Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 47: Hatchet [2]

Warning for this chapter: Mentions of suicide!

Chapter Forty-Seven

Hatchet Part II

Milky Way Galaxy

Tilnast System

Planet Sarka

Tony watched the scene unfold before him with tensely coiled muscles and with his gun in his hand, albeit the weapon was lowered and hidden from the stranger. He watched as Loki grabbed the man and slammed him to the wall. He also watched as the man pulled his hood off and how Loki's hold on the blade loosened in reaction.

'Hatchet,' Loki called him. So he knew him, obviously. It did not make Tony relax just yet, because he knew what sort of company Loki ended up with sometimes. The man in question had white hair, not blond, but actual white. His face was thin and angular, even more than Loki's. His cheekbones were almost unnaturally high and prominent, like the skin on his skull was a size too small. His eyes were almond-shaped and seemed to be way too big for his face. He couldn't look human even if he tried, not with that skull-shape.

The man stood utterly still for a few moments, then when Loki lowered his blade his thin lips stretched into a large smile, sharp and all teeth. When he moved, he moved very fast and it took Tony a moment to realize that he did not launch forward to attack Loki. No, instead he threw his arms around the god's shoulders and pulled him into what looked like a bone-crushing hug. That's when the hood slid down the rest of the way, revealing his very long pointed ears. It did not make what Tony was seeing any less confusing, but it did give him a few ideas.

Loki, for his part, did not try to get away. He almost looked too stunned to react properly, which was really not something that happened often. The stranger let out a laugh, then squeezed Loki one more time before letting go of him and taking a step back.

'How did you get here?' 'What are you doing here?' asked Loki and the man almost at the same time, which apparently was amusing for the guy, because he laughed again.

'Well, trying to be kind, which was followed by an unfortunate event and some complete unfair horseshit, then of course my own special brand of ingenuity that led me here,' answered the man vaguely. Not answering at all really.

Loki looked at the man for a long moment, taking in the sight of him. Even if Tony couldn't see his face completely, he knew that he was contemplating what to do next. Then he slid his blade back into his belt and started speaking.

'Harsh truths, followed by bad decisions, then the clutches of some utter bastards, followed by more bad decisions and more bastards, then lastly some good survival instincts and the help of a true friend.'

The man raised his eyebrows and whistled. 'That sounds like an interesting story,' he said.

'No,' Loki shook his head. 'You talk first. I want to know how exactly you're standing before me right now, on this planet so far away from your home, in this city, on this very street.'

Tony may have holstered his gun again, but he was glad that Loki was his usual suspicious self. It did not matter whether he knew the guy or not, it was always better to not believe in accidents. Tony had about a million questions, but he figured it was better to ask them after Loki got his answers from the man... elf? Was he an elf? He looked like an elf. Full on Lord of the Rings... well, a bit more... ethereal. Even the shape of his jaw seemed unnatural, too sharp, and too pointy. Not that he had ever seen an actual elf before, maybe the thing with the ears was not true and the ones from Alfheim looked completely different. He had no way to know, but he did not want to ask right away.

The man did not look disturbed by Loki's request at all. He tipped his head forward, a little to the side, not really taking his eyes off of Loki.

'Of course, my prince,' he said with ease. 'But maybe we should get off the streets.'