light you can carry. We'll need it.***

It's Sif's phone really, Axiom just made the call. When he gets the picture and directions, Axiom sighs. "She says we have to go to her. Should we teleport or fly?" he asks, calling out to Thor and Wiccan.

Wiccan jumps to his feet as soon as Axiom is done with the call. "I can do either, teleport is faster. What do you think Thor?" He asks the man whose wife is in trouble before doing anything since that puts him firmly in the role of leader of the rescue party.

"Let us fly," states the Thunderer, giving Axiom a nod of acquiescence should the lad want to mimic him to do so. "And quickly. Hel is a less than hospitable host." Already, Thor is drifting from the balcony even though he doesn't know where to go.

Axiom's already starting to mimic and boost Wiccan again when the other teen jumps to his feet. As much as he likes copying Thor's powers, he thinks Billy needs the boost more and has gotten more familiar with the magics than he has the hammer. Lifting off the balcony, Axiom swallows and flies forward. "Ms. Cabe's office is this way," he says, showing the way the directions lead.

Wiccan nods at Thor and does a quick peek at the directions given to where they are going. With the directions fixed in his mind he chants, "Showmetheway,Showmetheway,Showmetheway!" As he finishes off the spell a small glowing arrow appears near him pointing in the direction to where they are going like the direction indicators on a video game. "There we go, now we can't get lost on the way there..."

Thor merely nods to this, uncomfortable with the magicks being flung about but saying nothing. The boys, often times, are so much like his brother in their casual use of the arcane, that is is both unnerving and comforting at the same time. He follows the pair, following wherever they lead him. The rooftop of CMS is all flat with a conveniently indicated landing zone--for helicopters, but it's all the same. A short dark-skinned mortal man with silvering hair is standing on the roof, waiting for the group incoming. If he's at all perturbed by the manner of their arrival, he doesn't show it. He is, however, wearing an armored vest and has a semi-automatic weapon slung across his back.

The man gestures for them to follow him down to a hall where only one door stands open. Agents wearing CMS uniforms are moving back and forth quickly, carrying black cases and heavy bags. The new arrivals are ushered into the conference room where a woman in black is waiting, sitting on the edge of a table, taking stock of what's being brought in.

"Welcome to CMS," she says, getting up. "Sorry we couldn't see each other again under better circumstances." As if by magic, the room and hall empty of agents before she's done talking.

Loki is here, but has chosen to remain invisible through all the hustle and bustle, standing with his back to a corner with his arms crossed. When the room empties, the illusion fades. He's in his full armor, sword strapped to his hip, and horned helm upon his head. The trickster does not look happy. "Be quick." he says sternly. "Every minute I spend in this form invites another attack on Midgard."

Thor regards the mortals as the scurry about, standing with Mjolnir in his hand at his side in silence. His brother's appearance makes him narrow his eyes slightly before he speaks.

"Then quick I shall be. Sif is in Niflheim. Thy daughter and I are not on speaking terms. I have come to ask thy assistance in freeing the Sword Maiden from thy child's realm," Thor says, just laying it on the table without any further ado. But humble? Not exactly.

The whole building has Axiom on edge. All the weapons and vests have him sticking a bit close to Wiccan as they go. He offers a quick wave to Beth but Loki's appearance makes him jump. He remains silent as the gods speak, just frowning and waiting to see what happens.

Wiccan follows behind Thor once they get to the CMS rooftop and does his best not to look like an excited or scared witless teen. He keeps to Thor's left side just a step or two behind the God. He does not event think of the fact that Thor might be put off by his casual use of his powers, not that he is entierly comfortable himself but the more he uses them the more he feels like he can control them and that's way better than feeling like he has no control over them at all...right? Bethany leaves the brothers to sort things out between them and gets to unpacking a briefcase-type case and loading a bandolier. What she's got looks something like big six-sided dice packed with LEDs. Laid out on the table are long poles like walking sticks, only the top eighteen inches of them is similarly packed with what look to be some kind of light source, fourteen inches clear and then four inches blue. There's all kinds of technical goodies spread out as well--night vision goggles, scopes, headsets. She's obviously picking and choosing what to take from a huge supply. She does flash the two boys a reassuring smile, at least.

Loki strides forward and places his hands on the conference table, his entire posture radiating anger. "Sif is in Niflheim because /you/ sent here there!" The trickster starts before choking up slightly. "Not on speaking terms? Really? You couldn't even return home without Sif if you wanted to. You will not stride in here demanding my assistance for your mistake. Niflheim....will come with a heavy price, brother." Loki hisses.

"Are you ready to put these mortals in harms way, and face your darkest fears? I can protect myself there. But I cannot protect anyone else from my daughter's magic. Not in her own realm. If they are coming, all must agree to come. I will not be responsible for your two little pets."

Thor's eyes darken quickly. On Mjolnir's haft, his knuckles whiten. That weakness of his, his complete inability to move between realms the way the others can, is laid bare before them, and it makes his shoulder's tense.

"To face those fears, I always stand ready. The mortals -- I would rather -- should remain upon Midgard, for I would not burden thee with their safety in Niflheim. I ask...." Thor pauses, face frowning further. "Nay, I beg of thee brother. Help me save her. She should have already returned. That she has not yet done so is... worrisome."

Axiom glances at everything Bethany is looking through, not recognizing most of it. When Loki starts with the whole radiating anger thing, Axiom jumps. He frowns at the trickster's words though. "We put ourselves in danger enough, what's a little more?" he says, doing his best to keep nervousness out of his voice. He did attack Loki once before after all.

Wiccan is in the midst of staring at Bethany and her rather interestingly scary high tech weaponry while Loki speaks. When Loki points out that they have to agree to come of their own free will he responds almost instantly. "Without hesitation." Of course then Thor mentions he would rather him and Axiom stay behind. "Sif has never been anything but kind to me and...and I would put my life on the line for strangers, there is no hesitation I would do the same for her." "I said I would help," Bethany says simply. "And it will surely ease my mind somewhat, should I survive. It'll ease it completely if I don't," she adds wryly.

Bethany then beckons to Axiom and Wiccan. "I know a lot of this is unfamiliar, but if you'd at least like to pack some first aid gear, whatever water or food you want, standard emergency flares, and these--" she holds up something like the weapon she used back in the park "--light guns, you're welcome to help yourselves. If you need any other gear or clothing, ask. Anything I've got is yours. I don't want to get there and find out you needed something I actually had."

Loki spreads his hands for a moment, and adds 4 simple crystal necklaces to the table as well. The seem to glow softly with a warm inner light. "These will not last long in Niflheim. None of your lights will. All right then, if we are going, then listen, for your lives depend on this."

"You /do not/ stop to rest. Ever. You will be tempted, by all manner of things. You might even see the souls of loved ones who have passed. You /do not/ stop to rest. I..." Loki stops, shaking his head, and then waves his hands.

