I didn't want to stick around too long.
As much as I was enjoying my time here, I did want to get back home because I know the girls were worried.
I was appreciative that they were letting me decompress without smothering me. Not that I would get angry or upset over anything like that, but it was nice to sort of breathe after the whole debacle without worrying.
And I knew Jeanne wasn't having as much fun as I was.
Even if she said she didn't mind just spending time with me, I didn't want to subject her to hours and hours of mindless lectures on different magical theories or subjects.
Let's see. I told the Ancient One everything she needed to know. Updated her on my little adventure; learned a bit about her former student; and told her about Asgard's—rather Odin's—words about possibly offering some assistance.
She was quite happy about that actually.
I didn't know if she would have the whole ego or thoughts like we can handle it on our own, blah blah, pride, and tradition.
No, I should have known she was the type to accept proper help if it's offered.
Within reason.
I know she would reject any sort of cooperation with Shield as a whole, so I didn't even bring that up.
Asgard lending some type of knowledge or aid was different than them becoming interlinked with an organization like Shield that stymied their overall goals.
Honestly, I haven't talked to Hela since she stormed off.
I have a habit of putting my nose where it doesn't belong, don't I? I clearly didn't know the whole story or her own interpretation of events, yet I made comments about it.
I try to be considerate when I talk to people.
Granted, that's when I want to be. I do run my mouth a lot to people I don't care about or people I dislike.
But I think this was an example of me putting my foot in my mouth, more or less.
Not, like, any particular word, but more how I approached the whole thing. I think I may have been accusatory? I was definitely making assumptions; that was my fault. I acknowledge I could have just handled it with grace.
I'm being very introspective today.
Well, at the very least, I did notice Jeanne found something she was enjoying.
It seems that some of the sorcerers here were of the playful sort.
They set up a line of portals for a slide down the mountain in the snow. Jeanne came flying through a portal on what looked like a sled through several portals before being deposited back onto the ground near us.
Fresh snow falling off her as she giggled happily.
Yeah, what's the point in magic if you can't have fun with it?
Thinking about Hela, I think I may have a way to apologize and maybe also help her.
Well, before that, I may as well do what I came here to do in the first place. It's funny to think that I only stopped over in this universe for a quick second to ask for help.
Then I get wrapped up in some nonsense, and here we are.
I took out my phone and called up Coulson.
I honestly should have taken care of this earlier today before I quickly ran away. But I didn't want to get swept up in their stuff any more than I already was. I do not play well with bureaucratic nonsense.
"Mr. Schweinorg," Coulson answered rather punctually like he always did.
"Hey Coulson. How's Clint?"
"He is currently being debriefed while we're stuck in decontamination and biohazard containment."
"I suppose it wouldn't help if I said that he's fine?"
"I'm afraid 'magic' isn't an excuse that will be acceptable on our reports upwards if they ask us why we didn't go through the proper procedures." He said dryly.
"Fair." I acknowledge it from his end. "You're stuck there too?"
"I was in close proximity to Agent Barton. So for the next seventy-two hours, I am stuck within confinement."
"They let you have your phone?"
"It's observation, not prison."
Again, fair.
"I assume there is a reason you're calling? Unless you're offering up your own report, which we would very gladly accept."
Hah, funny joke.
"I hope you guys don't confiscate the bow I gave him. Or the Ring I let him keep." I figured I should mention that. "Those were gifts."
"After a brief examination, they will remain within Agent Barton's person and as his personal property." Coulson replied. "However, I am required to ask if it would be possible to receive similar such items on behalf of Shield. With payment and such given for services provided. Compensation is up for negotiation."
"I'll think about it. Though Salem can do the same." If she couldn't craft Mystic Codes, I would eat my hat. "Anyways, I mentioned before that I had something I wanted your help with before…shit hit the fan."
"I recall."
"Right, so I'll briefly describe it. I have blueprints of certain devices that operate off an esoteric power source. The concepts behind them are within the range of technology that you guys would understand, I think. The issue is the power source. I was hoping if I shared these with you, you guys should reverse engineer them and make them powered by something more mundane."
"Mr. Schweinorg, I just want to be clear. You are offering advanced technology in return for us sharing with you our findings?"
"That's not wrong." Granted, it was slightly more nuanced than that. "Is that a problem?"
