Roots of Eternity

Chapter 30 - Shadows of Victory

The dust settled over New York, but the weight of the battle still hung in the air. We had won-barely-but the cost was heavy. I stood on the rooftop of Stark Tower, staring out over the city as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. The once-bustling streets were now filled with rubble and the scattered remains of the Chitauri army. It was quiet now, almost too quiet after the chaos that had engulfed us.

Thor approached silently, his footsteps heavy as he moved to stand beside me. He didn't say anything for a moment, and neither did I. We just stood there, watching the city begin to wake from the nightmare that Loki had unleashed.

"You did well today," Thor finally said, his voice low but steady.

I shrugged, though I didn't feel like I had done anything remarkable. "We stopped him, but... it still feels like a loss."

Thor turned to look at me, his blue eyes softening. "Loki made his choice, Helena. We couldn't have changed that."

I nodded, though the knot in my chest remained. "I know. But I keep thinking about the Loki I used to know-the one who used to look out for me, who taught me magic and always had a trick up his sleeve. I keep wondering if I could have done something differently. If I could've saved him."

Thor let out a deep sigh, and when he spoke again, his voice was filled with a mixture of pain and resignation. "I've wondered the same thing. But the truth is, Loki was always on this path, long before you or I could have stopped him."

I glanced at Thor, studying his face. He looked older somehow-more worn, more tired. It was easy to forget that Thor carried a thousand years of experience, that he had faced more battles and betrayals than I could comprehend. And yet, he still treated me with the same care as he always had, as though I were still the little girl he had once carried on his shoulders.

"You've been carrying this weight for so long," I said softly. "Haven't you?"

Thor looked at me, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... you've been through so much. You've seen more than I ever have, and yet you're still here, trying to protect me." I paused, my voice faltering. "It just feels like I should be stronger by now. I should be able to carry this burden, like you do."

Thor's expression softened, and he reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You are strong, Helena. You've shown incredible strength, more than you realize. But that doesn't mean you have to carry everything on your own."

I looked down, guilt gnawing at me. "I just... I hate feeling like I'm still so young, like I can't do enough."

Thor chuckled softly, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice. "Helena, you are young. A thousand years is nothing compared to the lifetime ahead of you. But that doesn't make you any less important or capable. You don't have to rush to grow up."

I blinked, looking up at him. "But I want to be able to help. I don't want to be the one who always needs protection."

"You're not," Thor said gently. "You've helped more than you know. Just because I'm older doesn't mean I've always had the answers. I've made mistakes-many mistakes. But that's part of learning. Part of growing."

I bit my lip, his words hitting deeper than I expected. I had spent so much of my time trying to prove that I wasn't just Thor's younger sister, that I could stand beside him and fight alongside him. But maybe Thor was right. Maybe I didn't need to carry the same weight he did, not yet.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the wind.

Thor's hand squeezed my shoulder gently. "You don't ever have to thank me, Helena. I'll always be here for you. That will never change."

A soft sound behind us made me turn, and I saw Tony approaching, his usual swagger tempered by the events of the day. His suit was battered and bruised, but somehow, he still managed to make it look cool.

"Well, if it isn't the dynamic duo," Tony quipped, his voice a little too light for the somber mood around us. "You two gonna stand there and brood all day, or are we going to celebrate the fact that we just saved the world?"

Thor smiled faintly, stepping aside to let Tony join us. "Celebrating seems a bit premature, Stark."

"Premature?" Tony gave an exaggerated sigh. "You Asgardians really don't know how to party, do you?"

I couldn't help but laugh, though it was a quiet, tired sound. "I don't think now's the time for a party, Tony."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Come on. We just saved New York. That's got to be worth at least one toast."

Thor shook his head, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You have a strange way of handling victory."

"It's called optimism," Tony replied, leaning against the railing. "You should try it sometime, big guy."

I leaned my arms on the railing, looking out at the skyline. "You always find a way to make things seem less... heavy."

Tony glanced at me, his expression softening. "Hey, someone's got to keep things light. If we take all this too seriously, we'll never make it through the day."

Thor chuckled quietly. "I suppose there's some wisdom in that."

Tony turned to me, his gaze a little more focused now. "But really, Helena-you did great today. I know facing your brother wasn't easy, but you held your own."

I swallowed, feeling that familiar twist in my chest. "I just... I don't know if I made a difference."

Tony's expression shifted, the playfulness fading. "You made a difference. Trust me. You might not see it now, but you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You've got something special, Helena."

I looked up at him, my heart heavy with doubt. "What if... what if I couldn't reach him? What if Loki's really gone?"

Tony paused, his gaze softening. "Then that's on Loki, not you. You tried. That's more than most people would do. But sometimes... people don't want to be saved."

I nodded, his words making sense but still not settling the ache inside me.

"You'll learn in time," Thor said, his voice gentle. "That not every battle is about winning or losing. Sometimes, it's just about doing what's right, even if the outcome isn't what you hoped."

I sighed, the weight of everything still pressing down on me. But with Thor's hand on my shoulder and Tony's quiet reassurance, I felt a little less alone in the aftermath.

The three of us stood there in silence for a while, watching the city recover from the chaos. Despite the destruction, there was something beautiful about the way the light was beginning to break through the clouds, a sign that, perhaps, things would be okay again.

Tony, of course, couldn't leave things too quiet for long. "So... pizza? Or is the party canceled?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "You never stop, do you?"

"Never," Tony said with a grin. "You've got to keep things moving, Helena. That's the secret to staying sane in this crazy world."

Thor smiled at the exchange, though he looked down at me with a seriousness that still carried the weight of our conversation. "I'll check on Loki's cell soon, but... rest now. You've done enough."

I nodded, my heart heavy but a little lighter for having Thor and Tony by my side.

As the sun rose higher, casting a warm glow over the damaged city, I realized something: there would always be battles ahead, and I would always feel the weight of those I couldn't save. But I didn't have to carry it alone. I had Thor. I had Tony. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.