A large mirror appears against the wall, reflecting the absolute truth of whats in the room. No illusions, no hidden expressions. Loki himself looks a little scared...and worried, in the reflection. Then the surface turns a dark smokey black. Faces seem to appear and disappear within the blackness. Loki lifts his right arm, and pulls off the gauntlet, revealing a braid of golden hair wrapped around his wrist. He pulls a single strand free, and sticks it, and his hand into the portal. His face lights up in pain.

"Step through when you are ready." Loki starts his voice tight and tense, as the mirror shows a shadowed Sif. "I must be the last through."

Not needing rest. That's something Thor can do. He watches his brother opens the portal, eyes drawn to the reflection contained within. It's surprising to Thor to see his brother that way: scared and worried. The few times the prince had seen that face... Thor averts his eyes to the memory of it, missing the length of blonde hair and the pain on his brother's face.

When the trickster speaks again, Thor glances not at anyone by the shadowy figure of Sif. She is his target. Whatever price the prince can reasonably pay to Hel, the daughter of Loki, Thor will have to see paid. He steps to the portal, murmuring a soft 'thank you' to Loki as he passes. His left hand trialing out to caress his brother's cheek before he steps through.

Axiom looks to Wiccan when Bethany offers gear. He doesn't know what to take so he just copies what he friend selects. He stays quiet while Loki speaks, nodding slightly. Not resting can he done. He's not sure what could be used to tempt him but he doesn't comment. The mirror and what he sees in it makes Axiom blink, his own reflection looking pretty much the same as he always does. When Thor goes through the portal, Axiom nods to Wiccan and then follows after the Thunder God.

Wiccan nods and moves over to Bethan when she beckons him. "IwishIhadmybagandstaff, IwishIhadmybagandstaff, IwishIhadmybagandstaff!" With a flash f light a grey messanger bag flashes into existance in Wiccan's right hand, one that if anyone looks closely at happens to be the gab of holding sold by Thinkgeek.com, and a short wooden staff appears in his left. "First aid kit, water, power bars and kosher jerky I have, I won't say no to anything else you think we might need...except guns." He eyes the weapon offered up. "I don't do guns." Nope they scare the living crap out of him, which considering he can control lightning, and fire, and reality altering magic is probably kind of silly.

Wiccan nods to Loki as he is given directions and slips the necklace around his neck. No resting, no talking to the dead, with luck they won't have to keep from looking at Sif the entire way back too. While Thor misses the lock of hair and pain Wiccan does not, he maybe a novice at the whole magic thing but he knows there is always a price for big things, and whatever the price Loki is paying to get everyone into Hel's realm is he is glad Loki is willing to pay it despite his issues with Thor.

After making sure he gets anything that Bethany thinks they might need that he can carry, not including things that go boom, Wiccan slips his nonmagical bag of holding over a shoulder and follows Thor. He stops a second before he goes through the mirrror. "Thank you, si." He says before going ahead. Bethany slaps her pockets and shifts her pack before grabbing something that looks really scary. It's a flame-thrower with an undermount grenade launcher, for those keeping track. She comes over to get her necklace from Loki and smiles up at him as she puts it on. Yes, she's nervous, but she's also really excited.

"This is the right thing," she says to Loki. "In case anything goes wrong, I'm not sorry about any of this. Okay?" She kisses her gloved hand and presses it to his cheek before she steps through.

Stepping through the portal is like stepping through a sheet of ice-water. And that's warm compared to to the realm itself. It's dark. The entire place is filled with dark shadows, and a thick, deep fog that seems to suck at both the light and body warmth. The sudden arrival of the group drives back the shadows for a moment, as they struggle against the already weakening light sources the party has. The feel of magic, death, and most of all...that bone weary, muscle tightening, steal your last breath tiredness hangs over everything.

Loki is the last to appear, and...he looks quite odd. It's like someone took a picture of him, and then washed out half the color. Where everyone else looks bright, even vibrant for the moment, Loki seems half dead. Half gone. The mists however, seem to ignore him.

The mists recoil only for a moment however. Strange, guttural sounds can be heard beyond the lights boundary. Faith cries. People calling for help. Familiar voices. Dead parents...lost loved ones...both living and dead...their faint faces appearing and disappearing. Beckoning. You're so tired, they say. Join us, they say. Rest a while....you deserve it. And no matter the strength of the heart...the pressure to believe it is immense.

It's been hours for the group that just entered but for the War Goddess they appear next to it's been so much longer. It's the sudden light that draws her attention and for a moment causes her to recoil as surely as the shadows.

The first her eyes land on are Loki and Thor. "You're not real." It's a statement of fact as far as she's concerned. She continues moving, walking... She looks beyond exhausted. Her hair is a mess, the cape she wears torn and tattered.

Her eyes, even as she keeps moving, fall on Axiom and Wiccan next and for a moment, there's a flicker of hope before she hardens herself to it. "Not real..." As if she's trying to convince herself.

And then there's Beth. That causes Sif to blink. She has no idea who this woman is... And yet... She came with the rest of the group so... Maybe... Just maybe...

Thor gives one shudder, just one, as he steps through the portal. Colder than Jotunheim, the land of the frost giants. Memories of all those hard fought battles flicker past, and though the Thunderer feels neither thirst nor hunger nor fatigue, his shoulders start to slump. Forcing his eyes open from where they had closed against the chill, Thor's gaze lands upon Sif.

"Goddess," he breathes out as she says he's not real, and he moves forward toward her. Mjolnir in his right hand, his left reaching out, he pauses as she turns from him. No, no, he must press on, even as the warm laughter of the Warrior's Three reach his ears and that faint tickle that runs up his spine from the small of his back to his shoulder blades of Amora's fingertips is felt.

"Come, Highness! Drink! Eat! Be merry! We are victorious! Let us rest and tell tales of our valor," the warrior's cry, even as the shadowy blonde seeks to draw herself against him.

Thor turns his shoulders away from the shadow-Amora, forcing another step forward. His brother had said not to stop, and his brother would never lead him astray; not when Sif's health is in jeopardy.

Eddie shivers visibly, wrapping his arms around himself when they arrive in the other realm. It's the coldest he's ever felt and that surprises him a bit. He forces himself to try to shake it off though. Hunger and thirst are familiar feelings though, Axiom's expression turning a little bitter as they come to him. The sight of Sif makes a small smile curl at the corners of his mouth. "Sif!" he calls out. There's a pause when the teen hears voices behind him. Voices belonging to the only three that qualify as loved ones to him. Billy, Thor, and Sif telling him that they should all rest and eat. Gritting his teeth, Axiom shakes his head. "Just keep going," he grunts to himself.

Wiccan steps through he portal and shivers as the cold hits him. His head quickly whips around as he hears a cry for help from a pair of voices he recognizes. "Thats...no, no its not." He pulls his attention back to looking for Sif. "It'snotmybrothers, It'snotmybrothers." He says mostly to himself almost chanting like he does when he wants o cast spells. When he spots Sif Wiccan grabs hold of his necklace, the one Loki gave him, and focuses his thoughts and hopes on her. They will get her out, they will get home, and he will send Loki a big box of the best chocolates he can afford care of Bethany as a thank you. "Sif, it's us. We are real."