"On principle, I do not believe Shield would be against this deal. But I have questions. And keep in mind, this is not my wheelhouse; I would need to push this up the ladder."
"Shoot."
"First, I would like to know what kind of technologies we're talking about."
I suppose that's the most obvious question.
"First, an alternative to a cell phone. I could describe it in more detail, but the blueprints and documents do a better job of it. Suffice to say, it's better than what you're using currently. Second, it's a type of, uh…I guess the closest equivalent would be a radio tower? But it does a bit more than that. It plays into the 'cell phone' device I just mentioned. Last, and probably the most important are…robots."
There was a pause on his end.
"Robots?"
"Yeah, like autonomous machines. Robots that can be utilized for various forms of work. The source I got this from has combat robots that they use in real fights."
Personally, I hadn't seen them in action on the remnant. But logically, they should have some sort of viability; otherwise, they wouldn't bother making them in such great numbers.
Cost, expenses, utility, and something that makes them worthwhile.
"Honestly, I don't care about the combat aspects; I want ones that can do menial labor. Plowing fields, carrying heavy stuff, handling equipment, building houses. But I figured Shield would be interested in combat robots as a genuine and proven concept."
"Yes, Mr. Schweinorg." Coulson's tone took a different and noticeable tone. "Shield would be very interested in combat robots."
Okay, I think he was being sarcastic in the way he said it while being truthful.
"Great, I think we can work out a deal then. I was being honest too; I just want more…uh, civilian applications for this stuff? But I do want the actual means—the documents, blueprints, and schematics—on how to build it all when you guys work out the kinks."
"On behalf of Shield, I will accept this deal then."
"I thought you said you had to ask your bosses?"
"I said that in case I had to politely reject your offer." He responded without a hint of shame.
You know what? That's fair too.
"However, this deal is based on the assumption that Shield will benefit from that technology enough to develop it."
"Deal," I said immediately. What's the worst case? They decide against it, and then I'm back where I was before. I literally don't lose out on this deal. "Do you have coordinates so I can just drop this stuff off at a location? And I'll include some of the 'esoteric energy' that I said before. Be careful with it, because it can be used as a weapon."
"Please include instructions for dealing with this 'esoteric energy,' please."
"Can do."
"I'll send you the coordinates after speaking with my boss. Thank you, Mr. Schweinorg."
"Thank you, Coulson." I hit the button to hang up.
I like dealing with competent people. I hate bureaucracy, but there are people within it that know how to handle people like me who hate the system.
And it's convenient that I can just drop stuff off at a random location they give me.
I would make sure to give them enough samples of Dust and write up a little dossier on its properties from the standpoint of a non-magic user.
So…essentially how Remnant treats it.
I quickly sent a message to someone else to set something up for Hela's thing.
"Will, did you see?" Jeanne came running over to me.
"Which part, the mountain you rode down, or when you face-planted?" I wiped some fresh snow out of her hair.
She puffed up cutely and poked my cheek. "It was really fun. You should try it."
Honestly, I was tempted.
Hell, I may have taken her up on that offer in a heartbeat normally, but… I just don't think I was in the mood.
I'm still sour from what happened.
Saying I'm fucking pissed off wouldn't be accurate, but I was still mad.
Though, every moment I spent with Jeanne lowered that anger a noticeable amount.
"I'll take a pass for now. I'm feeling kind of homesick, actually. I figured we could head home, but I wanted to say goodbye to Hela first."
"Alright, let's go find her!" She grabbed my hand with practiced ease. At this point, I think she will take any opportunity to do so. For her, the 'normal' things that people do when dating are still fresh and exciting. Just doing something like this was enough to get her flustered to a degree when I held it up.
We left the main…area? The area of the temple that had everyone gathered at least.
The main courtyard and the connecting facilities.
"Hey Jeanne. You know, now that we're together, there's something I can do."
"Huh?" She tilted her head, probably not processing what I meant by that.
Oh well.
I used my other hand to tilt her chin up, and I gave her a proper kiss. Not overly aggressive or enthusiastic, but probably the most affectionate one I've given her since.
She made a whimper, not in a bad way, but like she sort of soft rebooted.
She turned very bright red and looked away from me as we broke the kiss.
"W-we can do that more often in the future i-if you want." She used her free hand to shield herself.
