Bruce tried not to laugh. Really, he did, but a chuckle escaped him anyway, though he tried to smother it with a coughing fit. The amused glint in the god's – a true god for goodness sake! – eyes told him that that particular endeavor wasn't exactly successful. Bruce knew he was in denial, but he couldn't help but insist to himself that Percy wasn't dead. It was too easy to lie to himself when he had no proof of a body and the spitting image of the boy sitting opposite him. If the god kept quiet and kept his head slanted to one side to hide his ponytail, Bruce could almost pretend that he was talking to Percy.

He closed his eyes at the reminder, swallowing nervously, "Triton was it? Uh, I mean Lord Triton – erm, are you – are you the god of the seas then?"

Triton smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes completely, "You mortals watch too much Disney." He shook his head, "I have absolutely no idea how you mortals could think that I was the god of the seas. It is a god thing that my father remains oblivious of that, he might have capsized a few boats if he knew. Though I think Uncle H might know, he's a bit affronted with you mortals."

The merman leveled Bruce with a serious gaze, "No, I am the eldest son of Poseidon, my father, the true god of the oceans. I am his heir."

Bruce blinked and smiled hesitantly, taking off his glasses and cleaning them nervously, "Right, uh, so is there a reason why I'm here sir...?"

Triton cocked his head to one side, observing the meek mortal in front of him, a truly deceptive front that hid the beast within. "I apologize for the earlier scare, we needed to make sure that your loyalties lay in the right place and that your faith not easily wavered."

Bruce grinned weakly, "R-right, I understand, just, please don't do that again?"

Triton nodded, "You are here because my uncle has deemed it fit for you to learn of us. This is a time of war, we cannot be keeping secrets from our allies."

Bruce swallowed noisily, "You uncle?" he racked his head for the little tidbits of mythology he had read up when he was looking up on Thor and Loki. "You mean, uh, King Zeus?"

Even this far underground, Bruce heard thunder rumble ominously, and he knew instinctively that it wasn't because of Thor.

Triton nodded sagely, "I suggest you don't use the names of gods so carelessly, names have power after all." He leaned back, "My uncle is not happy with your group, but specifically, he isn't happy with your own resident god of thunder."

Bruce frowned, "Thor? Why? I would have thought that Ze – he wouldn't be happy with Loki."

Triton smirked, "And that is where you're wrong. My uncle isn't happy with Loki's invasion, but we all know why he did it. He's more annoyed with the fact that Odin sent Thor down without asking for permission, using his powers here without any permission –"

"Wait what?" Bruce interrupted, his instincts rearing up at the flash of annoyance on the god's face, but he pressed on, "What do you mean that you know why Loki invaded? Why didn't you stop him then?"

Triton sighed, mortals, he had forgotten how inquisitive they were. "Believe me," he said dryly, "My uncle wanted to smite Loki when he opened the portal in the heart of New York, but Apollo and Hermes managed to convince him that he was doing so on purpose. You have to understand mortal, that we are bound by ancient laws, we cannot reveal ourselves so flippantly to any random mortal –"

"On purpose? You mean Loki brought the chitauri into New York on purpose?"

Triton pinched the bridge of his nose, evidently, this was going to take a while. "Yes," he hissed, annoyance coloring his tone, "He knew that New York was where we were centered and thus took the necessary actions to bring the aliens to our stronghold."

"But –" Bruce protested, slightly affronted by the idea that the whole invasion had been a set up.

"Or did you truly think that a couple of mortals and several policemen were enough to contain the damage to a radius of a few blocks?" Triton demanded, halting any other questions building up in the scientist. "Did you think that just because a nuclear weapon was sent into one of the alien's ships that it was the reason why all the other aliens collapsed? No. This is no video game or movie where the aliens all die because ther mothership was destroyed." the prince said coldly, and in that moment, Bruce could believe that the being before him was truly a god. "When we heard that the son of Hades was in the midst of the fight, the council had Hades instruct his son to spread his power amongst all the chitauri." Triton leaned back, his gaze steely, "The father and son were able to utilize their power over the dead to link all the chitauri together, so that when one died, the rest followed."

Bruce remained silent, letting the god continue. He sensed that if he tried to interrupt the god another time, he'd pay for it. As it was, Triton had already been lenient enough. If it was Zeus he was talking to, the master bolt would have been activated a long time ago. "Loki knew that he could not defeat the chitauri alone, he knew that he had to devise a way to get our attention. Merely invading our realm was not enough, we would send a few warriors down and that was it. No, he needed to bring them to the heart of New York, where my uncle would react the fastest. Perhaps he intended to die along with them, perhaps not, I don't know."

