Blah blah- Jotunn language

Blah blah- Language of the Dead

Chapter Four.

As soon as Halvar was back to his more Human form, the conference was quickly organised. It was set to be comfortable, with the Avengers in Civilian clothing, or, in the case of Halvar and his Grandfather's, in their Royal garb slash armour (Loki had stripped any semblance of Odin and Thor's armour from his own with a satisfied efficiency.)
Sitting next to his Grandfather at the centre of the table, with Natasha on his other side and the other Avengers seated at the long table in front of a sea of reporters and camera crews, the teen forced down his nerves and reminded himself that he was Crown Prince of Helheim and Niflehim, that he had the support of his family. He could do this. He stayed silent as his Grandfather emotionlessly related their tale to the press, offering his support to the hurting man by gripping his hand tightly beneath the tablecloth.

"So the stories of your children...they're true?" came the tentative question from one of the reporters. Quickly, Halvar took over.
"I know a little more of the Midgardian tales than Grandfather, due to my childhood. Yes, Uncle Jor was banished to the oceans, though I am not entirely sure as to the rest of the legend surrounding him in regards to him biting his tail to encircle the world or even being able to. Uncle Fenrir is chained in darkness with a sword through his muzzle. Uncle Sleipnir...he is ridden like a common animal, enslaved. My Mother is neither hideous, nor half dead, though even before becoming Queen of her Domain, she did have quite a talent for Necromancy and other acts of the sort, though she is not evil."

"Why did you two shift forms?" came the next question. Loki answered this question.
"When I was born, there was a war, between the Jotun- the Frost Giants- and the Asgardians. In the final battle, the runtling son of the King of the Jotun Laufey was abandoned by his wet-nurse in the temple along with The Casket of Ancient Winters, which belongs to the Frost Giants by right, not the Asgardians. Odin came upon this find when they won, and took The Casket and the Child to Asgard with him- The Casket for its power, and due to a vague idea that he could use the Crown Prince to as a puppet of sorts when he was older. Only recently did I discover that the Crown Prince of the Jotun had been taken that day...that the Crown Prince was me, I-" unable to continue, Loki closed his mouth firmly. His Grandson shouldered the tale.
"In a desperate attempt to prove that he was more than a Frost Giant- who he had been raised to believe were monsters- and some partial mental instability from the revelation that he was little more than a pawn to Odin- Grandfather lured Great-Grandfather Laufey to Asgard and killed him."
"I only very recently, thanks to Halvar, discovered that my Father truly did care for me, and that it had not been he who abandoned me all those years ago. Forgive me, but the fact that I killed the Father who loved me is not something that I enjoy dwelling upon. On that point...would you please make it known that I would like to be known by my birth name. I am Loptr Laufeyson, not Loki Odinson. I suppose...I never was."

"Thor's a rapist!" this stunned exclamation came from around the back of the room.
"Correct." Halvar replied tersely.
"In light of this new information, we are obviously in the process of reviewing Thor's place in the Avengers Initiative." Steve chipped in.
"In that case, why don't you review the place of the Winter Soldier in the group?" someone shot in.
Halvar frowned slightly. No one had mentioned another member of the team to him.
"Barnes was being controlled." Tony rebuffed. "Believe me, he's beaten himself up enough for the whole world."
"What's to say Thor wasn't being controlled?"
"Are you insinuating that my Mother allowed herself to be raped for some twisted motive that none can conceive?" Halvar snarled, his eyes bleeding red. At his look, and the similarities in the feral expressions on the two Jotun, that line of questioning was swiftly dropped.

"Crown Prince Halvar!" a reported called nervously. "You've told us that you were swapped with the foetus of a dead baby. Can you tell us a little of the mortal life you lived?"
"His name was Harry James Potter." Loptr bit out. "He lived in Little Whinging, Surrey, London, England. You will find, that the Aunt and Uncle of the child he became, who so generously took him in when Lily and James Potter were murdered defending him from a madman bent on destroying him were...thoroughly abusive, and that the entire neighbourhood and his school knew and did absolutely nothing to help."
"Grandfather!" the teen cried, aghast.
"Forgive me, but I will not allow anyone to remain unpunished for your abuse!" came the icily determined response. "By all means, Ladies and Gentlemen, investigate to your heart's content."
"I would plead for you not to, but I know that will do no good." Halvar said tiredly. "Instead I bid you to look, by all means, but if you must speak of my abusive childhood, please keep the details to a minimum, though I know the Cupboard will not be hidden."
At the mention of his Cupboard, Loptr snarled ferally.
"Enough! Enough, Grandfather! Control yourself!" the young Prince ordered harshly.

