The Valkyrior (MCU Thor/Worm)
- Thread starter Heather Sinclair
- Start date
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
Thank you both for ninja-ing me on this.
PseudoSim
Intentionally Obfuscating
- Location
- Beating my muse with a bat for being a pain
Something ive been wondering lately is whether we will be seeing any parahumans from earth bet, or anyone else from worm canon that matter.
Edit: cus with how powerfull/broken some of them are im thinking SHIELD will have a collective aneurism. And then there is Gleschencraft, them and HYDRA? Thats a mix for some bad juju.
Last edited:
- Location
- Existance
That guy from the Ambassadors? Othello, with his other-dimensional-self, would be hilarious if he survived Scion's rampage.
PseudoSim
Intentionally Obfuscating
- Location
- Beating my muse with a bat for being a pain
VolantRedX
Official Conscience of Worm Fanfiction!
Something, something, crude innuendo.
WhoAmEye
Bunker-Dwelling Cryptid
- Location
- Vault Birb
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Loki: ...
Lisa: ...
Loki: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Lisa: Not particularly, but you're right, our children would be awesome.
Loki: I'm glad we agree. *brings out chessboard*
-.-.-
*elsewhere*
Thor: *pauses mid diplomacy* Did you feel that?
Taylor: *shivers* Yes. We need to get back to Asgard, now.
Lisa: ...
Loki: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Lisa: Not particularly, but you're right, our children would be awesome.
Loki: I'm glad we agree. *brings out chessboard*
-.-.-
*elsewhere*
Thor: *pauses mid diplomacy* Did you feel that?
Taylor: *shivers* Yes. We need to get back to Asgard, now.
- Location
- Internet
Well, to be honest, Taylor is right up Loki's scheming alley. She's new to the Valkyries, intelligent, favors wit and cunning over brute strength and mastery of arms, is a student of learning, dislikes virtually EVERYONE ELSE in Asgard, and especially seems to dislike his brother with a rather strong vengeance. Plus, she's a formal mortal and is likely all the more familiar and open to cutting deals to better herself.
That automatically makes her better by half then anyone else in Asgard for Loki to associate with. And he already made a bet to make her a minion, which was likely a cleverly played ruse to make her more receptive to him so he can later have an Agent on the inside when he finally decides to try and take over Asgard.
Because to tell the truth, Loki knows he's going to need someone to handle day-to-day stuff. And here was looking to outsource when Brunnhilda brought in a candidate for him to turn traitor for him without him doing a thing.
That automatically makes her better by half then anyone else in Asgard for Loki to associate with. And he already made a bet to make her a minion, which was likely a cleverly played ruse to make her more receptive to him so he can later have an Agent on the inside when he finally decides to try and take over Asgard.
Because to tell the truth, Loki knows he's going to need someone to handle day-to-day stuff. And here was looking to outsource when Brunnhilda brought in a candidate for him to turn traitor for him without him doing a thing.
Gesellschaft, and I totally agree.
- Location
- West Michigan
If we hadn't already met Sif, I'd be pushing for her being time-shifted Annette. When she had that car accident, she didn't die. She went home, to 15th century (or whenever) Asgard, in a different universe. Like Hitchhiker's Guide!Elvis.
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
That dont Work that well its a simple thing to just make sure you go from maimed to dead.
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
You mean MiB Elvis
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
Eh, it kind of pushes the rule of Crossover. Also creates the implication that Taylor got in because of her mother rather than just what she did in life.
Loki: brother i am with child once more
Thor: looks startled what?! how!? we left you alone with a women for day!
Loki: It was decided since I am used to the process I would carry.
Thor: well at least this won't turn out to be a beast trying to start ragnarok.
Taylor: Looks at Loki's motley crew of children "No I think his other kids are okay I worry more about a child between him and Lisa".
Lisa: soon the multiverse will quake in fear
Odin: Quick everyone out of the universe NOW!
Baladar
Mad Scientist in Training
- Location
- Louisiana
I can just imagine how smug those children would be.
- Location
- United States
Very smug. Just not for very long.
That level of smug would collapse into a singularity and consume the poor tot.
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
Nah Loki actually likes his children, and he's a great mage, so if necessary he would create an empty pocket dimension for their excess smugness.
If they can have a cancer dimension, they can have a smugness dimension powered by Loki and Lisa's kids.