Bruce looked a little uneasy at the thought of the god orchestrating the whole affair as a form of suicide but wisely kept his mouth shut. Pleased that the mortal seemed to be listening rather than interrupting constantly, Triton continued talking, "When he came to this realm, he had the opportunity to gain a follower with a well of information and found that Stark had the perfect tower for him. A skyscraper with a well of power and which was located in the heart of New York."

Bruce bristled, "A follower? A well of information? That was a human mind he took over. I don't care what he planned, that was – is my friend's mind he controlled without a thought –"

"Take care how you speak mortal." Triton cut in, his eyes hard and icy, "Loki is a friend to us, he did not need to include a failsafe that allowed your mortal friend to regain his senses easily, nor did he need to deliver your friend to your stronghold on a silver platter where his saftey would have been ensured but he did both anyway." The god crossed his legs and leaned back into his seat, coolly staring at the mortal before him, who had his hands clenched into fists, his nails biting into his palm. "Now, if you must know, this underground hideout is filled with demigods. Demigods, as in plural, and as in children who are half human and half god." The sea prince continued on nonchalantly, even as Bruce felt anger well up within him at the blatant dismissal of his friend, but even he knew that he couldn't take on a god, especially not one who was the son of the ocean, so he forced himself to remain calm and listen.

Triton smirked inwardly as the mortal took several calming breaths, smart, he thought, "The ones here are fighting guerilla warfare with the chitauri, hence why you did not see too many chitauri. The mortals at large do not know about us or our existence, but as I said, my uncle has deemed that you and your group should be clued in." he smiled thinly, "Lest we get into an – unnecessary – conflict. The ones you don't see, well, they are elsewhere, preparing and getting ready."

"Unfortunately," Triton sighed, "there is also the matter of your own thunder god to handle."

Bruce frowned, "Thor? Why? What's wrong with him?"

Triton slid calm ocean eyes – so different from Percy's raging ones – over to the mortal, "Your friend is currently under the control of the chitauri. We cannot get close enough to remove the spell, because removing it needs time, something we don't have. Holding him back is another problem. He is a god, and while my uncle has limited the power he can use in this realm, he still has his superior strength. But we have one of our own dealing with that now."

Bruce bit his lips, "Why are you telling me this? I mean, from what I hear, you guys are already handling the situation as well as possible."

Triton's mask cracked a little at this question, and he sighed, looking weary, "Because none of the demigods out there save for Nico knows about what happened to Percy."

Bruce was taken aback, "When you say they don't know what happened you mean...?"

"I mean that they don't know that he left the community, and they don't know that he's – that he's dead."

Bruce looked, he really looked, and he saw that the person n front of him wasn't just a powerful immortal, he was also a brother who had to deal with the fact that his brother was dead. "What can I do?"

Triton looked at him, "We will contain the chitauri, but if Thanos comes down, it will be an outright war. We need you to find the gems, the last two."

Bruce's eyes widened, "But – but those could be anywhere! I mean, they might not even be on this realm, planet whatever!" he said, throwing his hands up in the air.

"One of them is. Hecate sensed its power, but it's hidden from her sight. Magic is out of the way, whoever hid it, covered it such that its location is inaccessible via magic. But you have your science, you can track it to its location."

Bruce shook his head, "I can track it yeah, but that means the chitauri can track it too! They're probably going after it – they've probably already gotten it!"

Triton smirked at him, "What do you think us gods are doing? Sitting around twiddling our thumbs? We're containing them. There are far more chitauri on this realm than you think. And we are working to eliminate every single one that escapes our grasp."

"Why can't you just I don't know, wave your hand and wipe all of them out?"

Triton sighed, "It isn't as simple as you mortals make it out to be. That amount of power to wipe out all of them? It would incinerate New York, maybe even America. The repercussions are unknown. And before you ask about that spell that Hades and his son used three years ago, that spell was tied to the ship, we don't have an anchor here to anchor the spell to, not without causing mass destruction."

Bruce slumped in his seat, nothing was ever easy was it? "So...what do I do?"

"As I said, you need to track the gem, we have and will provide you with the materials. But you also need your team. As much as my uncle refuses to admit it," thunder rumbled overhead, but Triton ignored it, "The avengers need to work together and take out the chitauri on earth. We are keeping Thanos from reaching into Earth, like how Odin kept him from reaching out of Asgard. But between that and keeping the chitauri contained, and not letting the mortals know about our presence, our hands are tied."

"So you need us mortals to do the job for you." Bruce finished, his voice flat.

Triton wasn't perturbed however, and nodded, "Essentially."

Bruce took a deep breath, rubbing his glasses absently. He didn't know if he could trust these people, these gods who claimed to be doing so much for this planet and its occupants even though he'd never seen it with his own eyes. He sighed, nothing was worse than the chitauri though, and so he said, "I need to build a communications device first. I'm calling Tony."

Triton smiled.

Loki closed his eyes and breathed in, the spell silent on his lips as the destination appeared in his mind. He breathed out the words that formed the spell, and a single word repeated itself in his mind: Helheim.