"Alright." Steve intervened quickly "Does anyone else have anymore questions before we close this Press Conference?"
"Um..." there was a scrambling by several, and then someone called out "If Thor's membership is revoked- and I sure as hell hope it is- will you be looking for anyone to take his place on the Team?"
Steve blinked. Not only at the vulgarity, but at the point that had just been brought up. Yes, Thor's removal would leave a space. That...bore looking into. Exchanging a glance with the other members of his team, the Leader responded "That is actually a, rather good, question, which we haven't discussed. We'll have to get back to you on that."

"Alright, so thanks for coming, guys!" Tony called as they stood to leave. "Please do remember the contracts you signed before entering the room, and please, if you want to break them, I really hope you have enough money to pay off the reparations which would bite you on the ass. Other than that, have fun reporting! Avengers Out!"
"Tony." Pepper sighed as she fell into step next to him. "Really."
"What? I'm well within my rights to ensure that they report everything correctly. Right, guys?"
"Well, yes, but the contracts already did that." Bruce pointed out.
"Psh." that point was waved away as they shuffled into their private lift. "Yeah, but this way they'll remember."

"When do you think Thor'll show his face?" Natasha asked quietly, turning the conversation to more serious matters.
"Soon. He will not like having his image tarnished." Loptr noted shortly. "It is also highly likely that he will come with the Warriors Three, Sif, or both."
"What's the thought on what Odin might want done about Hal?" Clint asked, the nickname having been recently coined.
"I may be dragged to Asgard to be condemned like Mother and Uncles." Halvar speculated. "Odin will not like having the Son of Death- though Mother is merely a Symbol and not Death Itself- wandering around freely. The fact that I am the result of Thor's repulsive actions further makes me something to be dealt with."
"How likely is it that they will come with orders to kill you?" Pepper asked, alarmed.
"Not kill, oh never to kill- t'would send me to Mother, and they most certainly do not want that."
"Point." Clint noted.

"Forgive me if I am being in some way impertinent, but...who is Winter Soldier? None have mentioned him before."
Steve heavily explained, and Halvar hissed furiously.
"Ah. That would explain why Mother has been so vicious with those sent to Niflhelm recently. I would not fear that they will be leniently punished by any form of the word, Captain. I also look forward to meeting your friend."
Steve blinked. "Queen Hela punishes people personally?"
"Sometimes. Oft have I seen Mother plan personal punishments for people. The number that have been given those has risen significantly recently. She took to it with a rather vicious abandon that was somewhat terrifying to witness."

Changing the subject, the teen enquired as to when Sergeant Barnes would be returning.
"We don't really know." Tony admitted. "Barnes needed some time to get his head straight. I offered him a pick of one of my houses around the world, and promised that J would keep it a secret, even from me."
"He'll come if there's trouble." Steve swore. "Buck never backs out of a fight."
"Of that I have no doubt, Captain." Loptr snorted. "He is your Brother. It clearly runs in the family."
"He's not-"
"He fought beside you, bled beside you, fought for you. He is your Brother just as you are his. It cannot be denied, Steven."
"Frosty has a point." Tony cackled. "Rhodey is so my Bro. Wait, you haven't met Rhodey yet!"

"Colonel James Rhodes." Natasha elaborated. "Liaison between Stark Industries, and, to an extent The Avengers, and the Army. He's War Machine- sort of like Iron Man, but he works for the Army."
"If such a situation occurs, I would be honoured to meet your Brother, Tony. And yours, Steve."
"Thanks kid."

Natasha and Clint slipped out at their floor, no doubt to unwind from the conference, Bruce doing likewise at his own floor.
"Grandfather, perhaps now would be a good time for me to pass on what Grandfather Laufey taught me?" the teen suggested, easily seeing the need to work out his emotions in his elder.
"That would be appreciated, Grandson, thank you."
"Hey, don't trash the Training Floor too much, yeah?" Tony pleaded, attempting puppy-dog eyes.
"We shall endeavour not to, Stark." Loptr replied haughtily, sounding more like himself.
"Any damage shall be repaired as best as we possibly can, Tony." Halvar promised with a smile.
"Well, at least that'll save a bill." Pepper noted, nodding. "Thanks."
"Not a problem, Pepper."

The training session exhausted the two, leaving no energy for introspection, as Halvar had hoped. The two Jotunn helped each other to their apartment, smiling. Loptr had found that Jotunn fighting styles- Sly, quick, intelligent, economical- suited him far better than anything he had used before. Naturally, Jotunn tactics had been labelled cowardly for said attributes by the Asgardians.