-Sack up, Cabe,- Bethany tells herself as her parent's ghosts come up out of nowhere, offering her comfort the way they'd never managed to do when they lived. Alex is with them, smiling, reaching for her. She has to plunge back into how angry she is with them all, like putting her hand in a fire, to fend them off. Sal and Farah--they're fine, she knows that. Loki's right behind her. She's okay.

Then the others come, reaching for Bethany, people she hadn't managed to save, regrets that haunt her. Children's upturned faces she remembers as the last thing she saw as helicopters rose out of a war zone. The friendly, rickety old yellow dog wagging his tail like he had right before a car bomb went off outside a safe house in Abuja.


 * "Come on, lady!"| Little hands reach out of the mist, Bethany can feel them tugging at her pants. |"You got a dollar, miss, I show you around."| |"You thirsty?"| |"I know where you buy real Coke, lady."| |"Come sit down."| |"You gotta be tired, miss."| |"Time to sleep."| That's so much harder to push back against, but Beth manages. She locks her sights on Sif, reminds herself why she's here--because letting friends down is not an option.

The Warriors Three, and the Goddess Amora tempt Thor, whispering words only he can hear. They look so real, save that their edges seem to bleed into the air like so much smoke. For a moment, a banquet table, strong ales, roaring fires and meats right off the bone, then they too shift and fade as Thor presses forward. Eddie is tempted as well, with those he has come to call friends, bidding them to stay a while. Promises of a home.

Wiccan's brothers call to him from the darkness. They need him. Help us, they cry. Free us!

Oh...your an interesting one...the mists pull the regrets from Bethany's past, and lay them bare before her. So many failures. You are such a failure. Just give up...rest....don't inflict yourself on anyone else.

The God of Tricks himself, while ignored by the mists, is none the less tempted. On the edge of the light, before him stands Odin, holding his arms open in welcome, with a smile on his face just for him. Sif stands there as well, dressed beautifully in white with a smile on her face just for him. Sif wears a long, stylish scarf around her waist, hand made by Loki for their hand-fastening ceremony on their wedding day. Two children play at her feet, twins, one boy and a girl, with Loki's green green eyes, and Sif's nose...and her laugh...the little girl waves over her father to join them in play, their words lost on all but Loki himself.

A light, female giggle sounds throughout the mists, cutting the visions off for a moment. It sounds so innocent, but it makes Loki pale. ***She knows we are here.*** comes the mental brush to all, tinged with just a hint of fear.

The scene around Sif is one she holds the closest to her heart. A hope and desire she has not shared with anyone. Not even Thor.

A beautiful white and gold Hall surrounds her family and friends. Decorated in Thor's colors intermingled with hers. It's not a wedding. Anniversary, perhaps. Some sort of celebration anyhow. Two children run around. Two boys. One with black hair and one with blonde and both with stormy blue eyes. The Thunderer currently twirls his mother around the dance floor with Sif, round with child, dances with her brother-in-law...

The rest of the vision is cut off before the temptations can come as a giggle sounds through. It's then that Loki's voice touches Sif's mind and her eyes widen. A familiar and comforting touch and for the first time, she allows herself a flicker of hope. ***Donar? Loki?*** Dull, pale blue eyes land on the brothers and a flicker of a smile touches her lips. Even her mental voice sounds exhausted, afraid and vulnerable. ***Truly?*** Those eyes bounce back and forth between them for a moment.

Eventually, they land on the two teen boys. ***My messengers...*** And then to Bethany. She still has no idea who this woman is. ***Why are you all here?***

As the Warrior's Three and his first love, Amora fade from him, Thor closes the distance to Sif's side. His left reaches out to her, moving to cup her cheek, her jaw, her ear. New temptations surface as he reaches for the raven-haired woman: to brush his lips to her forehead, to pull her to his chest, to heave a sigh into her hair, to rest. The motion halts, however as a second vision of Sif dances just to his side. Thor turns his head to look.

"Father," asks the prince of Asgard, noting how Odin's eyes are /not/ focused on him. It's confusing for the Odinson. Always has his father smiled that way at him. Never has the smile been for another. And Sif? In wedding regalia? Why are the secondary colors he sees not his own stormy blue? Why are there hints of green in that sash? Those children, with their green green eyes, green eyes he knows well. Eyes widening, Thor turns his face to Loki.

But then, the hall shimmers into his colors, and Sif heavy with child, and two young boys with his eyes running around, himself dancing with his mother... Sif and Loki dancing. Where does his Duty lie? Which of these two must he chose from? Thor back steps from Sif, left hand falling to his side.

Midgard is what he sees. The whole of the world shining like a gemstone, round and beautiful, and made safe by his hand. He sits upon the Asgardian throne, ageless eyes watching and waiting for the next danger to his precious jewel from which he was born. There is no family for him. There are no gentle joys past the knowledge that he is ready and strong and mighty and his hand will stop any foe. Sit and wait, Your Highness, does the vision say. You've won. Midgard is safe, and you can sleep. Then that giggle drifts across the assembled and all visions shatter.

With Loki's mind brushing his, Thor looks up from where he had begun to sink down to the ground. His eyes settle on Sif as she sends his birth name to the gathered. His mind has no thoughts he wishes to share, that boiling cold storm in him felt surely, but no coherent thoughts come. He pulls himself to his full height and moves to stand near the mortals.

Axiom keeps walking but he still glances back. The sight of his three friends all settled around the table in the apartment he now calls home makes him stumble. It doesn't make sense but it is something he's always wanted. A home and people that actually care about him. All calling for him to come and eat with them and be happy. Telling plans of introducing Billy and Eddie to a team of heroes they're going to meet after a long rest. Just as he's tempted to move towards them, he catches sight of Thor and Billy from the corner of his eyes. The giggle makes the vision fade and Axiom clenches his hands into fists. ***Is she going to attack or something?*** he wonders before he can stop himself. Sif looking his way makes him smile though. ***We came to bring you back to Earth.***

Wiccan fights back the urge to go, to help his brothers. It's not them, it can't be, A) They are alive and B) if something happened they would not be here, his people have an entirely different destination when they die than here. As he manages to ignore the cries of his brothers something else starts to form in the mists. A couple, a man and woman dressed as Gypsies.

The man's face is indistinct, but looking vaguely like an older version of Wiccan, and the woman her face hard to see through long flowing auburn hair stands at his side arms stretched out from a deep crimson cloak. |Son! We've found you at last!| They call out to Wiccan. Standing with the couple is another boy, an almost identical copy of Wiccan dressed as a normal teen. |Brother!| Wiccan shakes his head. "Idon'thaveatwin, Idon'thaveatwin, my.." He is about to try and convince himself his biological parents are not out there, not using Gypsie magic to try and pull him out of the Underworld when he hears the giggle. The giggle sends a cold shiver up his back even before Loki sends the mental message to him.

Wiccan shivers again as sif starts to come out of it. ***We came for you Sif.*** His eyes cut to where the man and woman had appeared in the mists, his face a mask of longing and fear, that of an adopted child that knows the parents who raised him love him but has never seen or heard the voices of his birth parents. ***We need to not be here.***

The next thing that comes to Bethany is herself. A child. School uniform. Hair in braids. Young. Free. Laughing.


