HeartBound {Avengers Fanfic}

Chapter 10: A Charlatan's Sport

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

–Oscar Wilde

Thor was surprised when the elevator doors opened up to Bruce Banner rather than Tony Stark. He had spent most of the past few days outside the Tower, catching up with Jane, and had decided it was probably time he tried again to reach out to Freyja. Though he knew she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, he was afraid she might disappear to another Realm while he was away. She seemed to have this strange notion that she needed to save every being in the Nine.

"Where is Stark?" he asked. "I thought he was to keep an eye on Freyja?"

Bruce smiled apologetically, "Well...there was a bit of a mishap a couple days ago."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure on the details since Freyja won't give me all the details and Tony has refused to tell me anything at all aside from that he's genuinely afraid of her, but it sounds like Freyja found him snooping around in her room and nearly blew up her room in rage."

Thor frowned, "That is unlike her. She has always been level-headed."

"Not from what Jarvis said. Tony's been away since it happened. When he left, he said something about a cloak..."

"Not Freyja's cloak?"

Bruce nodded, "I think that's what he said."

"He was wise to stay away after. Freyja's cloak is enchanted to hold a few of her memories, as the Vanir remember much more of their lives than most, and only a fool would delve into her past without her permission."

He glanced outside at Freyja, who sat, as per usual, on the overhang. She looked relatively peaceful, but he had never seen her any other way until recently. He had grown up with stories of the mighty Vanir who had the power to kill without weapons and the strength to hold back. Quite frankly, her recent temper frightened him and, yet, he knew she would never do anything to hurt someone intentionally. She loved all forms of life too much to do so.

"How long has she been meditating?"

"Two hours, but there is something...strange that you might want to know about."

"What is it, Banner?"

"Thirty minutes ago, I went to check on her and she wasn't breathing."

Recognition flared in his blue eyes, "Are you certain?"

"Completely," Bruce said. "And her pulse has slowed down exponentially. But her pupils are responding to light, so I'm not sure if it's just a defense mechanism and it's perfectly normal for her or..."

"It is nothing to be concerned over," Thor assured him.

He stared out the window at her figure once more, knowing that her mind was not there. Back in Asgard, he had made the mistake of thinking her dead, and had nearly thrown the entire palace into a fright. It had taken his mother's detailed explanation on mental projection to calm everyone down.

And he was right, for Freyja was not on Earth in spirit or mind. She was with Loki.

She was glad to see that he was no longer being gagged or bound, but he had yet to earn the privilege of a proper bath – something she knew was grated on his nerves. He had always been so neat and orderly when she had known him. Now he had a sickly pallor to his skin, his eyes were sunken in and ringed with dark circles, he was thinner than usual as well, all of it making him look slightly wild. It didn't stop him from assuring her that he looked better than he had when he attacked Midgard.