Cute.
"I missed you a lot, and I'm happy to see you again."
"Hehe~" she giggled absentmindedly.
I held myself back because I didn't know if she was going to explode at this point. Flushed Jeanne was hitting critical mass.
I pulled her along.
Hela wasn't very hard to find.
Where was the quietest place away from everyone else?
Literally on the other side of the temple.
She was standing at the railing of a ledge, overlooking the mountains in the distance.
It was honestly a beautiful view.
"What do you want?" She obviously noticed us.
Seems she was still in a bad mood.
"I'm sorry for making assumptions about your life." I had a feel that being coy or dancing around it would just make her more annoyed.
For some reason though, she seemed surprised.
"You're apologizing to me?" She spun around quickly, staring at me.
"Yes?"
Her lips thinned, and I couldn't tell if it was displeasure on her face or not. "I'm not used to being apologized to. It's strange."
"I'm sorry? Was Odin really that bad—"
She let out a snort. "Not just Odin. Simply, beings of our caliber don't often offer apologies. Many could see it as a sign of weakness."
"That's sad," Jeanne said softly.
"...perhaps." Hela was noticeably softer in her words when responding to Jeanne. "Is that all you've come here to do?"
"Well, I wanted to offer you something, an extension of the apology." If she didn't want it, then oh well.
But I thought this would be good for her.
"The return of my true strength?" She perked up.
"No."
"And now I no longer care about any 'gifts.'"
"Would you like to visit Asgard?" I cut right through the bullshit.
She froze.
"Come again?
"Explain properly." Jeanne pulled on my sleeve, a half-admonishment.
Okay, I was being a tiny bit teasing with how I said that.
"Did the Ancient One tell you where I'm from?" I asked.
Because she certainly knew I wasn't from this universe. She put it together rather quickly even if she never outright said it.
Props to her; it took Odin back home a bit to combine all the facts to reach the same conclusion.
"You are from Midgard?" She furrowed her brow. "I have heard nothing else."
"Alright, give me a moment; I'll give a good explanation. You have Yggdrasil, the world tree."
"I am familiar," she drawled. "Do you forget who you're talking to?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm from a different Yggdrasil. If it's part of a greater forest—"
"Why would you not just say you're from another universe?" She looked at me incredulously. "Do you think I am an idiot?"
Well, apparently, she grasped what I was trying to say immediately.
I let out a sigh. "Usually, I have to explain this more delicately."
"I am a goddess; I know the greater mysteries of the universe and what extends beyond." She crossed her arms, honestly sounding offended.
"...Right." I pursed my lips. "Look, do you fucking want to go visit Asgard at my home 'universe' or not?"
She blinked, going quiet.
I could see the interest. It was almost as if she immediately wanted to blurt out a yes.
But then I think the realization of what I was offering had actually set in.
I don't know Hela much, but I know her type.
Now, she's overthinking it.
She's going over in her mind everything that's wrong with what I just said.
The idea of following along: what could go wrong? Why it's a bad idea.
She's thinking of Odin.
She's thinking of the inevitable conclusion that will happen if she meets Odin.
If I had to guess, that is.
We're alike in that regard.
We overthink things.
We, the clever sort, are the people who think we're very intelligent. We get so caught up in our own heads that we miss the forest for the trees.
I'm lucky; I have a great group of people who will help kick me in the butt when I'm doing that. When I'm making a mistake, one of my girls will tell me. If I'm so wrapped up in my own head that I can't differentiate it from my ass, one of my girls will be there to slap some sense into me.
So, at the very least, I could be there for Hela.
I didn't know who was right or who was wrong.
Hela, Odin, and Brunnhilde.
They all had history, and I had no real place in it.
All I know is that right at this moment, I could help a woman who was lost and didn't know what she was supposed to do.
And I was confident, because if I were doing something wrong here, I think Jeanne would have stopped me.
"Jeanne, get the rope."
Jeanne perked and looked unnaturally excited. "Is it my turn to finally do this!?"
Or maybe not.
[Line Break]
A/N
So MCU is pretty much over; Wilhelm is just kidnapping Hela and bringing her to DxD Asgard because she's being a pooper. Moving on to Rating Game, then on to next world, which we're already there on advanced chapters.
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above under the same name