It was a surprise then when he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of a brightly lit garden (?), instead of a dark and shadowed palace. The grass beneath him swayed gently in time to a non-existent breeze, and Loki had his guard up immediately. It took power to divert a spell, and even more to divert his spell. He turned around, intent on looking for the one who intercepted his spell when his eye caught the gnarled bark of a huge tree. He gazed at it, feeling mesmerized by the huge span of its trunk, and lifted his eyes, his gaze fixated on the twisted, spiraling trunk. He looked up, and up and up – until he couldn't crane his neck any further but he needed to look –

A smooth hand covered his eyes and yanked his head down, turning him bodily away from the tree. He felt the mesmerizing hold break and he snarled, backing away from the person as soon as he felt his mind clear, a dagger appearing in his hand. He breathed heavily, scowling as he looked at his attacker. His eyes widened in shock and he dropped to his knees, bowing reverently. "My Ladies, forgive me, I did not know –"

"We know you did not know child." a soft feminine voice said. Loki kept his head bowed, it wouldn't do to offend the women who controlled ones fate after all.

A small hand touched his chin, lifting it up so that he met soft iridescent eyes framed by luscious golden hair. "Look at us child, and rise. You need not bow before us."

He nodded mutely and stood up, his height making him tower over the three women gathered around him. "My Ladies," he said softly, "What have you called me here for?"

The woman who had told him to rise smiled gently, "We apologize for taking you away from your path, and for not warning you about Yggdrasil." She looked behind him, her eyes reflecting the giant tree. Loki moved to turn but her firm grip on him halted his movement. "Do not look at the Tree, you will get lost in its majesty." She released him and walked over to where several stones sat, her sisters following fluidly. He copied their movement and gingerly sat himself down on one of the stone stools, the hard material sending unpleasant memories through his mind.

The woman who had talked to him spoke up again, "I am Verdandi."

On her left, which was on Loki's right, a raven-haired woman continued, "I am Urd."

Opposite Urd, which was to Loki's left, sat a white haired woman, who introduced herself as well, "And I am Skuld."

Together, they then said, "We are the Norns, we control the fate of the beings within Yggdrasil's embrace."

Verdandi continued while her sisters fell silent, "You are here Loki Odinson, because we have something that belongs to you, and because we have knowledge that you require."

Loki bowed his head in thanks and asked, "What do I need for my journey?"

Skuld tilted her head at him, "You were right in your assumption to travel to Helheim to retrieve the soul of Perseus Jackson, but he will not be the same as before."

Loki felt his throat tighten, "I will retrieve him no matter what he becomes." He whispered, looking down.

Urd smiled and touched his face, "Such selflessness. You are willing to take the risk though you do not know the consequences."

Loki shook his head, "It is not selflessness but selfishness that compels me to embark on this quest. It was through my own folly that these events were set in motion. It was my fault that led to Thanos being freed. The blame lies on me when I failed to save him. I seek forgiveness and redemption and therefore it is my job to bring him home."

Verdandi shot an uncharacteristic look of smugness to her sisters, which escaped Loki's notice. She however brought his attention to her and said, "You were never at fault, my dear child. Much as it pains me to say, Perseus Jackson was always meant to die. A phoenix has to perish first before it can rise from the ashes and be reborn to a more powerful form."

Loki furrowed his brow in confusion, "Perseu – Percy will be more powerful if he comes back?"

She smiled knowingly and said, "Your lives are intertwined now. The two of you have always been connected, even more so now. The universe needs the two of you. You need to stand by him, just as he stands by you. Only then will the titan be destroyed once and for all."

Before Loki could ask further what she meant, Verdandi waved her hands, energy collecting within her palms. With a soft flash of light, an ebony staff appeared in her lap, one that had Loki reeling back in shock when he laid eyes on it.

"How...?" he asked, his voice trailing off.

Verdandi smiled, "Did you never wonder where it disappeared to when your brother was banished?"

Loki shook his head mutely, "I was – I was too preoccupied with other – events – to realize I suppose."

Urd smiled, "This is a powerful weapon, one crafted by you and imbued with your very own essence. Should it have fallen into the wrong hands or used in the wrong circumstances, the results would be extremely unpleasant."

Loki swallowed, "So why are you returning my staff to me now? What makes this time any different?"

This time, it was Skuld who answered, "You have proven yourself young godling. You have shown your capability for compassion, and your desire to turn away from the darker path. You are willing to sacrifice your life to save the ones you love, and you did not give in to the creatures of the Void. Not even when they had your mind in their snare."

Her golden-haired sister continued, "You have proven yourself worthy to wield this weapon once more, much like you used to against your enemies eons before. Take up this mantle Loki, be our champion and show the world what you are capable of."

