The darkness swept in like a cosmic storm, swallowing everything in its path almost instantly.
In this chaos, while Arthur and Thor could hold their own, Jane was pretty much out of luck.
After the trio stumbled upon a cave for shelter, Arthur spoke up, "With this mess outside, the Spaceship's grounded. How about we head back to Earth instead?"
"Fine by me." Thor and Jane didn't argue.
In a place this wretched, Jane was obviously over it, and Thor still had a reunion with Frigga on his mind.
Right then, Arthur traced a glowing teleportation array into the dirt and glanced at Jane. "This isn't like the Bifrost— sorry, but you can't handle it."
"So what's the plan?"
Jane froze, caught off guard.
Arthur shot Thor a look before turning back to her. "If I knock you out, you cool with that?"
He'd already warned Thor earlier that anyone he brought along would feel like they'd been through the wringer once they came out. "I've got this," he'd said.
Jane stared at Thor, her face screaming disbelief. "Give it to me straight!"
"We'll sort it out on Earth." Thor reached over, gave her neck a quick pinch, and she crumpled without a peep.
Arthur stepped up, tapped Jane's shoulder, and tucked her into a Disassembler Space, then nodded at Thor to take the lead.
Thor stepped onto the teleportation array first. Arthur lingered just outside the cave for a beat, then smirked. "Come on out."
A figure shimmered into view from thin air.
Loki grinned slyly. "I figured you'd call me out."
"No point in that." Arthur met Loki's gaze and smirked back. "You might just get what you're after— and find out if it's really worth it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Loki's eyes narrowed.
Arthur chuckled. "I won't stand in your way, but don't forget— you still owe me a couple favors."
"..."
Loki flashed a crooked smile. "I didn't think you'd trust me to keep my word again."
"I do."
Arthur turned back. "How'd it feel watching Thor break down?"
Loki flinched, but before he could answer, Arthur stepped onto the array. In a burst of light, he was gone.
Loki exhaled sharply and shrugged. "Me? Unshaken as ever."
With that, he spun around and vanished into the shadows.
...
When Arthur reappeared, he was in London.
Back when he'd caught a cabbie trying to rip him off with a detour, he'd zapped the guy to New Mexico as payback— leaving a handy teleportation array behind in the process.
As he materialized, he spotted Thor nearby, frowning and looking a little drained.
"Feeling off?" Arthur teased with a grin.
"You didn't warn me this thing would sap my strength like that!"
Thor shot him a look, then added, "But you're standing there like it's nothing. I'm impressed— a human keeping up like this? How'd you pull that off?"
With a flick of his wrist, Arthur produced a sleek, dark-golden device. A faint crimson glow pulsed through its seams, hinting at the power locked inside.
"The Aether," Thor said, recognizing it instantly. "What's the play?"
"What do you think?" Arthur replied. "Stash it in Asgard, or let me hang onto it here?"
"Your call," Thor said. "And Jane?"
Arthur sighed, stowing the Aether and releasing Jane from the Disassembler Space. "Feels like I'm holding her over your head with this thing."
"Neither my father nor my mother ever saw you as a threat, my friend. You've come through for me again— and for Asgard too."
Thor steadied the unconscious Jane with one arm and strode over to Arthur, pulling him into a hearty embrace.
Arthur wrinkled his nose. "Has anyone ever mentioned you've got this... uh, distinct aroma? Like mead and battle sweat rolled into one?"
"That's the scent of a warrior!"
"Am I some dainty damsel?" Arthur's expression soured. "I've got my own grit, thanks, and I'd rather not inhale yours."
Thor threw his head back and laughed, then glanced down at the woman cradled in his arms.
"She'll come around soon," Arthur said. "You've got this under control here; I'm heading back. I had some contingency plans lined up for this mess, but they weren't needed after all. Still, with the nine realms aligning right now, I figure I can make something work."
"Like what?"
"In the dark world, that skirmish left a few warships behind."
Arthur shrugged. "Tony's gonna lose his mind over them."
"..."
Thor grinned. "You're something else, you know that?"
With that, he swung Mjolnir and rocketed into the sky, Jane still secure in his grip.
Arthur tapped his wrist communicator. "You there?"
It felt like a casual ping on a SHIELD secure line.
"Right here," Natasha's voice crackled back. "Thank God— what the hell's going on? The planet's been a madhouse all day."
"Just a cosmic light show," Arthur replied. "No real danger— only people can screw things up, and that's already handled."
"So I can stand down here?"
"Not a chance."
Arthur continued, "I need you to get Tony on the line ASAP. I've got a massive warship that needs hauling back. Figure out if he's got some Stark Industries trick to cloak it— otherwise, every satellite on Earth's gonna spot this thing straight out of the future."
"Why not call him yourself?"
"…Because ditching my girlfriend for days without so much as a check-in is a jerk move," Arthur said. "Let the guy who's always glued to his better half earn his keep for once."
As he spoke, Arthur transmitted a set of coordinates through his wristband. "Doctor Selvig can use these with his tech toys to get you to that realm. I'm clocking out— heading home to crash."
"What if we get stuck there?"
"Then just buzz me."
...
After cutting the call with Natasha, Arthur activated a teleportation array and materialized back in his room.
The place hadn't changed much— same old, same old.
Slipping into some casual gear, he opened the door and caught voices drifting from the living room.
"Alright, heat the oil first, then toss in some herbs and spices to get that aroma going, then you add..."
Lily was sprawled on the couch, chattering away, while Frigga sat nearby, soaking it all in with a nod. "Oh, I see, got it, so that's the trick..."
Arthur blinked. Was Lily seriously about to revolutionize Asgardian cuisine?
(End of this chapter)
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