 * "Beth, we can try again. Say no this time."| The girl Bethany was holds out both hands. |"If you go to sleep, you can wake up and the last ten years are a bad dream. Mom and Dad will come to our graduation instead of going to Bali. They won't die. We won't be married. Do it for us both. Sleep and we can have Mom and Dad back, have our whole lives ahead of us. We'll be free."|

Then the vision snaps and Bethany sees clearly and -that- hurts. She's not angry at herself for nearly giving in, she's angry because the offer isn't true. Even going to sleep thinking it was true and never waking up would have been enough. All she wants to do now is shoot something. Fighting is what she knows, her certainty and her joy. What others fear is her one sacred place.

Bethany snaps her attention back to Sif. She doesn't care who knows what about her. |"We're here because you need to come home. Because they--"| Thor and Loki |"--need you to come home."|

The mists withdraw for a moment, and in the distance, a twin pair of flaming orbs light up a beautiful woman, reclining upon a throne on a mountain of skulls. She has the same dark hair, and dancing green eyes of her father. And it's she that is gigiling. "How kind of you Father, to bring the Prince for a visit. And you brought me /mortals/ to play with too." she taunts.

With a wave of her hand, a motion incredibly familiar to anyone who has seen Loki work his magic, the mists part further.

The party is surrounded. Ghouls and shambling corpses stand shoulder to shoulder with walking skeletons, some still carrying rusted versions of whatever weapons they most used in life. The faces of these dead are all familiar. That's the pizza delivery guy. The mailman. The woman you saw passing just this morning. Parents. Friends. Co-workers. All dead. Huge iron monsters, coated in spikes stand in the back ranks as well, still moving corpses impaled to their bodies. Dead animals weave between the feet of the ranks as well. Pets. Favorite sights from the zoo.

"Kill them." the lady Hel commands. From the mists, orders in a hundred different languages shout 'attack!' Bugles sound the charge, and drums beat the attack order. Military radios all hiss static for a moment before crisp clear orders of 'engage engage' cut through.

The front ranks of the undead army start forward, but the mists are faster. Once more they obscure everything and beat down upon the meager light sources, that still seem to be fading. Now you can only hear them coming.


 * Defend yourselves. Do /not/ leave the circle of the light. We /must/ reach the throne!***

It's what Sif catches of Thor's vision that causes the Goddess to stop just as that giggle comes through. One can watch her heart break. Shatter. The sword is dropped from her hand and the Goddess hits her knees, head bowing. ***Go back. I shall not be returning with you.***

A look is cast to Wiccan and Axiom. ***Take care of them for me*** And then she looks towards Beth. ***No. Not really.***

She stands and steps towards the edge of the light. "I'll give myself willingly. Let them go back. You won't be able to take us all..." Hel wanted her before...


 * No!*** Thor's mind rings out, fury at this wretched feeling of loss; it's like nothing he has ever felt before. ***No,*** his minds rings more softly. ***We return together, or not at all, my betrothed, brother, friends.*** He points Mjolnir to the throne, moving to steps at the front of the group. He shall be the hammer that forges the way. The weapon glitters in his hand and he unleashes the storms in a tight funnel before him, seeking to tear through the ghouls and skeletons and all manner of dead mortals before him.


 * I will not give up on those I love, nor those in my care. Together, we fight!*** His thoughts are focused on the battle, working to keep Hel's despair from weakening his arm, making him want to curl up, give up his hammer, and lament the loss of brother and friend. His friend. His truest friend. Seeing know the depth of her love for him, and that sickening realization that there was no immediate echo... How can he fight on?

He can fight on, only because he is Thor, and fight on he must. If this costs him his friend at his side... if it costs him Midgard, Mjolnir's touch... He will save them, he will save her.

No sooner does the lightning ripple from him than Thor summons the inherent power within himself: Jord's Power. Thor rips open the earth before him, seeking to force the undead into the ground, then crush them with in. He rarely moves so much Earth at once, for he can feel the pain it causes Midgard to do so, and yet here... Nothing matters more than the quest he had set before himself: Rescue Sif, Rescue his friend, his confidant. Rescue the only person in the nine realms that ever saw him as anything more than Prince.


 * You shall not have her!!***


 * Hey!*** Axiom's not even sure Hel can hear their mental call. There's that piece of him that wants to try to talk to the woman on the throne and see if they can settle things without a fight. It shuts up quickly when all those undead things are revealed, an inaudible squeak coming from the formerly homeless teen. He takes a step back when all those ghouls start to attack, the mimicked powers flaring up in his hands. He tosses a blast of lightning into the mist as Loki tells them to defend themselves. The best defense is a good offense? He agrees with not leaving any way but together but doesn't voice it, too busy trying to think of anti-zombie spells.

Strangely, this is not so unfamiliar to Bethany, this kind of fighting. Here, the flares she tosses ahead of them to give a little light to the path, the flash-bangs she pulls from her bandolier to force the ghouls back, are even more effective than they are against humans. She sweeps an area ahead of her clear with the flame thrower while keeping an eye on Axiom and Wiccan. She has a goal other than the throne, though. Sif.

As soon as Bethany reaches the Goddess's side, she grabs Sif by the arm and gives her as shake as she tries to haul Sif up. |"Get up!"| Bethany lets loose with fire that somehow has affection and strength behind up. |"Remember who you are, damn it. You don't get to do this. Up! On your feet, soldier!"| It's how Ling used to get Bethany moving when she couldn't move anymore, it's what Bethany knows how to give. If she could ram her own will to live into the woman she's trying to help, she would.

Hel's laughter cuts through the battle as Sif throws down her weapon. "Willingly..unwillingly...it doesn't matter. I will have you all." she taunts at Sif's sacrifice. The mob of undead rush forward, only to die in droves as Thor rips the very ground apart. More come however, in an almost endless wave. The only thing that remains visible beyond the ever shrinking pool of light is the throne, lit by two glowing orbs of fire that seem to glow like the sun in this dark place.

Axiom's lightning does more than send a group of undead back to their graves, it illuminates for the briefest heart beat a secret of the mists. The waves of undead are constantly being reformed. The actual ranks are only two or four deep. The rest...an illusion.

Wiccan's light could not have come at a better time. Though it is no where near as bright as the young magician would expect, it keeps the mists at bay a little longer as the last of the necklaces from Loki die out, the last of the batteries on flashlights die away. A simple spell, that means the difference between life and death in this place.

Flash bangs and flares create huge gaps in the lines of the undead, creating holes in the mist where they go off. Hel herself narrows her eyes and leans forward. "KILL THEM!" she screeches, and the iron corpse collectors charge forward. For the moment however, there is a large gap leading to the throne.

Loki does what Loki does best. For a heartbeat he's standing at the back of the group, and then once more he's a small cat. He rushes forward, and disappears into the onrushing army. ***SIF! No!*** is the panicked thought. One would think he'd run towards the girl...not away from the battle.