She lifted the staff reverently, holding it gently as though it was an artifact filled with power, waiting for him to accept it. Loki stared at the staff – his old staff – his mind spinning. It wasn't just accepting a weapon, it was accepting his responsibilities and acknowledging that he was more than a cruel, vengeful god who destroyed worlds and murdered people because it was fun. He had made this weapon so long ago, after his brother had gotten Mjolnir, and he had crafted it himself, painfully carving each rune into the staff's body, fixing the different crystals within it and imbuing it with his own power. He had used it in battles, and his staff had never failed him, power and speed combined into a single weapon.

He reached out his hands and grasped the ebony staff, his hands curling around the familiar wood, fingers lightly dancing along grooves in its body. He looked up at the three sisters, bowing his head in thanks. "But," he said, "My powers are locked. I cannot wield this any more than a sharp edged weapon –"

"We have released you from your oath to us." Verdandi said, taking in the shock in the god as she dropped yet another figurative bomb on him. "The oath was a test and a lesson. You were always meant to figure out your own path, and the oath was meant to guide you, not to restrict you." She reached out and grasped his hand, her smaller palm deceptively strong, "You play a big part in the coming war my champion, but your mind needed to be cleansed. Everything happens for a reason. I cannot tell you the future, but I can prepare you for it."

Loki, understanding that as the Norns, even if they could see the future – or several futures – they could not actively change it, because what the humans termed as a 'butterfly effect' would occur and change the events of the future drastically. This was how they influenced the future, by influencing key people. He should have felt used, but Loki, with his mind finally clear, could think without the anger clouding his mind, and he understood the rationale behind the three women's actions, even if he didn't have to like it.

They smiled when they saw understanding cross his features, and instinctively realizing that his audience with the Norns were over, he stood up, his staff held at his side. Loki looked at each of the three women before him, thanking each one of them silently for their guidance. Looking down at his staff, he felt a surge of determination rise up within him, and him muttered the same spell that would take him to his daughter's realm.

It was time to bring Perseus Jackson home.

A stray thought in the back of his mind told him that he should have tired out by now, but his body felt as light as the first time he woke up, and with the howling and snarling getting closer, he didn't dare to stop.

Not that he needed to.

It felt as though he had unlimited energy, and that he could run for days on end if he wanted to. Then again, he didn't know if he had already run for several days trying to put distance between him and his attackers.

He risked a glance back, the glowing yellow eyes spurring him onwards. With his head turned back, he didn't see the tree before him shift and he ran at full speed, his foot snagging on a root, sending him flying forward. He crashed to the ground painfully, his ankle throbbing in time to his heartbeat. He shifted, throwing himself to the side just in time for a huge black form to crash into the ground beside him. He shot up, ignoring the pain in his ankle, starting his sprint again. He didn't get far before a furry body crashed into him, sending him to the ground for the second time. He twisted his neck enough that the fangs avoided his throat, but it closed around the joint between his neck and shoulder, bone crunching beneath strong jaws. He howled in pain, feeling the warm sensation of blood running down his arms and chest, driving his fist into the creature's ribs. The wolf snarled at him and backed up, its furry chest heaving as it growled at him. He kept his eyes on both wolves, ducking when one lunged at him, sliding under its body. He knew that he couldn't outrun them now, and he twisted, the second wolf pouncing on him.

Instinctively, he felt ice form in his hands, and with vague flashes of battles in his mind, he drove the ice as far up into the creature's chest as possible. The howl that followed deafened him, but he didn't stay still, rolling out from under the wolf. Before it could get up, he slammed the ice dagger into its skull, watching emotionlessly as the light went out in its eyes and the wolf slumped to the ground. He whirled around and faced the wolf's companion, who eyed him warily, realizing that this prey wasn't as defenseless as it thought.

He bent in a crouch, his dagger held in a reverse grip, something he hadn't realized that he'd done. He brought the dagger in front of him, the wolf baring its teeth. The two of them stared at each other, before the creature lunged, and he jumped forward, rolling and slashing at the wolf's front legs. The jaws snapped near his ear, and he snarled a challenge back at the midnight black wolf. He turned and felt more than saw his dagger slice through muscle and tendon, the wolf howling in pain as his weapon tore through its hind legs. It backed away, limping slightly. He bared his teeth at the wolf, offering a feral smile of his own, his dagger dripping with black blood.

He snarled and charged, common sense telling him that it was a stupid move to attack a predator, but his instincts told him when to dodge and when to strike. He moved in a blur, letting his instincts take over as he fought, snarls and yips resonating in his ear. When deafening silence prevailed, he stopped, blinking several times to leash his inner beast. He took in the sight of the bodies of the two wolves, looking down at his blood drenched arm. The distant sound of howls reached his ears, and he turned and ran, not realizing that his shoulder and ankle were no longer resonating with pain.