𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆
→˚₊· ܴೈ It's cause the universe has other plans. It's building us up for our futures. Our Uncles raised us to be tough. Don't tell me you're going soft on me now, Sirius. ❞

"WOULD YOU LIKE to see the bridge we spoke of?" Thor questioned the mortal woman and she looked between the god and Agent Coulson.

Elain fiddled with her Asgardian dress while listening to the conversation. She liked listening to the conversation but under the circumstances, she was a bit preoccupied with her thoughts. 

"Uh... sure," Jane decided after a moment of confusion, she smiled at Thor who pulled her close.

Elain laughed as she watched this take place as if she wasn't in as much pain as she was. Jane's arms were around Thor, who looked much bigger than her, as he lifted his hammer. He began to swing Mjölnir before the two lifted off and began to fly through the air. 

"Wait, I need to debrief you!" Coulson exclaimed as he looked up at the sky, clearly in a bit of shock. 

"I'll come back and help you with that," Elain spoke softly before leading the others to the Bifrost.

Everyone rushed to get to the Bifrost. Knowing time was short for them. They managed to pack into a vehicle, the same van that Thor and Elain had ridden in when they had first come to Midgard. She rushed out, carrying herself with grace, nonetheless as she walked over to Thor.

"Heimdall, open the Bifrost," Thor spoke as he stared at the sky, his blonde hair blowing ever so slightly. 

Yet, nothing happened. It was unusual for such a thing and unusual was putting it lightly. Heimdall had always opened the bridge between realms as soon as his name was spoken to the air. Something wasn't right.

"Heimdall?" Thor questioned the sky once again, "Heimdall! He hasn't answered."

"Then we are stranded," One of the males spoke, clearly not liking this.

"Wouldn't be the first time that I ended up stranded here," Elain hummed as she rocked on her heels ignoring the looks she began to receive. 

"Heimdall! If you can hear me, we need you now!" Thor roared to the sky, "Heimdall! We need you now!" 

Elain yelled as well, "Heimdall!"

Everyone sighed in relief as they looked to the sky to see the forming cloud of dust, with the occasional glow of colors. It was the rainbow bridge - the Bifrost. They were going home. Everyone moved quickly onto the Bifrost's destination and knew exactly where they would go first. 

As they were sucked up onto Asgard, Elain couldn't help but start to breathe a bit heavier. All of this had started to take a lot out of her, but that was probably due to the number of injuries she had sustained.

"Get him to the healing room!" Thor pointed to Heimdall who was on the ground, Volstagg was quick to shut the Bifrost.

"Leave my brother to me," Thor ran off.

Elain watched as Thor ran to find Loki, Elain helped where she could. Watching as her Uncle's friends began to help Heimdall. Though they seemed to struggle a bit due to how big the man was; before finally, they managed to get him up.

Elain looked around trying to ponder what to do next, she wasn't quite sure what to do. She was avoiding fighting, she knew that. But, what could she do? She could find her brother, there was a slim chance that he could actually be on Asgard. Surely, Odin hadn't sent him off too far. 

Elain was quick to run off, running as fast as she could to get to the palace. As she ran she barely noticed that she was crying, but when she did she knew it was because everything was falling apart in her life. She made it to the palace after the two Prince's had left to fight. 

"Someone! Help!" Elain yelled as she ran through the halls trying to get anyone's attention, "Please..." Her voice broke as she fell to the ground.

She wasn't surprised that no one had heard her. She didn't yell that loud and this part of the castle usually had no one. Elain breathed heavily as she felt an immense wave of energy. Her chest began to rise and fall much faster as her eyes began to gleam. Elain needed to find Thor, and she knew that something was happening at the bridge and that is where she was needed. 

Elain forced herself off of the ground and began to stumble. She watched as the bridge began to crack and her eyes widened. Maybe she wouldn't be getting back to earth after all. Elain was quick when it came to getting across until someone yanked her back.

Elain was quick to twist the mysterious Asgardian's arm. Celestial energy wrapped around her fingers as she turned around to fight back until she stopped. A gasp left her lips as the girl stumbled back. 

"Are my eyes deceiving me?" Elain breathed out, "Or is it the pain..."

"No. It's truly me, systir," Sirius held a small smirk, though Elain was quick to notice the scar running down his face.

Sirius stood before his sister. His sandy curls were the exact same as when she had last seen him. He wore a pair of black Asgardian robes and had a sword on his side. 

"Are you alright? Oh my, I've been worried so much," Elain grabbed his arms as she made the energy disappear, "Wait, that's beside the point. The celestial energy is building up, I feel a surge of energy."

"That is due to Uncle Thor taking down the bridge," Sirius states with a small chuckle, "I'm alright. Just had a rough time. I need to get you off the bridge and to somewhere safe."

"What about -"

"Our Uncle's will be fine. They will settle this, Elain, you're already injured," Sirius looked at his sister.