Suipe
VERISIMILITUDE
- Location
- Latveria
"I cast Plane of Elemental Smugness"
SHIELD 2.3
Heather Sinclair
Verified Force User
2.3
May 2, 2011
Officially, it was the second day of talks. I don't know if it would technically be considered negotiations since it wasn't like they were battling over land rights or the ending of a war, but there was bartering involved, and I was fairly sure I overheard mention of Asgardian support of one type or another. Brunnhilda, the only person on Earth at the moment who knew the most about my power, forbade me from listening in on the private talks. I didn't see what the big deal was, but she explained it as bargaining in good faith. It was the Asgardian version of the Golden Rule.
When I let her know there were cameras covering every square inch of that building, recording everything that was said or done, it didn't make any difference whatsoever. Asgardians were the bigger people in this instance, in her eyes anyway. That didn't stop me from making it known to Phil that I knew they were watching.
He just took it in stride, like it was simply a fact of life that he'd be recorded doing the least little thing when at the facility.
While they did that, I showed Brunnhilda around Sin City, at least the parts that I'd already visited. It was really weird being in a place where parahumans, or their equivalent, barely existed, where the common person off the streets didn't have to worry about someone flying in and melting their car for no particular reason. There weren't any PRT trucks racing down the street to contain the next big threat, no Wards interacting with the locals or signing autographs, and no sense of impending doom on the horizon in the form of the Endbringers. Best of all, there was no Scion.
Granted, there was a Hulk, which turned out to be the green monster in Odin's picture. He rampaged every so often in different parts of the world, but there was no horrendous death count to speak of. It was just average everyday people going about doing average everyday things.
In other words, it was awful.
I was going stir crazy with want of something to do; anything. I think that's why Brunnhilda had me out and about, dressing in civilian clothes that she thought were quaint looking. Me? I felt dumpy wearing a pair of linen shorts and a thin cami to escape the desert heat, while she was the picture of poise and muscled grace in a pair of jeans and a colorful tank. Of course, she'd look awesome in anything she wore.
While there weren't any comedic face-plants while we walked down Las Vegas Boulevard, men didn't even bother approaching her. They just stood out of the way and stared.
This was obviously a very bad idea. Sure, I wasn't biting at the bit to hunt down some sort of criminal element, but my ego and self-image were taking a massive thrashing.
"Are all of Midgard's cities like this?" she asked
I glanced around at all the glitz and glamor with a measuring eye. "If it's anything like my Earth, then no. People come here to gamble, drink, and generally to do things they'd be less likely to do at home where they're supposedly more civilized. That's probably saying it mildly."
She quirked a smile. "I understand. We all must have a place where our darker selves are allowed to be set free."
That didn't make me feel any less disturbed about what went on around here. "There's a difference between relaxation and debauchery."
"You mistake what amounts to escapism for something more sinister, Taylor. Within each of us is something more malevolent than we'd ordinarily show to those that know us best – something selfish and dark. It must be given free reign from time to time or the beast inside will express itself, will find a way out at a less than opportune time."
I shot her a brief look and then set my attention in front of us in an attempt to change the subject. "Am I finished here – for Odin, I mean."
"On Midgard? That depends on you."
"What's that mean?"
Brunnhilda stopped in front of a storefront and looked curiously at the display in the window. I pulled up to her side and tried to wait patiently.
"If you so choose, I can conclude your duty to the Valkyrior and you may go about whatever business you desire, here and not on Asgard. However, I wish you to consider something."
If it was going back to the training grounds and being the local pariah then I'd have to choose a big fat no.
She looked down at me. "What would you do here?"
I suddenly found myself with nothing to do with my hands, so I shoved them into my pockets. "I don't know. It's… too peaceful. I'm used to barely having time to breathe much less entire days of doing nothing. I guess maybe go back to school? Get a job? I don't know. I haven't really put much thought into life beyond the cape."
She nodded. "Understandable. The impact you…."
When Brunnhilda continued down the sidewalk I had to stop her with a hand to her upper arm. That's when the high-pitched scream coming from the guy darting out from between stores interrupted the flow of pedestrian traffic. Hot on his trail was a swarm of wasps that had been nesting not too far away. The guy ran out into the boulevard, slapping at his own face, and straight into a moving van, before bouncing off of it and staggering away as fast as his legs would take him.
Brunnhilda glanced back at me and I shrugged.
"He was mugging someone… or about to anyway." I looked around the side of the store and there was a middle-aged guy in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts picking up his wallet from the ground. "You okay?"
He nodded bewildered. "They came out of nowhere."
"Huh," I returned. "Weird."