The weeks passed with relative ease from that point on, though there were some murmurings about Halvar being a- to quote one extreme churchgoer- 'A filthy Necromantic spawn which should be sent to Hell where It belonged'. He was, quite promptly dealt with by Pepper, who somehow managed to rope Agent Coulson into finding any and all skeletons he had- or providing several, though no one really cared which-, and Natasha, who had also been roped in. No one asked exactly how she turned the man into a gibbering wreck, but her satisfied expression had Tony giving her the sort of look one would give an exceedingly dangerous predator, and Steve avoiding her for a couple of days. Of course, Loptr tore into the entire Church, utterly destroying it's credibility with an equal amount of satisfaction to Natasha.

Halvar also shut himself in his room for 48 hours straight when his life with the Dursleys exploded across the Media. One of the main things to set him off was the fact that, somehow pictures of his Cupboard and his room- including the door- had been leaked to the press. It had taken a lot of coaxing for him to come out after only two days, and he'd been withdrawn for the entire week. Pepper also saw to it that any use of those photos were removed from the Media, and their original copies destroyed. The teen was assured that he wasn't (to quote Clint) 'the only one here with an epically fucked up past, and definitely not the only abused one.'

Much to everyone's growing apprehension, Thor or any Asgardian had yet to make an appearance in any way shape or form. Halvar was combing through tales of Sea Monsters with the help of Loptr and Steve, in an attempt to find any hint upon his Uncle. The search was, unfortunately, going at a pace slower than that of a snail. Clearly Uncle Jor was using some complex magic to hide himself. Perhaps he could attempt sensing it...

With very little to do, Halvar found himself exploring New York, after applying a Notice-Me-Not Charm to himself to avoid being mobbed in any sense of the word. Tony took great pleasure in providing the teen with an unlimited credit card. Thus, the room connected to Loptr's became less of an impersonal guest room, and became Halvar's Room as he slowly accumulated bits and bobs to make it his, though did have to be encouraged (by Tony, obviously) to decorate it according to what he really wanted in a bedroom, and not to expense. Such bits and bobs included a circular bed in dark wood with a blue-grey canopy/curtain that tucked into the corner of the room and piled with blankets and pillows of varying dark greens, blue-grey, and amethyst, a warm, plush amethyst rug, and matching blue-grey blinds for the large window, with cushions on the dark green suede window seat.

The teen had also bought several classic books (The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings, Charles Dickens) and some less classical, but interesting books (The Twig Trilogy, Septimus Heap, Garth Nix, etc.) Tony was currently insisting on Movie Nights for the entire team (Halvar was included, despite the fact that he wasn't actually a member), so movies were taken care of. Pepper also took the time into strong-arming the teen into shopping for less formal clothes (his non-magical clothing mostly consisted of shirts, trousers, jumpers, jackets, the occasional waistcoat, and smart shoes and boots.) In this manner, his wardrobe was supplemented with a hooded winter coat, several hoodies, and a few t-shirts and more modern footwear. Natasha joined the expedition, ensuring that Halvar could bear weapons whilst wearing each item of clothing- her own brand of caring, that Halvar understood immediately, mostly from Godric, who was actually fairly similar to Natasha concerning emotions, particularly when it came to showing someone they cared.

Clint took a more direct approach, taking to dragging the teen to arcades, and generally acting a lot like a teenager. The two discovered that Halvar had weird luck on roulette games.

On one of these outings, when he was alone, Halvar was heading for a local park when he heard the sounds of a scuffle from around a corner. Cautiously, the teen sent a small flash of Magic to assess the situation.
His temper- which, despite other people's opinions, would burn for a long time before even thinking of snuffing out- ignited.

Turning the corner sharply, Halvar frowned at the scene before him. A blond, muscular boy had a smaller boy pinned and was currently punching at his head whilst his goons cheered. Clearly, they hadn't noticed him yet.
"Kindly release the boy." The Prince ordered, his voice cold.

The bully jerked, his head snapping around to look at the newcomer, as his friends moved to flank him.
"Yeah?" he sneered. "Or what?"
"I break your arm." came the even reply. "Possibly both, if I feel the need."
The goons laughed. Halvar stood stoically as three moved towards him at their leader's gesture. The alley they were in was small, but he had been trained to be able to fight in small spaces and use his surroundings to his advantage.