Elain let out a yelp as Sirius took her hand as a loud boom was sounded, pulling her off of the bridges they watched the madness from afar. Her eyes widened as the bridge broke and she gasped.

"Oh no! Our rainbow bridge! It's broken!" Elain exclaimed in horror before shaking out of her brother's arms, "Oh my.... our Uncle's!" 

"Elain," Sirius was clearly upset as well, "It isn't safe." 

Sirius refused to let go of his sister no matter how hard she thrashed against him. Both twins knew that it wasn't safe to leave their spot and both were afraid of what damage had truly been caused. 

It felt like hours that the two stood there. Sirius held onto his sister tighter and tighter by the moment while she thrashed on occasion. Though, her thoughts began to consume her. She was worried and she was scared. 

Nothing like this had ever happened in their lifetimes. The most Elain had ever experienced was when Thor once took her to battle, but, even then, it wasn't this bad. 

"We're all damned," Elain let out a shaky breath as she gave up and fell into her brother's embrace. 

"We definitely are," Sirius rubbed her arm before noticing her wince, "Let's get you inside. We can patch up your wounds as we wait for news."

Elain hesitated, she wasn't too badly hurt. She did not need to be patched up. Besides, someone else might need help and if she's being helped, that is one more healer that can't help. 

"I don't need help. I need to know what is happening," Elain sighed, "I'll at least go into the palace but I don't need anyone."

Sirius looked at his little sister, she gave him a smile knowing damn well he was making fun of her in his mind, "Fine."

Elain and Sirius walked into the palace together. Both twins had their arms interlaced as they walked. Their footsteps made a padding noise as they moved in sync. It felt good to be reunited. 

Elain was absolutely relieved to have her brother back. Though, she was confused. Loki had said that he hadn't known where Sirius was - yet here he was. Then again, Loki was always an experienced liar and often got away with his lies. Could this be one?

Elain took a deep breath as she pulled herself from her thoughts. She walked with grace, a small sad smile resting on her lips. It's not that she wasn't happy to see her brother - she was, truly. It's just, she was worried. She had yet to know what had happened and had yet to know what the cost was.

"Lady Elain, Sir Sirius," One of the maids greeted the two as they walked by.

"Hello," Elain smiled kindly as she bowed her head.

Sirius sent a wink, "Hi."

Elain nudged her brother's side at his antics, "I'm sorry for him."

"Don't be sorry for me, I am wonderful," Sirius was quick to shut down her words.

"You are arrogant," Elain states with a teasing look, "Your ego is bigger than your head."

"I know something bigger," Sirius joked before he earned a slap from his sister.

"Please, shut up. I am your twin sister, for crying out loud!" Elain acted disgusted, well, she didn't need to act disgusted because she truly was.

"You walked right into that one, my dear sister," Sirius pointed out as he nudged her back.

"I did not! You could've said something completely different," Elain put her hands on her hips, "Sometimes you still act like a child. We are twenty-four."

Sirius made a face before speaking, "Well... in Asgardian years we are children." 

"Do you ever shut up?"

"You know that I don't, not unless-"

"Not unless a woman makes you."

"Precisely!"

"You are a pig sometimes, dear brother."

"I am not a pig! That's an insult!"

"I meant it as an insult!"

The poor maid had scurried away amidst the twin's banter. Both arguing as if they hadn't been separated. Everyone in the palace was accustomed to the two arguings, often over stupid things. Most of the time when Sirius would mess around with one of his sister's friends or he'd made a dirty joke in front of her.

It was refreshing to be fighting Sirius. That sounded so weird, but to Elain it was. They hadn't had enough time to be siblings. Most of the time they had duties to attend to, but, now they were fighting while awaiting information.

It hadn't taken long for someone to find the two to inform them of what had happened. It just so happened to be Thor who had to come and talk to the two. 

"Elain, Sirius..." Thor's eyes were sad and he had clearly been crying.

Elain's chest tightened in worry, "What is it, Uncle Thor?"

"What has happened?" Sirius questioned as he placed a comforting hand on his sister's shoulder.

"It's Loki," Thor was having trouble wording it for the two.

"What do you mean by that? What does that mean?" Elain bit down harshly on her bottom lip, "Where is Uncle Loki?"

"Elain..." Sirius's hand clamped down on her shoulder as Thor's expression changed.

"He's dead."

A heavy silence dawned on the three. Thor's eyes stayed trained on his niece and his nephew sadly. Despite the two being adults, everyone knew that the death of a family member took a toll. But this, this wasn't just any family member. It was Loki. Their Uncle, one who helped raise them and filled the role of a parental figure.

Elain put on an act as she bit back tears she moved from her brother to hug her only remaining Uncle, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Her grip on him was tight. He had to bend down a bit so that she could properly hug him due to the height difference. 

"I'm here for you," Elain spoke softly as she pulled away, "For both of you," Elain turned to look at her brother who had stayed quiet.