Another scream came from down the street – same guy, judging from the pitch. I guess my wasps caught him. Well, I didn't really have to guess. They gave him two stings to the back of his neck and afterward I steered them away and back above the stores out of sight.
"No more shortcuts," he mumbled before he increased his speed away from the scene.
I sighed, almost euphoric. After going so long between incidents it was like starting my cape career all over again. The quick and easy satisfaction of helping an average everyday citizen had been lost to me years ago. Everything I became involved in was large scale life and death. It was nice to just help without making a gigantic production of the situation.
Brunnhilda suppressed a smile, but I could see she was chuckling underneath it all. "I was concerned that this would be more challenging. I think you need something to keep you occupied beyond the occasional… mugging did you say?"
I narrowed my eyes at her, already seeing that she had something planned for me that I might object to. "What would be more challenging?"
"If the talks are fruitful then my people will be coming here on occasion. We have lost relics that were left behind a millennium ago, items that would cause havoc if found by mortal men. We intend to retrieve and secure them elsewhere. While Midgard is still using ancient technology compared to Asgardian, they are not far from making their presence known to the greater galaxy. If you are willing, I would like you to remain here and be the face of Asgard amongst your kind."
"Face," I said more to myself than to her.
While I definitely wouldn't mind hanging onto the armor for its flight capability alone, I didn't know if remaining a valkyrie and having to eventually answer to Thor of all people was the wisest decision to make. I just could just see him yelling for "another" and me sending him a mouth full of bugs. Then there would be this big battle and things just get really messy soon afterward.
"Why would you want me of all people hanging around?" I asked. "I'm not exactly popular with your king and the guy that's soon to be king."
That seemed to have pressed the wrong button with my boss.
"I was not born only of Asgard, Taylor. Have care how you speak of outsiders, especially if you still think of yourself in such a way," she said rather dramatically. "It was the Allfather that chose an outsider, me, above all others even his own kin, his favorites. While the Odinson is lacking in certain qualities that some might think are needed in a true leader, do not think him thoroughly imprudent. He may be rash at times, when his temper is high, but he has been guided by Odin himself in the ways of his role as leader to the citizens of Asgard and the Nine Realms as a whole."
She had to be kidding somewhat. "You don't consider me an outsider on Asgard?"
"New perhaps, but someone that doesn't belong? No more than a number of others that eventually comes to be considered brother and sister among those that have lived there all their lives. Hogun the Grim, for instance, is Vanir. His homeworld is Vanaheim, yet he is one of Thor's closest friends and allies. At some point even Hogun was what you consider an outsider."
That wasn't as great of an endorsement as one might think. Becoming what amounts to the equivalent of a frat brother with a sword wasn't exactly a goal in my life. I had no desire to become the second coming of Sif.
"Odin learned long ago that popularity has no place when filling certain roles," she mused. "While he might question my decision as to who I bring into the Valkyrior, he has always ceded to my choices, and not one of them has ever been wrong. You deserve the chance to prove your right to be there, Taylor, to him and to yourself."
"Why would I want to?" I said before actually thinking. "I mean…."
"I know of what you speak," she replied grimly. "This is why I would prefer to have the Valkyrior training grounds somewhere other than butting up on the palace itself. My valkyries have enough on their minds without having to suffer the indignity of being looked down upon at first. However, such is that way in every walk of life. Am I mistaken?"
I sighed and reached up to rub between my eyes as I thought of how things were when I first started out as a cape. Lisa, with Brian as a close second, was the only one that really saw beyond the geeky girl that threw bugs at Lung. When I joined the Wards, my team was the only one that even wanted me in Chicago, much less out of prison.
"No; you're right."
With a nod Brunnhilda seemed at ease again. "Then take my advice, Taylor. Remain as you are – one of the Valkyrior. Use this mantle as you will, with honor of course. Aid those on Midgard in the name of Asgard. I would even go so far as to suggest building a comradery with this group you encountered. They seem somewhat powerful in this land."
My shoulders dropped and I nearly groaned. "I'm not joining SHIELD… but I'll make myself available if they need help."
With a sharp nod, Brunnhilda smiled. "A wise decision."
~O~
When we returned to the facility I made myself comfortable in the original conference room where Phil interrogated me, while Brunnhilda went off to do whatever it was she was doing here. Setting my bag of purchases on the table I pulled out the X-acto knife I bought and started practicing my runes. It was better than sitting around doing nothing but listening into meetings that I shouldn't be listening to in the first place. Seriously though, why shouldn't I? The golden rule never really worked where I was concerned anyway.