 * I said GO!*** She's growing angry. Sif doesn't want to go back. She's worn. Tired. Beat. There's just nothing left in her. No more fight.

When her arm is grabbed by Bethany, the Goddess looks over at her. ***Good. They will need that fire and strength.*** Her mental voice sounds hallow and numb.

The sword is picked up and she walks away from the light and towards the shadows, meaning to keep that path to the throne open. ***Get out. NOW!*** And then there's Loki's voice and her eyes widen again. ***Loki!*** Her eyes dart to Donar and for a moment her heart shatters all over again before she hardens herself to it as much as possible. ***Get the mortals out.***


 * Brother!? Sif!!*** Thor charges after Sif; there is no other course of action. He unleashed more lightning, flickering and dancing amid the illusions he didn't notice were just illusions. Hel is like her father, it seems. Thor believes her illusions too. ***I've come for you, Sif! Only you. Stay at my side -- my back to your back! We will weather this as we have all other tempests. Do not forget Mulspelnurheim,*** his mind is racing at her, leaving the mortals to fend for themselves as he lightning and earthquakes about them. Perhaps he takes down a few of Hel's forces in his strikes, but those are no luck, for Thor sees only wave upon endless wave.

Axiom is not used to fighting ghouls. Despair, cold, gloom, its all familiar...it just doesn't usually come with the undead. And for a few moments, he's wondering how he's supposed to deal with it all. And then he feels Wiccan moving past him. His attention turns from the battle and to his allies. Thor's fury and power,

Wiccan's light and determination, Bethany's skill and fire. And it makes him pause. He doesn't mean for it to happen but his feelings of hating himself for being so weak and scared float into his thoughts. He grits his teeth and lets the borrowed magic gather again. If his friends are fighting so hard, he's not going to give up even if he is the weakest one there. He'll fight on even if he gets hurt or worse. When it clicks that the massive waves are illusions, he glances towards those fires by Hela and then Billy. ***Wiccan! Can you maybe expand those fires by the skull woman? Use them against the zombie things?*** he asks, starting to chant a spell of his " Burnthezombies, Burnthezombies, Burnthezombies, Burnthezombies,!" he chants, unleashing a blast of flames into the crowd of ghouls. Loki's feline fleeing gets a confused glance but Axiom is still moving towards the throne with Wiccan and Bethany. ***Where are they going?!***

Wiccan is so glad he got the light spell going when he did. Darkness here, and now, not good things. His lightning is easy, but spotting Bethany in action he can see there are better ways to go. "Fire,Fire,Fire!" He points the top of his staff into the darkness and sends gouts of flame outwards, aiming not only at the dead, but where ever he can trying to set things on fire and make more light. ***You want us out Sif, Then you bring us out of here.*** Wiccan sends out another tongue of flames in front of him, and along side Sif's path. Seeing Thor take off he is really glad he is getting his powers boosted so he can try something insane. With a picture in mind of a wall of fire streatching out along the path Sif and Thor took, straight for Hel, bending around her throne and back giving a hopefully lit path ten feet wide with fire on both sides he starts a spell. "Iwantawalloffire, Iwantawalloffire, Iwantawalloffire!" Thank you D&D Magic Compendium, and for our next trick, Bigby's Crushing Hand! Now, he has to hope Bethan and Axiom can keep up any fighting that needs to be done cause its gonna take all Wiccan's concentraion to keep that fire, which considering where they are is only going to be a couple of feet high a best, in place. ***Everyone, MOVE***

Bethany turns to Axiom and Wiccan, then. It's what she can do. |"Nice fire wall. Axiom, go ahead and make sure the path stays clear. If you need to focus, kid,"| she says, putting a hand on Wiccan's shoulder, |"I'll help you move. But I'm not leaving either of you hanging out here."| She drops two burning flares behind her.

Bethany is pretty pissed, just on principle---really, she's worried about Loki. She jams something into the mouth of her grenade launcher and fires upward. There's a whistling sound and a bang. Something incredibly brilliant flowers overhead like a firework made of magnesium. A tracer, used to light an area in night combat.

Between the fury of Thor's hammer, the fire's of Axiom, the flaming wall from Wiccan, and the tracer flares from Bethany, the horde is held at bay. Just. Slavering teeth and claws, antique weapons and even a musket or two are all being brought to bear, and the giant Corpse Collectors are nearly upon the group. Giant metal bringers of death, they don't fear the light the way the smaller undead do.

Loki reappears on his daughter's throne, the kitten morphing back into the man as he wraps his hands around Hel's throat. They struggle, and the throne tips over, and the two fade from sight a moment. Hel is the first to emerge, brandishing a wickedly sharp dagger, and she seems to yell something before slashing downwards, once, twice. When she stands again, the dagger blade is dripping with blood. ***I'm sorry.*** comes through the mental link, laced with pain before the link shatters.

"ENOUGH!" Hel's voice cuts through the gloom, and it's over. The mists retreat. The army of undead vanish. Even the light sources seem to brighten again, revealing an empty land, a few long dead trees, and everything coated in what looks like a volcanic ash. Sound returns as well, and suddenly everyone can hear again.

Hel makes a small motion, and the throne rights itself and the dagger vanishes.

"The deal is struck, Prince. Take your friends and go." the Lady of Niflheim says, and a rift appears near the group. "Before I change my mind."

The observant might notice that around Hel's right wrist, is a braid of gold, spattered with a few drops of red.


 * I have spent eons at your side, my beloved. I remember. And for all this time... I have been a fool to see only what I wanted instead of what was truly there. Return to Midgard, Donar. It's where your heart truly lies.*** Sif's voice is still dull and empty.

Pale blue eyes snap towards the throne as an end is called to it all. "Loki..." Her eyes dart to her hair around Hel's wrist and fill with tear. "Oh, Loki... What have you done..?" She eyes the rift as if completely and utterly uncertain of whether she wants to go back or not. Her eyes dart to Beth then to the teens and then Thor before dropping. She'll return to Midgard and then she'll go home.

With the enemies 'defeated', Thor's hammer lowers an inch, and he turns to Sif. Her words sting, face averting from her, toward the throne, and Hel. Seeing his brother's blood, Thor sneers, ready to fight again when Hel's voice rings out. He frowns, and motions the mortals toward the rift.


 * Brother,*** his mind calls, wanting Loki with him as well, as always and it... There's a sense that their past will stay in Niflheim once they leave. ***Sif....?*** The thought of her trickles shortly after his call to his brother, the stinging ache of the dull and empty void in the touch of her mind's voice causing him physical pain, akin to the pain of the visions Hel had provided mere moments before.

