“Then turn to your reasons
for creating conflict. ‘Tis your choice to
start another war,
not ours. We…”
“My
prince. Your brother wishes to see him.”
It
was rare for Heimdall to interrupt him, much less relay a message from Loki. It
was those two things that gave him pause, and he glanced at Heimdall to make
sure that he hadn’t hallucinated the
interruption. Upon seeing that nod, he exhaled loudly. If there was one person,
besides his parents, who he tended to trust, it was his brother. If Loki wanted
to see their ‘guest’, then he would. Thor was aware that his brother knew
certain things he didn’t, so he was willing to defer to him when necessary.
“It appears someone has
decided to vouch for you. It would
benefit you
greatly not to
waste the opportunity.”
He
lowered his warhammer to his side just as the sound of hooves echoed behind
him. Two horses had arrived, one his war horse. The other was clearly for their
guest. According to Heimdall, Loki was waiting for them in their mother’s
garden.
Starting a war wasn’t his prerogative. Ending one before it began was. Whoever died in the aftermath of his actions wasn’t his concern. All that mattered to him was the end goal; one where he’d come out on top and damn the consequences.
An eyebrow was raised at Heimdall’s voice; an unexpected surprise in two parts. Ky knew coming here would raise the attention of… many individuals. Asgard wasn’t a place anyone would tread lightly at, but he’d used his last favor to get here.
Ultimately, he’d take anything he could get. The price didn’t matter to him, but hearing that someone could vouch for him was a change of plans. One, that he’d have to go through carefully… if only so he wouldn’t end up being put in a cell or sent to some world at the edge of known existence.
“So it seems.”
Ky wouldn’t say it was unexpected. It wasn’t – at least not entirely. What was, however, was that it seemed that someone – Thor’s brother – in-fact was willing to vouch specifically for him. That turn of events made things far more interesting.
“For the record, I never waste an opportunity. Not even if the odds are clearly stacked against me.”
FREE HAND CLUTCHED as his side as Strange sagged against the opposite rock face. His chest heaved up and down, pain, more than just his hands, radiating across his body. He pushed himself too far this time. Used too many big spells in such a small portion of time. While he may be the sorcerer supreme, the man wasn’t invisible. Because he was still that; a man. Now he was having to rely on others to pave the way home.
“I thought you said you’ve done this before.” A light accusation. But he was used to things not going quite according to plan. Eyes tracked Ky attempting to open the gateway. Stephen could try a small spell, but with his lack in energy, it could do more harm than good. He could try his sling ring, but something told him that may be ill advised. Looked like they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“How long do we have?” He questioned before walking over to the gateway. A shaking hand pressed against the boiling stone. It was hot as hellfire, but Stephen didn’t shy away. It almost felt as if the gate had too much power. Orbs narrowed. “It’s a surge. That may be why you can’t access it.” Blue orbs turned to look at the other. “We can try waiting it out or, chance it.” Either way, looked like they were going to be screwed.
LAST TIME HE DID this, he had hours left over to get through the gateway. This time, there was less than an hour – maybe a bit more or less. When that happened, it would close, and they’d lose their chance. It was what Ky had been trying to avoid to begin with.
“Less than a quarter of an hour,” he said, taking a step back from the rock face. “If we don’t go now, we won’t have another chance for quite a while.” Years actually, but there were other ways. Granted, they were far more dangerous than this gateway, but it still didn’t answer the question for why things were not going as planned.
Strange did say it was a surge; maybe he had under calculated this time. It wouldn’t be the first- nor the last time, but at such a critical moment? Maybe he should have put it off a few more years… that way he’d at least be ready for something like this.
“Chancing it could work,” he said, biting his lower lip for a moment or three. “Last time, things took a long while, but it worked. Just never was this hot.” Ky then rubbed at his temples. “Your choice.”