"… will not be one of your warriors, Agent Coulson."
"Agents," he corrected. "If you want her to work with SHIELD then she will have to go through the training like everyone else. She couldn't be more than eighteen or nineteen years old. Normally…."
Brunnhilda's voice took on an edge that makes most people back away when she used it. "Taylor is a valkyrie of Asgard. She has seen and participated in more battles than you could dream of against foes more powerful than her by several orders of magnitude. Still she prevailed."
"Coulson," yelled the boss guy from across the room. "What's this?"
"Sorry, Boss. Brunnhilda was telling me about Valkyrie's qualifications. I was considering sponsoring her for training at the academy."
"Yeah, I heard that part. What's this about fighting powerful people?"
"Taylor originates from an alternate Midgard where your Iron Man and Hulk are two among tens of thousands of what she would call parahumans – those with powers far above those of the average mortal."
"You don't say," the Boss replied with increased interest. "So she has a lot of experience taking these parahumans down?"
"If by 'taking down' you mean was she a member of the local law enforcement and was she directly responsible for defeating even the most powerful among them, then yes."
The room went quiet for a few moments before the boss stood. "I think this is good time for a break, Prince Thor. I'll have someone bring you some lunch. Coulson, take care of our guest."
I tried my best to not respond to what was being said, even when I already told Brunnhilda to go easy on who she announced my name to, but this was all about me. So I took a nice cleansing breath and leaned back with my X-acto knife and a block of wood, trying my best to remain looking bored while the leader of this place was making wide strides in my direction.
Needless to say, he didn't bother knocking.
"You're Valkyrie," he said as a matter of fact.
I tilted my head up just a little and made a minor show of still concentrating on my work. "And you're…?"
"Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD."
Well, that put an end to my speculating as to how high up the ladder this guy stood upon. Apparently, it was the very top. He had a presence about him, even beyond the whole dressed totally in black thing he had going, not to mention the eyepatch covering his left eye, the overly long leather jacket, and the two pistols he had hiding one underneath each arm.
I already had a number of bugs on him and found more than the average person's fair share of weapons: a knife off center at the small of his back and a back-up strapped to his calf. This didn't count whatever was folded up in his jacket pockets. I guessed when told you'd be meeting an ancient Norse god then you'd come prepared. Personally, I think I would have brought a rocket launcher.
"Your valkyrie buddy in the room down the hall had some interesting things to say about you."
With a wry smile I looked back down to my block of wood. "You're here to make the pitch, I'm guessing?"
"What pitch is that?"
"The one where you want me to take down the parahumans that are annoying you. The Hulk I presume. From what I've seen of Iron Man, he's more help than hindrance."
He shot a quick glance at me and started to slowly pace the room. I guess that's where Phil picked up the mild intimidation trick from.
"You would presume wrong. As long as you leave the Hulk alone then he's not much of an issue. Stark is… well, he's Stark. Tell me about some of the threats you've gone against."
"Why?"
He didn't even break stride. "I'm told you want to stick around here on Earth. You have to have a paper presence in order to have a life here. SHIELD can provide that, amongst other things."
I shrugged and tried to play the situation as cool as I could. While it would be nice to have just that, I didn't want him to know I was fairly eager for the opportunity. I learned long ago not to show all my cards at the first go-around.
"I'm not one for bragging. That's where the Asgardians and I differ. Suffice to say when I'm pointed toward a mission I make sure it's complete, usually to the annoyance of those that only want to look good for the public or for those above them on the food chain."
He nodded. "You dot your I's and cross your T's; is that what you're saying?"
I shook my head. "No. I mean if I go in to take out the bad guy, I don't stop in the middle of a mission to ponder if I'm doing the right thing anymore. If somewhere along the way I find out that I'm not doing the right thing, well that typically goes bad for the guy that sent me on the mission to begin with. I don't usually take orders without cause and explanations, Director Fury; I'm the one that gives them."
He shrugged, almost uncaring. "SHIELD wouldn't be your thing then. I do have a better idea for your talents, though. The idea is to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they become something more. See if they can work together when we needed them to. To fight the battles that we never could."
My brows furrowed and I set my block of wood down. "You know about more parahumans?"
Fury deflected the question. "Let's say, for instance, I did. Do you have experience pulling them together, working as a team, or do you work as one of the team under someone else?"
"Both, but I've been team leader for a while now, hunting down the worst sort."