Axiom's faith in Wiccan burns brighter than the flames, fueling the boost to the boosting of the other teen's powers. He stays close to his friend, making sure nothing sneaks by to get at him while he works the fire. ***Woah! That's awesome, Wiccan!*** he exclaims over the link. When Bethany turns his way, Axiom nods and keeps fireballs flying to make sure the path stays clear. He just ends up staring warily when Hel calls the whole fight off and opens the rift. Eyes settle on the hair around her wrist and he frowns. "Okay...what just happened?" he asks Bethany and Wiccan, hoping they can make sense of it more than he can. Bethany slings her weapon across her back and puts an arm around each of the boys. "Seems there was a price to getting out here and Loki paid it for us." She gets it, at least in part, and she's steadfastly refusing to panic about it even though her heart is pounding and she can't really breathe. Worry later, Beth. "It's not a sacrifice if it's not something you can't live without. If I find him again, I'm going to kick his ass for this. But in the meantime, let's not waste what he bought." She gives the boys a little squeeze and nudge. "We need to go. I'll bet you each fifty bucks this one never shows up in the stories."

Hel looks more than a little miffed that the group hasn't lept at the chance to escape. She is so like her father, when her green eyes flare and she raises her hands again, to drive the group back out through the portal. The mists start to rise, the voices, the visions...

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM!" Loki's voice rings out, as he rounds the mountain of skulls clutching his right arm. He's bleeding. Badly it looks like. The God of Tricks moves towards the open portal. "Lets go."

Hel sniffs and turns, making her way past her father back towards the throne. "Pleasure doing business Daddy." she taunts as they pass.

Sif's eyes turn to Thor when he calls to her. She nods her head towards the rift. "Go. I'll follow." One last time. When the Goddess hears Loki's voice, there's only a flicker of relief before the hollowness overtakes her once more. Her eyes look towards the boys and Beth for a moment before looking back towards the brothers. "Go. Just ... Go." She doesn't even react to the mist and shadows.

"I'm not leaving this realm without thee," Thor states firmly, refusing to go without Sif at his side. His brother too, but if he's dead... Thor would have to return to Asgard, rally the forces at Thrudheim, gather the Warrior's Three, and disobey his Father's wishes to march an army into Niflheim to avenge Loki's death. So when Loki's voice rings out, Thor too is relieved. The sight of blood o nhis brother's arm worries the Thunderer, but he is no healer. All he can do is fret inside where none can see. He turns to put a hand on Sif's shoulder, before that hollowness stays his hand. The darkness and the mists had robbed him of his forward movement, that which moved him to her side earlier. His eyes are troubled when she looks at him, and he waits to step through with Loki and Sif.

"She killed..." Axiom goes pale at that, turning a glare Hel's way. Sure, he doesn't like or trust Loki at all but he was Thor's brother and his death would just made Thor and Sif sadder than they already seemed. When Hela starts calling the mist again, Axiom lifts his hand to fire back at her but Loki reappears. Axiom blinks and looks to Thor and the others. Nodding, he intends to linger and be the last one out to make sure the others go through the rift.

Wiccan nods at Bethany and sighs. "I've met the Warriors Three, I'll take that bet." Loki doing anything that saves people is gonna get stories told about it...even if he has to show up and tell the tale himself. Of course then Loki shows up, alive and only mildly wounded...at least by the standards Wiccan has strted keeping in reference to the standards of Gods when he has seen Thor and Sif get injured. "Ok, so we are an insult contest or a bizarre birth away from this being something right out of the myths..." Just to try and lighten the mood Wiccan adds, "..not it." Wiccan is not happy with how things are turning out, not at all, and has just enough brave, tired, scared, and sad saved up to do something stupid. "Hel Rememberthissong, Rememberthissong, Rememberthissong." He chants out a spell special for Hel before starting to leave while singing something just for her. "Always look on the bright side of life...." He starts to whistle before he goes through the portal laving behind the worst ear worm of a song he can think of to inflict on a Goddess of the Dead. Ok, maybe Thor should worry about how much like Loki Wiccan can be. Beth refuses to be weak in the knees with relief, just like she refused to panic in the first place. For the moment, it's working. She mostly trusts that Loki won't do anything too foolish and she knows the other three will be safer if there aren't any mortals underfoot.

"Come on, honey," she says to Axiom, nudging him to step into the portal with her. "We have to beat feet." She looks over her shoulder at Loki as she goes. "Come see me when you can." With that, she steps through.

Loki looks upon the rest of the group and his own eyes flash darkly. "Get out." he says, his voice dropping low and dangerous, as he clutches his arm tightly, blood still dripping heavily through is fingers despite his normally swiftly regenerating body.

Hel herself continues to walk away, barely paying attention to things. She starts to whistle softly, a tune that she's never heard before.

Sif looks at Thor's hand as it hovers over her shoulder a moment. It's with a roll of her eyes towards both brothers that she steps through the portal. She doesn't even both taking in her surroundings but instead, immediately draws her sword.

She looks over at the mortals. "Thank all of you for coming to my aid. I am sorry you were put in such a position. Thank you for watching over my... friends."

Without a word to either brother immediately, she begins making the arcs and swings in the air to open the portal home. Only once the air is shimmering and the portal is about ready to open does she turn to Loki and Thor.

One would think that the emptiness and hollowness that surrounded her in Hel's realm would have lifted. If anything, it seems to have settled deeper around her and in her heart. "Heimdall will watch. If I am needed, I will come." And despite it all, she can't bring herself to actually say Goodbye.

With Sif going through and Loki demanding he not linger, Thor steps through the portal, just in time to see Sif begins to make those cuts in the air. His eyes widen as she prepares to go, and for the first time probably in his life, Thor finds his sight blurring. He takes a breath to speak, but remains silent. He turns his face away, knowing that if he commanded, she would stay. His head bows, eyes closing. Back to the portal, Mjolnir hanging from limp fingers, a single tear slips free and rolls down a cheek. The despair should have left them. Why does he ache so? A whisper provides the words for that ache, "I don't want you to go." It's soft, hesitant, an informal weight in his words.

Axiom jumps when Bethany nudges him but doesn't fight being pushed through. He just wasn't expecting any attention except from Billy. He ends up giving his friend a confused look while he's singing but makes a mental note to ask later. Now isn't the time. Once they're back in the conference room, Axiom moves to help Wiccan into a chair. He knows that much magic can be draining. Sif just gets a shocked look from Axion and he steps forward. "Sif..." he trails off. "Why're you leaving? What's wrong?" Bethany grabs a couple bottles of water and--Sal really watches too much Twin Peaks--snags a plate of donuts that's been left out like an offering to the Gods. She puts the plate and the water down for the boys. What's between Thor and Sif is not her problem. She sits on the edge of the table and watches the rift, waiting for Loki to come through, twisting the bandana that she's just pulled from her hair.

Loki makes sure he's the last one through, turning to give his 'daughter' one last look as she resumes her throne, playing with the golden braid around her wrist. Loki smiles mischievously to himself, before stepping through the portal into the conference room. "She's leaving because she believes she saw something other than a huge pile of lies in that place." Loki says in answer to Axiom's questions.

Loki briefly lifts his good hand, trying to inspect the wound on his sword arm, and only succeeds in generating more of a mess. Two deep slashes run from nearly his forearm to his wrist. "And my brother is just now realizing that he doesn't want to rule alone."

Way to murder a potential moment Loki. The trickster collapses into a chair. He's looking kinda pale.