"It's hard to believe this," Sirius mumbled as he looked at his Uncle.

It was hard to believe for a variety of reasons. Loki never gave up that easy. He always had multiple plans. He never went with just one. Unless this was part of his plan. But who would plan to fake their own death? What kind of motive was this? Loki wouldn't do that... would he? 

Over the next few hours, Elain stayed close with her family. She comforted her Uncle before he left to find something to preoccupy himself. She comforted her brother, though he refused to cry in front of her, claiming it'd ruin his pride.

And once she was left alone, she had cried to herself. Before she was informed to get prepared for the feast. She hated that they were having a feast with many people. She'd rather it just be family. But, she couldn't change the rules.

Laughter filled the golden room. Everyone greeted friends and feasted. Elain stood with her brother, both staying a bit away from others which was out of character for them. Both matched in silver and gold outfits, Elain even wore emeralds. She knew her Uncle would make a joke that they were trying to copy his style if he were there.

The two listened to the laughter that filled the room. How were people laughing? Someone had died. One of the Prince's of Asgard had died. How could they be so joyous? Elain was torn with emotions on various points.

She was happy that most weren't mourning. For years they had talked down to Loki and had always shoved him away. They didn't deserve to mourn, hell, they didn't deserve to say his name.

But she was sad that they weren't mourning. It showed how little people cared for Loki. It hurt Elain to see how people reacted. Loki wasn't truly bad, he was troubled. He cared for his family. He cared for Elain. He cared for Sirius. And believe it or not, he had cared for Thor.

"And then, with a mighty bellow, I flew into the giant metal creature and laid him low!" Volstagg's voice boomed over everyone else's.

"Did he really?" Sirius whispered in his sister's ear.

"No, he was thrown like a piece of fabric when I hate the color," She whispered back.

"Is that another way of saying you fell on your huge ass?" Fandral questioned the other warrior loudly.

"As a matter of fact, falling was a tactic lulling the Destroyer," Volstagg shot.

Elain watched as her Uncle began to walk around the crowd. He seemed so dull, but he had every right to be how he was. He usually was the life of the party, but that was before he lost his brother. 

She watched as Thor and Frigga's hands met momentarily. The worried mother looked at her last remaining child before he left her be. Sif joined her side a few moments later.

Elain knew that Sif was worried for Thor. Everyone seemed to be. Thor was mourning, just like the rest of the royal family was. 

"It's odd," Sirius spoke through the silence.

Elain turned her head so that she could look at her brother, "It is."

"We seem to lose everything," Sirius looked down at his sister, "We lost each other on a few occasions. We've lost our mother. We never had our father..."

"Hey," Elain placed a hand on her brother's arm, "Everything is okay. It will be okay. Our life is just hectic."

"Our life is more than hectic, Elain," Sirius mumbled lowly as he ignored the laughter that surrounded the two, "Nothing ever seems to go right."

"It's cause the universe has other plans. It's building us up for our futures," Elain speaks her words carefully, "Our Uncles raised us to be tough. Don't tell me you're going soft on me now, Sirius," Elain's words made the boy roll his eyes while she grinned.

"How dare you insinuate such a thing, me? Soft? You wound me," Sirius faked hurt as he shook his head at his younger sister.

"Possibly. Wounding you was the point - speaking of wounds, mind explaining to me what has happened to earn that scar on your face?" Elain went into protective mode, "Who do I have to turn into celestial dust?"

"No one. In my punishment, I had a few fights that led to me earning this. Besides, I'm supposed to be the protective sibling," Sirius faked annoyance as he looked at the girl. 

"You are older by minutes," Elain grumbled, "We both have rights to be protective. Of course, you got into fights! You can't be civil for a moment," She sighed.

Elain and Sirius continued to talk about their views and how they believed their lives would turn out. Eventually, both left the feast out of annoyance and began to walk through the halls of the Royal Palace of Valaskjalf. 

Elain took her brother's hand and spun around letting out a small laugh. Trying to distract the two from their heartbreak for even a moment. Sirius laughed as she nearly lost her balance, he easily caught her before continuing their walk.

Elain gripped his hand and began to tug him with her, "Come on! Let's go look at the stars. Just like old times."

"Elain, we do this often," Sirius laughed, "But I will gladly go see the stars with you."

"We do this often, yes, but we started doing this as children," Elain huffed with a small pout as she tugged him along.

Elain didn't wait for him to respond as she was quick to yank him around the corner. Her eyes lit up as she stared at the night sky. Before an idea popped into her head, she looked down at her hand and began to make a small constellation that looked like Loki's helmet.

Sirius stared down at her hand, watching as she did so with a sad smile, "I remember when we were younger and you doubted yourself. Now, look at you, making your own constellations in your palm."

"Yeah well, I still have self-doubt but I've learned a lot more with everyone's help," Elain smiled softly.

Maybe everything would be okay after all, everything would be calmer. At least that is what she hoped... 

𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆
&
𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