"Hm. This valkyrie thing; it's not your only gig is it. That came after Brunnhilda picked you up."
Hats off to the Director. He definitely wasn't stupid. "No. It isn't my only gig."
He stopped and narrowed his good eye at me. "What is it you do?"
Revealing my true powers was something I wanted to keep under wraps for a while, at least until I got my footing on this new Earth. However, Fury was skirting around something that I could really have an interest in pursuing. Being part of a team of parahumans, on a planet that was just emerging into its own onto the scene? It was like the beginnings of the Protectorate. They could do so many things wrong in the process, at least wrong by my terms. I could actually make a difference to those that would be coming into their powers for the first time.
Granted, they wouldn't be triggering like I did, since there wasn't a Scion in the mix, but the thought was the same. Lead them instead of using them.
"Don't freak out," I warned him.
His voice took on a defensive tone. "Freak out about what."
It was the low buzzing that alerted him that things weren't as they should be. The second was when the air conditioning vent started spewing forth my swarm. Hundreds of bugs: wasps, common houseflies, roaches, ants, scorpions, centipedes, and so forth landed on the ground on the far side of the room and built up from the floor into a single swarm clone.
Fury's single eye widened, but I couldn't tell if it was from fear or simply amazement. Either way, he stood his ground rather valiantly.
The clone took two steps toward him and stopped, buzzing out, "Hello, Director Fury."
He licked his lips a single time and then backed away enough to keep both of us in his line of sight. "Is that… you, or are you making them do that?"
"They're an extension of me. I see what they see. I hear what they hear. They do what I want them to do."
Then the penny dropped for him. "You've been watching us this entire time."
I nodded. "The entire facility. That's why I never tried to break in here, or confront you until I was ready."
That part was a tiny white lie, but not technically.
"How many?" he asked.
"Bugs? How many can I control?" When I received the nod of conformation I smiled as evilly as I could manage. "All of them."
"Can you," he made a gesture and I dispersed the clone, allowing it to shoot back up through the vents. When they disappeared, Fury pulled a chair out and sat down. "Let's talk about the Avengers Initiative."
May 2, 2011
Officially, it was the second day of talks. I don't know if it would technically be considered negotiations since it wasn't like they were battling over land rights or the ending of a war, but there was bartering involved, and I was fairly sure I overheard mention of Asgardian support of one type or another. Brunnhilda, the only person on Earth at the moment who knew the most about my power, forbade me from listening in on the private talks. I didn't see what the big deal was, but she explained it as bargaining in good faith. It was the Asgardian version of the Golden Rule.
When I let her know there were cameras covering every square inch of that building, recording everything that was said or done, it didn't make any difference whatsoever. Asgardians were the bigger people in this instance, in her eyes anyway. That didn't stop me from making it known to Phil that I knew they were watching.
He just took it in stride, like it was simply a fact of life that he'd be recorded doing the least little thing when at the facility.
While they did that, I showed Brunnhilda around Sin City, at least the parts that I'd already visited. It was really weird being in a place where parahumans, or their equivalent, barely existed, where the common person off the streets didn't have to worry about someone flying in and melting their car for no particular reason. There weren't any PRT trucks racing down the street to contain the next big threat, no Wards interacting with the locals or signing autographs, and no sense of impending doom on the horizon in the form of the Endbringers. Best of all, there was no Scion.
Granted, there was a Hulk, which turned out to be the green monster in Odin's picture. He rampaged every so often in different parts of the world, but there was no horrendous death count to speak of. It was just average everyday people going about doing average everyday things.
In other words, it was awful.
I was going stir crazy with want of something to do; anything. I think that's why Brunnhilda had me out and about, dressing in civilian clothes that she thought were quaint looking. Me? I felt dumpy wearing a pair of linen shorts and a thin cami to escape the desert heat, while she was the picture of poise and muscled grace in a pair of jeans and a colorful tank. Of course, she'd look awesome in anything she wore.
While there weren't any comedic face-plants while we walked down Las Vegas Boulevard, men didn't even bother approaching her. They just stood out of the way and stared.
This was obviously a very bad idea. Sure, I wasn't biting at the bit to hunt down some sort of criminal element, but my ego and self-image were taking a massive thrashing.
"Are all of Midgard's cities like this?" she asked
I glanced around at all the glitz and glamor with a measuring eye. "If it's anything like my Earth, then no. People come here to gamble, drink, and generally to do things they'd be less likely to do at home where they're supposedly more civilized. That's probably saying it mildly."