Sif says, “Why not? I saw your temptation, Donar. It isn't me. I will do what I can to end our union without it marring your name. I have tried everything I can to earn your affection. To be worthy of it. And I have failed. Eons later and you still care nothing more for me than you did when we were children. Your father chose wrong for you. We will always be friends. I will always be your Sword Maiden. " A slow and deep breath is taken by the Goddess. Why do they make her linger like this? Can they not see how much this is killing her?

Dull blue eyes are turned on Axiom. "Because I don't belong here. I have no reason to stay." She walks over to the boy and leans down to kiss the top of his head. "You are so much stronger and braver than you think, my messenger... my friend..."

She then lifts her eyes to Bethany. "He was one of my dearest friends as a child and will always be my brother in my heart. Please, I beg you, take care of him." She offers the woman a smile before she turns to walk back to the portal and the Gods.

Her eyes fall first on Loki. "Some of it was lies, Loki. Not all of it. We all know how much Midgard means to Donar." She offers a faint smile and holds her hand out for his injured arm. "I never expected to mean more to him than this world but it would have been nice to mean as much as..."”

Donar takes Sif's word like a knife to the gut, flinching a bit at them. His eyes open and past the clear liquid that fills them, a faint electricity can be seen before, with a blink, it fades and Mjolnir slips from his fingers.

"I begged for thee. I ripped open Midgard, for thee. My rest came when Midgard was safe; when my Duties were done and I could be thine, and not be split as I am. I am torn, My Goddess, My Heart. I am torn in that to wield that hammer I must not love thee as thou wishes..." Thor finds that words fail him. His head bows.

"I was wrong. Brother, forgive me." He looks to Sif, and steps back, away from that which makes him Thor the Protector of Midgard.

"I never wished to see thee hurt. I took thy heart for granted. I do not know how to balance this, to give thee what I will vow to give thee, and still be that which I am called to be. How do I give in to thee, love thee as I would like, and still heed Her Summons?" He draws a ragged sort of breath, taking another step back, away from Mjolnir. His head shaking.

The hammer is there, Loki. Not but five feet from you. And Thor is moving away from it. Did he let it fall intentionally, or did it grow too heavy for him to continue to hold? Another ragged breath is drawn, another set of tears falls, rubs at them in what might be confusion laced with heartache. He stares at his now wet fingers.

An answer from Loki just gets a surprised look from Axiom. Since when did Loki talk to him with anything other than threats and trying to scare him? Frowning, he glances at the blood and then over to Sif and Thor once more.

Green eyes widen behind his mask at Sif's answe and Axiom shakes his head. "That's not true..." he trails off. He wants to repeat that when told he's strong and brave but the words won't come out. He jumps when Mjolnir hits the floor, startled by the noise. The teen just stares as Thor pleads with Sif, not sure how to react. This situation is not one he has any kind of experience in and he's not sure what to say. His eyes drift to Mjolnir for a moment, wondering why Thor dropped it. Bethany ignores the drama playing out in front of her. Not because she doesn't feel for them but because she can't help them in any way. She drops her pack and pulls out a wound care packet from one of her pockets on the way over to Loki.

"I'm proud of you, for what it's worth," Bethany says quietly, ripping open the packet. There's a patch inside to cover and protect a wound, limit the blood loss. She unfolds it to wrap it around Loki's arm. "I really am." She gives Loki a little smile that more than reaches her eyes. "You were fantastic. All of it."

Loki starts to laugh, shaking his head as the hammer hits the floor. "Finally...a temptation I actually care about." he jokes, shaking his head weakly. "Brother, Sister." he says, addressing Thor and Sif. There is no malice, no loathing, and no malcontent when he calls Sif that for some reason. It's as if he doesn't care anymore. "You two need a long walk through someplace with lots of stars. Maybe a singing crab. Go. You have a complete turning of the moon with no mischief from me. My word. My wedding gift to you."

The god shakes his head softly at Bethany as she treats his wounds. "This...is not something to be proud of." he half whispers. "But at least Hel will no longer be attacking Midgard. Or me." he says, closing his eyes. "And...I just sort of feel empty."

Mjolnir hits the floor and Sif blinks. "Pick her up." She eyes the weapon and then lifts that pale gaze to Donar and blinks again, brows furrowing. He's... crying... A deep and shuttering breath is taken. A few steps are taken towards him before she alters her path and moves to stand on the other side of Mjolnir. "Take up your weapon, Donar." At least the emptiness is gone. Her voice is gentle and soft.

"You did. And now you risk losing it. If you truly want me to stay... truly want me at your side because of your own desire to have me there... Pick up your hammer and show me the man I will one day wed. Show me the Protector of Midgard." The Goddess even goes so far as to bend and wrap her own hand around the handle. She isn't trying to lift it and that much is perfectly clear. "I will help you defend her, Donar but you must understand that I will not continue to come in second. I have no desire to take Midgard's place in your heart but I have the right to have a place of my own."

She might have been about to say more when Loki's words draw her attention. Sister? She blinks at that for a moment before a brow arches. "What did our freedom cost you, Loki?" She can't help but be worried about her friend... her brother...

Her eyes then drift to Axiom and she smiles faintly.

Donar's first reaction is to shake his head at Sif. The motion is slight, knocking another tear free. His eyes are on her -- are there any other people in this world? -- as she tells him to summon Mjolnir, to make an equal place for her in his heart. He's not sure he knows how to but... Thor turns his right hand toward Sif.

Loki's words, likewise, draw the weeping god's attention. He too wishes to know. He saw, clearly, the depth of his brother's love for this woman, and now the depth of her love for Thor, and he knows not how to mimic that, what it feels like to him. All he knows is that his chest aches, and his eyes water -- why? Why are his eyes watering so?

His eye return to Sif, and Thor summons Mjolnir to his hand.

Axiom shoots Loki a look at his joke, frowning his way. "Asgardian crabs sing?" he murmurs. Nope, he hasn't seen the Little Mermaid. He doesn't trust whatever gift Loki is giving Thor and Sif but he stays quiet. Eyes slide back to Sif and Thor and he watches what looks like them making up. He's curious about what exactly Loki paid too but he's sure Sif has a better chance at getting an answer than him. Bethany looks over her shoulder at Sif and Thor, then back to Loki as she wraps his arm. "You don't have to be proud of what you've done. I know it's cost you a great deal--I'm mortal, not stupid, I see the price paid and I am sorry even if you can't be anymore." She puts a gentle hand on Loki's cheek to get his attention. "For a man who threatened not to go at all at the start, you acquitted yourself well. So I am at least proud of you for going, and for being smart and brave. Don't argue with me, I'm very tired. If you have to say something, say you'll stay tonight like you planned." She crumples up the empty packet and gets to her feet again slowly.

"There you see her...sitting there across the way...she don't got a lot to say, but theres something about her...." Loki starts singing before he breaks out into a fit of giggles. He stops suddenly and looks more seriously to Sif.

"What did your freedom cost me, Sister?" Loki asks, his eyes still closed and his voice still barely above a whisper. "Nothing. It cost me a boyhood dream and a length of hair." He pauses a moment, opening his eyes.