♚ ❝ well ——— it DOES SUGGEST that your friend to death ratio is awfully high in the other department. is it a WORKPLACE hazard or are you just . . really bad at keeping your hands off the murder switch ?? ❞
❝ —— MURDER SWITCH? ❞ he’d never heard it used in such a way before, but that DIDN’T truly surprise him. ❝ i’d like to say it’s more of a HAZARD. however, when you put it THAT way… it sounds more like a normal TUESDAY. people die all the time – MURDER SWITCH or otherwise. ❞
Nate doesn’t senselessly attack people. sure, he’s heard a lot about this man and he was hired to hunt him down, but he didn’t make a move on it until he followed him long enough to come up with his own opinion of him. eh, enough of an opinion, at least. Nate doesn’t have any money right now– he doesn’t have the privilege of being picky with jobs.
“you’re aware of your reputation, huh? i’m sure there’s a reason you have one like that. or you expect me to believe your word over the word of twenty others?” that’s definitely a knife digging into the man’s thigh. not piercing, of course. not yet.
“Oh, I’m quite aware people talk.” Most of the time it was the truth, but there was no reason to admit that for the moment. “They spread their information over wide nets, altering or even exaggerating things and the truth is never cared about. Only that they spread the lies further.”
It was then a grin slowly started to spread across his lips. “So, how about we come to an agreement.” Maybe that way he could actually get some wiggle room to do something should things make a turn for the worst. “— we both agree to have a nice chat; no weapons and no trying to kill each other for let’s say… ten minutes?” That way, Ky could get on an even playing field, and maybe talk his way out of this…uncomfortable situation.
′i’m guessing you just came to taunt me? yes, i’m recruiting new members.′blue orbs rolled, dry chuckles escaping smirked lips.′you are mistaken. in fact, you couldn’t be further from what the avengers do. yeah, we beat the bad guys. but our jobs is to save people. not only from alien threats and all of that, but from natural disasters as well. there’s also members who just help with simple stuff. like cleaning up parks and public areas. some who provide things for people in need, like food, water, even shelters. so no. we don’t just beat up bad people. and maybe if you’d be willing to change your ways, you wouldn’t be on that list.′
‘ so, you help a little to keep your image good, but then go after everyone you declare a, ’ he held up two fingers ‘ big bad. ’he couldn’t even help himself from the laughter at his own words. ‘ it’s almost poetic you know; wanting people to join your little band of heroes was it? ’ obviously he was taunting as he leaned his head back for a moment. ‘ i could change my ways; turn myself in right now even, but it won’t change the fact that i’d always be on that list. ’ well, maybe not always, but ky wasn’t going to change his ways – not unless there was some true benefit for him. so far? he didn’t really see one. ‘ someone with my… specific set of talents doesn’t get to be the hero. no, it’s always… the big bad villain, isn’t that right, captain? ’
open / ‘ You know, playing that shit music out loud ain’t gonna help… ‘
‘ And you think you’d have better tastes? ‘ he asked, making SURE to turn up Powerwolf just a bit higher. ‘ Or is more ancient music in your tastes; should i turn on the beach boy’s for you? or maybe something older? ’
he’d been in those types of situations before. the rage that needed to go somewhere – hell, anywhere would suffice during those times. to hold in that fire was dangerous. to let it go… equally as dangerous. “If you need to let anything else,” he said, hands slipping calmly into his back pockets. “How do you feel about destroying a city?”
′if you’ve ever wanted to be an avenger, now is your chance. i, captain america, will be conducting open interviews for a place on our ever growing team of heroes to save the day. please give your name, your age, what abilities you have and why you want to become an avenger.
′
‘ will you look at that – captain america trying to recruit for your little team. ‘ his arms crossed over his chest with a smirk. ‘ i almost want to say i’m impressed, but then again? whoever you recruit i’ll just have to try to kill – isn’t that what avengers do? fight one’s you deem villains? ’ a pause as ky glanced down for a few moments. ‘ or am i humbly mistaken? ’
If it was up to him, they’d not even be in this situation, but Ky just had to tag along. He wanted to see the famous Punisher in action. He wanted to observe – he just didn’t think that things would end up going this far. Luckily for them, Ky knew of a way to get them out, but he doubted that Frank would agree to it. ‘And I told you i’d take care of this – a few noble people may die, but that’s what happens.’
Hellfirebound 