She quirked a smile. "I understand. We all must have a place where our darker selves are allowed to be set free."
That didn't make me feel any less disturbed about what went on around here. "There's a difference between relaxation and debauchery."
"You mistake what amounts to escapism for something more sinister, Taylor. Within each of us is something more malevolent than we'd ordinarily show to those that know us best – something selfish and dark. It must be given free reign from time to time or the beast inside will express itself, will find a way out at a less than opportune time."
I shot her a brief look and then set my attention in front of us in an attempt to change the subject. "Am I finished here – for Odin, I mean."
"On Midgard? That depends on you."
"What's that mean?"
Brunnhilda stopped in front of a storefront and looked curiously at the display in the window. I pulled up to her side and tried to wait patiently.
"If you so choose, I can conclude your duty to the Valkyrior and you may go about whatever business you desire, here and not on Asgard. However, I wish you to consider something."
If it was going back to the training grounds and being the local pariah then I'd have to choose a big fat no.
She looked down at me. "What would you do here?"
I suddenly found myself with nothing to do with my hands, so I shoved them into my pockets. "I don't know. It's… too peaceful. I'm used to barely having time to breathe much less entire days of doing nothing. I guess maybe go back to school? Get a job? I don't know. I haven't really put much thought into life beyond the cape."
She nodded. "Understandable. The impact you…."
When Brunnhilda continued down the sidewalk I had to stop her with a hand to her upper arm. That's when the high-pitched scream coming from the guy darting out from between stores interrupted the flow of pedestrian traffic. Hot on his trail was a swarm of wasps that had been nesting not too far away. The guy ran out into the boulevard, slapping at his own face, and straight into a moving van, before bouncing off of it and staggering away as fast as his legs would take him.
Brunnhilda glanced back at me and I shrugged.
"He was mugging someone… or about to anyway." I looked around the side of the store and there was a middle-aged guy in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts picking up his wallet from the ground. "You okay?"
He nodded bewildered. "They came out of nowhere."
"Huh," I returned. "Weird."
Another scream came from down the street – same guy, judging from the pitch. I guess my wasps caught him. Well, I didn't really have to guess. They gave him two stings to the back of his neck and afterward I steered them away and back above the stores out of sight.
"No more shortcuts," he mumbled before he increased his speed away from the scene.
I sighed, almost euphoric. After going so long between incidents it was like starting my cape career all over again. The quick and easy satisfaction of helping an average everyday citizen had been lost to me years ago. Everything I became involved in was large scale life and death. It was nice to just help without making a gigantic production of the situation.
Brunnhilda suppressed a smile, but I could see she was chuckling underneath it all. "I was concerned that this would be more challenging. I think you need something to keep you occupied beyond the occasional… mugging did you say?"
I narrowed my eyes at her, already seeing that she had something planned for me that I might object to. "What would be more challenging?"
"If the talks are fruitful then my people will be coming here on occasion. We have lost relics that were left behind a millennium ago, items that would cause havoc if found by mortal men. We intend to retrieve and secure them elsewhere. While Midgard is still using ancient technology compared to Asgardian, they are not far from making their presence known to the greater galaxy. If you are willing, I would like you to remain here and be the face of Asgard amongst your kind."
"Face," I said more to myself than to her.
While I definitely wouldn't mind hanging onto the armor for its flight capability alone, I didn't know if remaining a valkyrie and having to eventually answer to Thor of all people was the wisest decision to make. I just could just see him yelling for "another" and me sending him a mouth full of bugs. Then there would be this big battle and things just get really messy soon afterward.
"Why would you want me of all people hanging around?" I asked. "I'm not exactly popular with your king and the guy that's soon to be king."
That seemed to have pressed the wrong button with my boss.
"I was not born only of Asgard, Taylor. Have care how you speak of outsiders, especially if you still think of yourself in such a way," she said rather dramatically. "It was the Allfather that chose an outsider, me, above all others even his own kin, his favorites. While the Odinson is lacking in certain qualities that some might think are needed in a true leader, do not think him thoroughly imprudent. He may be rash at times, when his temper is high, but he has been guided by Odin himself in the ways of his role as leader to the citizens of Asgard and the Nine Realms as a whole."
She had to be kidding somewhat. "You don't consider me an outsider on Asgard?"
"New perhaps, but someone that doesn't belong? No more than a number of others that eventually comes to be considered brother and sister among those that have lived there all their lives. Hogun the Grim, for instance, is Vanir. His homeworld is Vanaheim, yet he is one of Thor's closest friends and allies. At some point even Hogun was what you consider an outsider."