"Do not mistake me. Hel saw exactly what I wanted her to see." Loki lies smoothly, knowing that Bethany's body is hiding how clenched his fists are. "And she accepted something I am glad to be rid of." Loki locks eyes with Sif and finishes the answer. "My love for you. And now......I'm free."

Only someone who has taken the time to get to know the real Loki, to read his body language and not the smoothness of his face and voice could tell that he's lying now. "I will stay, Beth." he says with a grin. "I will stay." he repeats, a little more seriously.

Even as Mjolnir is summoned to Thor's hand, Sif doesn't release the handle which means she's drawn to him as well. She looks up at Thor for a moment before she caresses his cheek with the back of her fingers and then pulls away to cross over to Loki.

She bends to lightly kiss his cheek a moment before murmuring words that are meant for him alone into his ear and then reaches out to give his hand a squeeze. A warm smile is given to him before she turns to walk back to Thor's side, tucking herself against him.

Once again, she wraps her hand around his over Mjolnir's handle and brings her head to rest against him. "He's right, Donar. We need time. We have so much to talk about."

She then turns her eyes Axiom and smiles again. "Everything is fine, my friend." She knows how he worries. Sif whispers “I am forever in your debt, my friend. For saving me. For giving Donar and I this time. I know you, Loki. I can never thank you enough for that and you will always be in my heart, my brother. Perhaps Donar will learn something from you this evening. Thank you for giving me to him as only you could.”

Thor watches Sif come to him, summoned as surely as Mjolnir was. Her caress of his cheek, the still present tears, makes her hand to his face feel cool, refreshing, as the tears are pushes away, spread out over his skin. He doesn't fight her as she steps from him, though Mjolnir lowers to his side. He watches as Sif gives Loki a kiss and whispers in his ear before returning. He looks down at Sif resting against his chest, before looking up at Loki. Silent lingers a moment.

"My thanks to thee, Brother, for thy help," he says, almost uncertain what to say next to Loki. A moment more, and Thor looks to Beth.

"I thank thee for allowing this interruption, and assisting me in contacting my brother," Thor says with a nod to Bethany. What else can he say? Thank you for going to Hel with me? No, she didn't do that for him. She did that for Loki. Thor turns away from Loki and his mortal... Bethany and her god?

"Shield, Spear... we should go," Thor says, voice lacking its usual strenth and power. His arm wraps about Sif's shoulders, face still faintly troubled, lightly confused, a bit awe-struck. Did Loki just... fix something?

Axiom can't help but worry. Everything going on and he's wishing he could help but not having any idea how. Worry is all that he's got left. Loki gets a wary look but Axiom just doesn't have the energy to be annoyed at him right now. He watches Thor and Sif a moment before whispering something to Wiccan. "Okay," he says, planning on staying the night at Wiccan's house so as to give Sif and Thor alone time. "If you boys need a ride home, if you're tired, Sal will take you," Bethany says. "You'll be safe, I promise. Just go out into the hall, he's waiting." She doesn't have to check to know he's there. For the first time in all this, she looks genuinely distressed but she's keeping whatever it is to herself. Instead, she starts unpacking her pockets, reversing the process of getting ready.

"I'll send you my bill." Loki jokes softly to his brother, with the undercurrent that's hard to miss. 'You owe me....big'. He stares down at his bandaged arm, head cocking to the side in curiousity at the growing red stain in the linen. "Curious." he mumbles softly. "This must be pain."

Sif smiles warmly up at Thor as his arm wraps around her which only causes her to snuggle closer to him, an arm slipping around his waist as she does so. It's not all better. Not by a long shot but the healing process has begun at least. They still have a ways to go though.

She looks over at Axiom and quirks a brow at him. "Are you ready?" And then her eyes drift over to Bethany and Loki. They both get a smile from the Goddess before she smirks at Loki's joke and lightly shakes her head.

Pale blue eyes drift up to Thor and she offers him a warm and loving smile before settling her head against him again. "Let's go home."

Thor didn't 'get' Loki's joke, eyes still a touch confused, but the undertoes he got. The prince nods to the jester, acknowledging the debt, though not speaking of it. Though he's worried for his brother's health, there are more important things, Siffy things, to attend to this night. And so, with his stormy blue eyes falling to Sif, Thor nods and rests his chin atop her head to walk with her out the door.

Axiom shakes his head. "Thank you, Ms. Cabe. But I've got some energy to burn," not a complete truth. He is tired but its more of a mental and emotional drain than physical. And Eddie would push himself to exhaustion for Billy, Sif, and Thor. He then looks to Sif and Thor. Helping Billy up, he leads his friend after the gods. They'll head home so Eddie can get a change of clothes but after that he's headed out to the Kaplan home for the night.

Anyone leaving by the door will get an escort to roof or ground level as necessary. There's no one in the hall but Sal, who looks like he has a few more silver hairs. He glances into the room with a worried face to catch a glimpse of Bethany as he goes about his duties.

Bethany pulls her armoured jacket off, then the vest. "I don't know if Gods go into shock," she says to Loki. "I'll patch you up better upstairs if you need it. And a drink, maybe. I really need a drink." Her lower lip is not trembling in the least. No.

"I'm not entirely sure what it means to go 'into shock'." Loki says, reaching a hand out to comfort Bethany as the others start to leave. "The wound will heal on it's own in time. Or it may never heal until I find something to replace the void. A process that I do not think will take long." Loki says softly. "And a drink sounds perfect. Just as long as it isn't coffee."

It's not until the others are outside the door that he finally looks completely concerned for Bethany. "Are you all right?"

A look is cast over Sif's shoulder to make sure that the teens are following and to smile at Loki and Beth once more before she sighs happily and leans into Thor once again as she's lead out the door. It's a good beginning. The Goddess refuses to think of it as an end to anything. Nope. No endings. Just beginnings to a new way of being for them all. "I'm okay if you are. And I'm not sure you are." Bethany doesn't smile at the coffee joke. Nothing's quite as amusing as it was earlier today. She throws her gloves on the table, then unfastens and steps out of her lower body armour, dropping it beside the rest. Good enough. "We might have a bottle of that mead left. Let's go get you cleaned up. You look pale."

Loki gingerly pushes himself back to his feet, cradling his wounded arm agiasnt his body. He stops a moment, closing his eyes, and his armored outfit shifts into more normal clothing. Again with the CG look, and that illusion of a smile. "Mead sounds wonderful right now." he says, following Beth out of the conference room towards whereever she is leading him.

"Are you really proud of me for doing this?" Bethany leads Loki out and back up to her apartment, holding the doors for him and making sure he's steady on his feet. "Of course I am," she says, one hand under his elbow on the way up the stairs. "You did the right thing in going to get your friend, you put yourself in harm's way, you made the necessary sacrifice to free her and get everyone home. And don't lie to me about how you've got no regrets about making that sacrifice," she says sharply. "I can see it hurts worse than your arm. So, yes, a hundred times. I am proud of you with all my heart."