Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 91: Faith in Strength

Chapter Ninety-One

Faith in strength

Milky Way Galaxy

Xantar System

Open Space

Hatchet only had enough ingredients left for two more locator spells. They knew from his last spell-casting that Loki was still on the Other's ship and that they were still on the move. It was of course more comforting than words could ever describe how it felt for him to know that Loki was still alive. But at the same it would have been better if they had already arrived to where they were heading to. He feared they would be still moving when he ran out of ingredients and then he would not have the means to find Loki again. The thought churned his stomach, turning it into a heavy ball of nerves and dread.

His magic tightened under his skin, it shuddered and pulsated constantly, making his hands shake more and more frequently. Loki was not there to help him get rid of the excess amount of energy without violent outbursts. The locator spell was hardly enough to tire him out. He knew he should have used his magic for something else as well, to relieve at least some of the stress on his body, but he feared that no matter his intentions, his magic would turn ferocious from his anger and worry. Only a fool would have risked the ship and all its passengers with something like unruly magic-wielding.

The new ship was nothing like the Iron Mage. The interior was clearly thrown together in haste and not built with the intention to host several people for a long period of time. They had no separate rooms, just two lines of beds on both sides of one of the larger separated areas that divided the whole ship. Not that anybody cared. Everything was for necessity, not comfort. Everything was brand new, but incredibly simple and without much fanfare.

Despite the lack of privacy Hatchet felt like he was alone as he sat on his bed, his feet on the floor and his elbows on his knees. His temper was worse than ever and even Juyu gave up on having any sort of conversation with him. Nobody else even tried, because they knew they would only get harsh words in return for their trouble.

Then there was Thor. Hatchet wasn't sure if he ever found him so infuriating before. There was just something about having him around that made Hatchet's magic flare in irritation. He did not know what it was exactly that bothered him so much. He did not search for reasons, for he did not need reasons. Everything and everyone bothered him and his magic was beyond unsettled because of it. It made him constantly alert even when he would have preferred to rest. It put him on edge even when he attempted to relax. It kept him awake when he needed sleep. It burnt under his skin in distress, vibrating unpleasantly, making his already rotten mood worse. That was of course why everybody on the ship gave him a wide berth. Except for Thor.

Hatchet would have much preferred if the Thunderer would have remained in the company of his fellow Avengers. But no, for some reason he insisted on giving Hatchet some company once in a while, as if that could have possibly made anything better at all.

So this time when Thor sat down on the next bed right in front of him, mirroring his pose, Hatchet looked up with his most venomous glare, staring at the Aesir coldly. Thor huffed tiredly in reaction and pointed at Hatchet's face.

'I cannot decide whether you learnt that look from Loki or if it is the other way around,' he said.

Hatchet narrowed his eyes.

'What is this, Odinson?' he asked.

Thor sighed. 'You say that as if trading a few words is such an offense.'

'If you are under the impression that we are suddenly comrades... or friends, then you are sorely mistaken,' Hatchet told him. 'You can save your words for your brothers in arms,' he added, nodding his head where Steve and Bucky were talking quietly.