That wasn't as great of an endorsement as one might think. Becoming what amounts to the equivalent of a frat brother with a sword wasn't exactly a goal in my life. I had no desire to become the second coming of Sif.
"Odin learned long ago that popularity has no place when filling certain roles," she mused. "While he might question my decision as to who I bring into the Valkyrior, he has always ceded to my choices, and not one of them has ever been wrong. You deserve the chance to prove your right to be there, Taylor, to him and to yourself."
"Why would I want to?" I said before actually thinking. "I mean…."
"I know of what you speak," she replied grimly. "This is why I would prefer to have the Valkyrior training grounds somewhere other than butting up on the palace itself. My valkyries have enough on their minds without having to suffer the indignity of being looked down upon at first. However, such is that way in every walk of life. Am I mistaken?"
I sighed and reached up to rub between my eyes as I thought of how things were when I first started out as a cape. Lisa, with Brian as a close second, was the only one that really saw beyond the geeky girl that threw bugs at Lung. When I joined the Wards, my team was the only one that even wanted me in Chicago, much less out of prison.
"No; you're right."
With a nod Brunnhilda seemed at ease again. "Then take my advice, Taylor. Remain as you are – one of the Valkyrior. Use this mantle as you will, with honor of course. Aid those on Midgard in the name of Asgard. I would even go so far as to suggest building a comradery with this group you encountered. They seem somewhat powerful in this land."
My shoulders dropped and I nearly groaned. "I'm not joining SHIELD… but I'll make myself available if they need help."
With a sharp nod, Brunnhilda smiled. "A wise decision."
~O~
When we returned to the facility I made myself comfortable in the original conference room where Phil interrogated me, while Brunnhilda went off to do whatever it was she was doing here. Setting my bag of purchases on the table I pulled out the X-acto knife I bought and started practicing my runes. It was better than sitting around doing nothing but listening into meetings that I shouldn't be listening to in the first place. Seriously though, why shouldn't I? The golden rule never really worked where I was concerned anyway.
"… will not be one of your warriors, Agent Coulson."
"Agents," he corrected. "If you want her to work with SHIELD then she will have to go through the training like everyone else. She couldn't be more than eighteen or nineteen years old. Normally…."
Brunnhilda's voice took on an edge that makes most people back away when she used it. "Taylor is a valkyrie of Asgard. She has seen and participated in more battles than you could dream of against foes more powerful than her by several orders of magnitude. Still she prevailed."
"Coulson," yelled the boss guy from across the room. "What's this?"
"Sorry, Boss. Brunnhilda was telling me about Valkyrie's qualifications. I was considering sponsoring her for training at the academy."
"Yeah, I heard that part. What's this about fighting powerful people?"
"Taylor originates from an alternate Midgard where your Iron Man and Hulk are two among tens of thousands of what she would call parahumans – those with powers far above those of the average mortal."
"You don't say," the Boss replied with increased interest. "So she has a lot of experience taking these parahumans down?"
"If by 'taking down' you mean was she a member of the local law enforcement and was she directly responsible for defeating even the most powerful among them, then yes."
The room went quiet for a few moments before the boss stood. "I think this is good time for a break, Prince Thor. I'll have someone bring you some lunch. Coulson, take care of our guest."
I tried my best to not respond to what was being said, even when I already told Brunnhilda to go easy on who she announced my name to, but this was all about me. So I took a nice cleansing breath and leaned back with my X-acto knife and a block of wood, trying my best to remain looking bored while the leader of this place was making wide strides in my direction.
Needless to say, he didn't bother knocking.
"You're Valkyrie," he said as a matter of fact.
I tilted my head up just a little and made a minor show of still concentrating on my work. "And you're…?"
"Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD."
Well, that put an end to my speculating as to how high up the ladder this guy stood upon. Apparently, it was the very top. He had a presence about him, even beyond the whole dressed totally in black thing he had going, not to mention the eyepatch covering his left eye, the overly long leather jacket, and the two pistols he had hiding one underneath each arm.
I already had a number of bugs on him and found more than the average person's fair share of weapons: a knife off center at the small of his back and a back-up strapped to his calf. This didn't count whatever was folded up in his jacket pockets. I guessed when told you'd be meeting an ancient Norse god then you'd come prepared. Personally, I think I would have brought a rocket launcher.
