Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

"Splendid work today Ethan, I did notice you were nursing an injury of some sort?" Frigga stated as Ethan closed his notebook.

"Yeah… I got thrown through a few doors in an unfortunate situation." Ethan explained as he packed up his things and stood up, "you two have our address so come by in an hour, we should be ready by then."

"What are we having?" Frigga had a sparkle in her eyes, excited to try out what dish Ethan would whip up.

"You'll see." Ethan walked out with a chuckle at Frigga's pouting face.

After Ethan left Frigga went and changed into one of her new outfits as Loki received a mental message from Heimdall, "are you two returning soon?"

He quickly cast and sent a message back, "yes, we will be back soon." He then shook his head thinking that his brother must be losing his mind because he isn't getting his way. He had a slight grin on his face as he went to pack his things.

—---------------------------

"Reed!" A gravelly voice yelled as he walked into the laboratory. His steps were heavy, causing nearby tables to shake. Even forcing Reed Richards to stop what he was working on.

Setting down his equipment and looking towards the amalgamation of rocks that made up Ben Grimm he nodded, "okay Ben you have my attention. What's wrong this time?"

"That idiot Johnny! He went public with it! Turn on the TV to the News!"

Reed nodded and quickly stretched his arm to a nearby table grabbing a TV remote and pulling it back as he turned the TV on. "This will be interesting."

The TV turned onto a newscaster as she narrated the events. "Earlier today when notable playboy and pop celebrity, Johnny Storm, was at a motorbike stunt event when he quite literally burst into flames. Underneath his motorbike suit was another kind of suit we have been seeing a lot more lately, a superhero costume. Which according to him is his custom suit that Reed Richards made for him, it allows him to transform without being… exposed. Not that it ever bothered him anyways." The newscaster chuckled at the last part.

"Oh crap… I told him specifically to avoid public displays of his abilities." Reed mumbled as it switched over to a video of Johnny Storm standing next to a reporter with a goofy grin on his face and his blue 'Superhero Suit' emblemed with a circle around a four.

"There are actually four of us. Reed explained it to me, that when we went into outer space we were exposed to a cloud of cosmic radiation which gave us our… unique abilities." Johnny explained adding a wink at the end.

"Oh…" The female reporter raised an eyebrow at that. "I wonder what all of your abilities are and what you call yourselves?"

Reed could see the light in Johnny's eyes light up. Then he snapped his fingers creating a flame at the tip of his finger, "I… am obviously called the Human Torch. Then there is my sister…" a picture of Susan Storm popped up, "she is called the Invisible Girl- um- wait the Invisible Woman, sorry she would kill me if I called her the Invisible Girl, obviously she has the ability to turn invisible and create barriers. Next is Ben Grimm the astronaut," a picture of Ben popped up. It was his old one of him when he was a NASA Astronaut, Reed could hear an annoyed grunt from Ben. "He is called… The Thing. He has become some sort of rock person. You honestly have to see it for yourselves."

"Then what about Reed Richards? As well as your team name?" The reporter had a delighted smile on her face like she got the best news she has ever heard.

"Well… Reed is elastic and stretchy. While our team is full of some fantastic people so- Oh! That's it! Reed is Mr. Fantastic," Reed could only shrug at his 'name'. "While we as a team are called, The Fantastic Four!" Johnny excitedly stated.

The news switched over but Reed just turned the TV off. "This is bad. Johnny might have just put a target on our backs. We need to-"

"Forget that! He called me 'The Thing'! The Thing!" Ben smashed his fist against his own open palm, "I am going to clobber him!"

"Reed! Ben!" Susan came running in, flustered and her ability was flashing on and off. Turning parts of her body invisible. "Johnny was on the news! Did-"

"We saw," Reed stated, interrupting her. "We need to get in front of this. Before the military and government try to turn us into another Hulk, or like any of the vigilantes in the city."

"What should we do?" Ben asked.

"Hmm… I don't know. Susan, you are better with public relations and stuff like this. Do you think we could spin this in a favorable way?" Reed asked, glancing at Susan who instantly changed her demeanor with her now biting her thumb nail while in thought.