As one lunged at him, Halvar moved, grabbing the outstretched arm and, using the teen's bodyweight against him, threw him over his shoulder, where he lay, gasping, with a dislocated arm. This seemed to incite the others, who all attacked at once, likely hoping to overwhelm him.
Halvar didn't even have to use any of the weapons he had on him in the fight, laying them out with simple moves. The ringleader, who had stood back as the others attacks, backed away as Halvar strode forward, and, with a solid punch to the chin, knocked him unconscious.

Satisfied, he turned to the stunned victim.
"Come." he ordered firmly, helping the dazed teen up.
"Uh...what?" the teen mumbled.
"You need medical attention. Fortunately, I only live a block or so away. May I have your name?"

"Peter." the boy mumbled as he was steered out onto the street, the notice-me-not relieving them of onlookers. "Peter Parker. You?"
"Halvar Helason." Halvar replied.
"Woah...Loki's Grandson?"
"His name is Loptr, but other than that, you are correct."

"So...when you say you're taking me to where you live...Avengers Tower?"
"Most of the Avengers have some skill in medical aid- most have been in dire need of it at several points."
"Yeah, I can see that." Peter nodded, then winced.

"Prince Halvar, what have you gotten yourself into now?" Jarvis asked exasperatedly as the two slipped into the Avengers private lift (monitored and controlled by Jarvis).
"I found a group of teenage thugs beating up this young man. I have dealt with them, but Master Parker here is in need of medical attention." the teen explained softly.
"I shall direct you to the Infirmary, and have Doctor Banner there presently."
"Woah, Banner? As in Doctor Bruce Banner, the one who wrote those papers on Gamma Radiation?"
"That would be correct, Mr Parker."
"Awesome." the teen breathed giddily, his eyes sparkling in childish excitement. Halvar found himself stifling a snort and smile of amusement.

"Tony will tease you later for being a good Samaritan, you know that, right?" Bruce asked wryly as Halvar steered Peter to a bed.
"He has absolutely no ground to stand on, no matter what others may think." Halvar snorted.
"When has that stopped Tony?"
"You may have a point, Bruce."
"There really is no 'may' about it, Grandson." came a drawl from the doorway.
"Oh, I know, Grandfather. Halvar smirked, turning to the door where the smirk was mirrored back at him.

"H-hi, Doctor Banner!" Peter chirped. "I love your work!"
Bruce blinked at the beaming, somewhat concussed teen.
"Really?"
"Yeah! You're even more awesome than Tony Stark!"

Loptr broke down into unseemly cackles.
"Boy, I beg of you, say that to his face!"
"His reaction... Oh, I can see it!" Halvar unashamedly joined his Grandfather in cackling at the boy's declaration.

"Ignore them." Bruce advised, his lips twitching slightly at the wide-eyed puppy-look Peter now sported. "Loptr enjoys anything that causes chaos, really. Halvar...he's just picturing Tony's reaction. Now, you have a minor concussion, so I'm going to ask you to stick around for a while until I say you're clear, alright?"
"CanIseeyourlab?" Peter blurted out, looking even more excited than he did before, bouncing a little. "Please?"
"Alright." Bruce chuckled, leading the teen to the elevator, steering him around the duo in the room, who were still cackling.

"Jarvis." Loptr called as soon as he regained control of himself. "Please tell me you filmed that."
"Certainly not." the AI sounded offended. "Sir dislikes negative opinions of himself. He claims it hurts him, and therefore, doing so goes against my programming."
"His ego does need some form of deflation, Jarvis." came the response.
"A job which Miss Romanov, Colonel Rhodes and Miss Potts perform admirably. Shall I add you to that list as well, Mr Laufeyson?"
"By all means, Jarvis."
"Grandfather." Halvar cut in. "I offer the services of the Black Family Pensive in your mission."
"Your offer is accepted and much appreciated, Grandson."
"Yes, I rather thought it might be."

"Kreacher!" Halvar called, and instantly the Elf popped in front of him, eager to serve. "I am in need of the Family Pensive. Empty of memories."
"Yes Master!" Kreacher quickly returned with a fine walnut box, which, he knew to be silver-grey velvet padding on the inside with an equally silver Pensive. The box would only open at a touch from the Lordship Ring on his finger,an act which was quickly performed.
Wordlessly, Halvar passed it to his Grandfather, who promptly disappeared from the room with a delighted/vaguely evil/trickster look on his face, before turning back to his Elf.
"Have you any messages for me?"
"Miss Divina wishes me to inform you the little spider will be a good friend for you. Mr Longbottom informs that the Wizenagemot is ceding to the demands you left. The Betrayers were put on trial, though instead of Death, they survived the stripping of their Magic, and so are garbage in both the Magical and Muggle worlds. Mr Mayhem is recovering...slowly."
"Good. Give them my love, thank Divina and Nev for their messages. That will be all, Kreacher."
"Yes Master." With a bow, Kreacher popped away.