"Your valkyrie buddy in the room down the hall had some interesting things to say about you."
With a wry smile I looked back down to my block of wood. "You're here to make the pitch, I'm guessing?"
"What pitch is that?"
"The one where you want me to take down the parahumans that are annoying you. The Hulk I presume. From what I've seen of Iron Man, he's more help than hindrance."
He shot a quick glance at me and started to slowly pace the room. I guess that's where Phil picked up the mild intimidation trick from.
"You would presume wrong. As long as you leave the Hulk alone then he's not much of an issue. Stark is… well, he's Stark. Tell me about some of the threats you've gone against."
"Why?"
He didn't even break stride. "I'm told you want to stick around here on Earth. You have to have a paper presence in order to have a life here. SHIELD can provide that, amongst other things."
I shrugged and tried to play the situation as cool as I could. While it would be nice to have just that, I didn't want him to know I was fairly eager for the opportunity. I learned long ago not to show all my cards at the first go-around.
"I'm not one for bragging. That's where the Asgardians and I differ. Suffice to say when I'm pointed toward a mission I make sure it's complete, usually to the annoyance of those that only want to look good for the public or for those above them on the food chain."
He nodded. "You dot your I's and cross your T's; is that what you're saying?"
I shook my head. "No. I mean if I go in to take out the bad guy, I don't stop in the middle of a mission to ponder if I'm doing the right thing anymore. If somewhere along the way I find out that I'm not doing the right thing, well that typically goes bad for the guy that sent me on the mission to begin with. I don't usually take orders without cause and explanations, Director Fury; I'm the one that gives them."
He shrugged, almost uncaring. "SHIELD wouldn't be your thing then. I do have a better idea for your talents, though. The idea is to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they become something more. See if they can work together when we needed them to. To fight the battles that we never could."
My brows furrowed and I set my block of wood down. "You know about more parahumans?"
Fury deflected the question. "Let's say, for instance, I did. Do you have experience pulling them together, working as a team, or do you work as one of the team under someone else?"
"Both, but I've been team leader for a while now, hunting down the worst sort."
"Hm. This valkyrie thing; it's not your only gig is it. That came after Brunnhilda picked you up."
Hats off to the Director. He definitely wasn't stupid. "No. It isn't my only gig."
He stopped and narrowed his good eye at me. "What is it you do?"
Revealing my true powers was something I wanted to keep under wraps for a while, at least until I got my footing on this new Earth. However, Fury was skirting around something that I could really have an interest in pursuing. Being part of a team of parahumans, on a planet that was just emerging into its own onto the scene? It was like the beginnings of the Protectorate. They could do so many things wrong in the process, at least wrong by my terms. I could actually make a difference to those that would be coming into their powers for the first time.
Granted, they wouldn't be triggering like I did, since there wasn't a Scion in the mix, but the thought was the same. Lead them instead of using them.
"Don't freak out," I warned him.
His voice took on a defensive tone. "Freak out about what."
It was the low buzzing that alerted him that things weren't as they should be. The second was when the air conditioning vent started spewing forth my swarm. Hundreds of bugs: wasps, common houseflies, roaches, ants, scorpions, centipedes, and so forth landed on the ground on the far side of the room and built up from the floor into a single swarm clone.
Fury's single eye widened, but I couldn't tell if it was from fear or simply amazement. Either way, he stood his ground rather valiantly.
The clone took two steps toward him and stopped, buzzing out, "Hello, Director Fury."
He licked his lips a single time and then backed away enough to keep both of us in his line of sight. "Is that… you, or are you making them do that?"
"They're an extension of me. I see what they see. I hear what they hear. They do what I want them to do."
Then the penny dropped for him. "You've been watching us this entire time."
I nodded. "The entire facility. That's why I never tried to break in here, or confront you until I was ready."
That part was a tiny white lie, but not technically.
"How many?" he asked.
"Bugs? How many can I control?" When I received the nod of conformation I smiled as evilly as I could manage. "All of them."
"Can you," he made a gesture and I dispersed the clone, allowing it to shoot back up through the vents. When they disappeared, Fury pulled a chair out and sat down. "Let's talk about the Avengers Initiative."
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VolantRedX
Official Conscience of Worm Fanfiction!
Taylor: Totally not gay.
Whelp, looks like Taylor just has to intimidate every goddamn person she meets.
Lenimentus
Ignorant but learning.
Nah, fury looks at her and sees another tool to be used and potential threat, that's what he sees when he looks at everyone. Taylor is no different in his eye.