Tally Marks

Chapter 1 - Gladiatorial What Now?

"You have been invited to represent your... planet... realm...?  In a contest of strength, cunning, and courage against all comers.  What the f--k is this?" Tony asked as he flung the fancy piece of paper back at Fury.  The Director of Shield just gazed at Stark with his unblinking eye.  

"This is an odd request, sir.  Why should we leave earth unprotected to go participate in some gladiatorial games?" Steve posed, his arms crossed over his chest.  

"I already addressed that issue with... the All-Father... and said we could not leave earth without her heroes.  So, he offered to loan us half of his Einherjar to keep an eye on earth while you participate in the games.  Both he and Thor were are insisting on it.  Apparently, you're getting positions of honor in the games for defeating Loki," Fury explained.  A few of the Avengers winced at the mention of Loki.  Clint in particular.

"Thor wants to celebrate us beating his little brother?" Bruce queried, not sure of he understood what was going on.  

"I think it's more his dad than anybody else," Sam Wilson commented.  Steve nudged him under the table with his foot, but his partner pointedly ignored him.  

"Either way, apparently some warrior friends of Thor's will arrive to escort you to Asgard where the games are being held.  We're one of the key participants, apparently," Fury explained with a dismissive wave of his hand.  Tony rolled his eyes and Steve sighed.

"Can we talk about it amongst ourselves first?" Captain America asked.  Fury shrugged, got up and left the room.  As soon as the door was closed, everybody stared at each other, as if they expected that person to speak first.  Finally, Natasha cleared her throat.

"Maybe some of us can stay behind?  Not all of us should have to go," she suggested.

"Nah, I think they wanted us all present.  Or at least, the original six," Tony said, giving passing amused looks to Rhodey, Sam, Wanda, and Vision.  

"Ha, ha," Rhodey countered.

"Well, at least if they stay here, I'll feel better.  Odin was nice in offering the Einherjar, but I would prefer people I trust to take care of earth," Steve pointed out.  

"Oh, that's fine with me too, Steve.  It's not like I wanted to see a different planet anyway," Sam sarcastically remarked.  Steve shoved Sam playfully and the black man just grinned at him.  

"So, we're doing this?  Seriously, guys?" Bruce asked and everyone looked at him.  "We're going to another planet or realm... whatever, to participate in games that are going to require us to show our brutal side; and not to save a planet, but to beat other people into a bloody pulp.  Are we sure we want to do that?"  Everyone paused as they thought about that.  That was when Clint spoke up.

"Maybe we can use this chance to show mercy in our victories.  To let our opponents get up and even walk them off the field.  Let's be the bigger people and make a difference," Hawkeye stated.  The rest of them nodded their heads after a moment and Bruce sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Fine!  Fine!  We'll do it," Bruce exclaimed.

Valkyrie walked down the hallways of the Grandmaster's central tower with one specific location in mind.  Her boots clicked on the floor as she made her way along the corridors, avoiding all the twittering help and mindless guards.  She had been told to deliver the news by the Grandmaster himself and she did not like it.  He was not ready.  As far as she was concerned, he would never be ready.  She finally reached the sliding door and entered the code into the keypad and the door opened.  Valkyrie looked around and at first did not see anybody.  After a second, she grinned.  "Playing in the rafters again?" she queried, looking up to the ceiling.  A figure dropped down from above and straightened up in front of her.  He was covered from the soles of his feet to the top of his neck in a leather suit that concealed his skin.  His hair was bleached white and in a long braid.  His red eyes looked at her without twitching or blinking, his pupils remaining focused.  "Loptr," she said.

"Valkyrie," he answered.  Valkyrie cleared her throat before looking down at her hands.  "You always do that whenever you don't want to tell me something," Loptr explained.

"I was just... ahem!  Informed by the Grandmaster that he has been invited to register a contender or contenders for the Inter-Realm Gladiatorial Games.  He has decided that it should be you and you alone," Valkyrie explained.  Loptr tilted his head from one side, to the other, then grinned.

"I am ready," he answered.

"No!  You're not!" Valkyrie yelled and Loptr frowned at her.

"You're not my mother to decide that.  We all know I don't remember her anyway," Loptr said snidely.  Valkyrie's hand came up, but Loptr gripped it in his, stopping her from striking him.  They glared at each other before Valkyrie started to tear up.  She thumped her fist against his chest till he finally let her go.  

"You're an asshole!" Valkyrie screamed at him before she stomped out of the room.  Loptr watched as she disappeared before he looked back at himself in a mirror on the wall.  His leather costume was tight fitting, but he still managed to be flexible in it.  The Grandmaster had designed it for him not long after he started training.  It concealed every inch of skin except for his face.  Loptr scowled at his reflection; the red eyes, the white hair.  It was all wrong and there was some part of him that knew that.  Loptr's fist went out and almost broke the mirror, but his knuckles stopped a centimeter from shattering the mirror.  

"Hey!  Leather Freak!" called a nasty voice, and Loptr's head snapped in the direction of the door.  Topaz was standing there, glaring at him.  "You're to choose your weapons and make ready.  The Grandmaster wants to leave for Asgard as soon as possible," she informed him.  Loptr watched as she disappeared and growled, his lips pulling back from his teeth in a grim sneer.