Sighing, Halvar made his way to the lift, which was swiftly opened by Jarvis.
"Jarvis, would you please inform Mr Parker that, should he tire of Doctor Banner's Lab, he is very welcome to come to my room."
"Of course Prince Halvar. Shall I infer from your statement that you wish to go to your room?"
"Yes, thank you Jarvis."

Stepping into his room, Halvar sighed as he leaned against the door, before slowly gathering himself.
Luna had sent him a message.
It was not...unusual for his Seer friend to give cryptic messages, but, more often than most, they came when there would be trouble ahead. The most memorable one had to be in his Second Year at Hogwarts, before their friendship truly began, when Luna had informed him that 'Pure tears will heal whilst poison will destroy the soul'. Obviously, he'd worked it out later. Absently, Halvar wondered who the 'little spider' was. Someone related in some way to Natasha, perhaps? He would not ask her if she had any family. The Lady Widow was fearsome enough when not roused, and the young man did intend to keep his word to never rouse her temper if he could help it.

Well. Chewing upon it would do no good. Halvar knew from experience that he would understand Luna's message when the time was right- they could only be truly understood when whatever they referred to was in front of you.
it would still bug him no end though.

"Damnit." Halvar snarled, stalking over to his desk in the corner, where his present research for his Uncle lay. He would get his mind off Luna's message.

Peter slowly made his way down the hallway, carrying a plate of salmon and steamed rice with peas and carrots.
After an awesome time in Doctor Banner's lab- at some point interrupted by a semi-hysterical Hawkeye, who congratulated him on helping to push down Mr Stark's ego, much to his confusion- Captain America himself came down to drag them up to eat. In the confusion that followed- a moping Tony Stark who had also been dragged out of his lab and pointedly ignored him, an immensely satisfied Loptr Laufeyson, and conversation with the Avengers being thrown at him from all quarters, Peter felt he couldn't be blamed for not noticing the absence of Prince Halvar.

In fact, it was Loptr, halfway through the meal, who paused and groaned, catching everyone's attention.
"Jarvis." He spoke to the ceiling. "Where is my Grandson?"
"The Crown Prince has not stirred from his room since he returned, Prince Loptr." The AI replied. "I believe he is immersed in the files of data he has collected on the possible whereabouts of his Uncle."
"Wonderful."
"Is he alright, Jarvis?" Captain Rogers asked worriedly.
"He seemed somewhat dazed by a message from one of his friends before he turned himself to his research."
"Which friend?" Loptr cut in, his eyes narrowing.
"Miss Divina, Mr Laufeyson."

"That...would rather explain it." the man mused. "She's a Seer." He expanded to the table.
"Wow." Peter managed to get out.
"Indeed." a small smile was sent his way.

"He can't not eat." Black Widow spoke, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"So we take the food to him." Mr Stark said, as though it was obvious. "What?" he said, at the looks he received. "You think I'm bad on a science binge? Pepper's worse in a work frenzy. I've seen her in this sort of frenzy before."
"I did not know that." Hawkeye's eyes had widened a little in shock.
"Duh. She hides it behind an amazing 'CEO' Mask."
"She is an amazing CEO." Doctor Banner deadpanned.
"Did you hear me say she wasn't?"

So. Back to Peter carrying a plate of food down the hall. Somehow, it had been decided that he would be the one to take Prince Halvar his food. Tentatively, he knocked on the door before him.

A knock at the door jerked Halvar from his scouring of the documents before him.
"Enter." he called, frowning slightly.
The door eased open to see Peter Parker standing there, holding up a plate of food.

"I come in peace?" he called hopefully.
"And bearing one of my favourite meals, how wonderful." Halvar laughed, leading the teen over to a small table with two chairs tucked into the wall. "I had not realised it was lunchtime."
"Yeah..we kinda guessed."
"My search for Uncle Jor is extremely absorbing." Halvar explained sheepishly.
"Jor...the World Serpent, right?"
"Yes, though how much of the stories of him are true is yet to be discovered." the teen grumbled as he ate. "I have at least managed to determine that Uncle must be using some complex magic to hide himself."
"Oh...how's that going to affect your search?" Peter wondered.
"Actually, it could be very helpful. I shall have to confer with Grandfather, but it may be possible to locate him by the magic he uses."
"Sort of like a homing beacon?"
"Precisely, though it will likely be far more complicated than that. There are many branches of Magic, and each are able of some form of concealment."