"Huh… I think. If we have you go on a public talk show to expose ourselves and have you personally explain how we got our powers we could avoid the government turning us into dangers of society. But that won't be enough…" Susan seemed lost in thought for a moment calculating and following the possible paths they could go down. "I think… If we reestablish our company based around our 'superhero' personas we can establish ourselves as an international entity, which would save us from the military trying to use us as weapons. There are also a few other things- Yeah! It is possible." Then Susan walked away while mumbling to herself.

Reed glanced at Ben, who only shrugged, "sounds like she has figured it out. Which makes sense, she has been cleaning up her brother's mess since they were children."

—--------------------

As Frigga knocked on the door carrying her newly acquired suitcase that was full of her new clothes and outfits. Loki was standing behind her with a briefcase which held his items, unlike his mother who never traveled. He traveled so often that he had custom made a bag that can change shape and has a dimensional space fitted inside, which made it bigger on the inside.

The door opened up a second later to the site of Felicia in a nice dress. She opened the door more and motioned for them to come in, "welcome to our new home! Make yourselves comfortable, Ethan is working on dinner in the kitchen." They walked inside and set their bags by the entrance at Felicia's encouragement.

Walking in they saw Ethan standing in the kitchen. While a young brown haired girl sat at the counter in a dress she looked uncomfortable in.

Frigga smiled and walked toward the seat next to her and sat down. "Hello, young one. My name is Frigga, a norse goddess. Who might you be?"

Laura seemed stunned in the presence of the stranger, she then sniffed and then scratched at her nose, "um… I am Laura, a… Ethan and Felicia are looking after me."

Frigga smiled at Laura's response. While Loki sat a seat away from his mother and Felicia sat next to Frigga. "Well hello little Laura." Frigga then looked as Ethan set a wooden board with several different bruschetta. Some had cheese, some had jam, and some had tomatoes and olive oil, it was a mix of types. "Oh…?"

"It is bruschetta, an appetizer to hold you over until I am done making dinner. Which will be having an array of finger foods, I doubt you have much experience with these types of foods." Ethan explained as he pulled out some wine glasses and a wine bottle.

"This is true. I have found the human's twist on foods to be an absolute delight. Meanwhile Asgardian food culture is stuck in the same time period as a thousand years ago. Hahaha!" Frigga let out a hearty laugh while Loki sighed, Felicia chuckled, and Laura frowned and tilted her head in confusion.

"Glad we have something over you Asgardians. I plan to give you some recipes and leftovers to take home with you." Ethan stated as he nodded at a large container that was off to the side with a notebook on top of it.

"Hmm… in that case," Frigga snapped her fingers and a large glass bottle appeared in her hands, "this is a gift for you two. It's an Asgardian alcohol made for couples, to be used on their honeymoon." Felicia blushed profusely while Ethan accepted the bottle, "make sure you read the directions." The way Frigga stated that caught his attention. So as he moved over to a cabinet to put it away he read the label.

'Asgardian Marriage Celebration Liquor. Effects: Increased libido, endurance/energy, increases fertility by 100%. Side Effects: aphrodisiac properties, tastes like a mix of strawberries and blueberries, prevents hangovers.' Wide eyed he glanced at Frigga who only gave him a sly smile and a wink. Then Ethan shook his head and put away the clear bottle with a pink label and a pink cap.

He did have a slight smile as he moved over and slid one of the dinner dishes into the oven. He then opened the fridge and pulled out another three platters. He set one down and uncovered it, moving it over by the other appetizer dish. "This one is called deviled eggs. The ones with red powder are spicier than the ones without."

He moved the other two platters over to the stovetop. Setting them to the side he uncovered the top one before pulling out the bacon wrapped dates and placing them on a hot pan. It sizzled as Ethan set the top on it. While he set the platter to the side by the sink he took the other platter of food and started to place them in a pot of vegetable oil he had warmed up. He put in both cream cheese rangoons and crab rangoons.

"So what is the best thing you have tasted so far?" Felicia asked as Ethan continued to cook. "I mean on your trip to Earth… this time."

Frigga chuckled at Felicia's juggling of words, "I would have to say that the Pizza Slices have been some of my favorite so far. But I couldn't help but notice your boyfriend is making something similar?"

"Flame Cooking!" Laura yelled with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Flame Cooking?" Frigga asked, getting a nod from Laura in response. While Felicia chuckled and Ethan had to hold back his laughter while he cooked. Frigga looked at Felicia who shrugged.

"Flammkuchen. It is a difficult to pronounce German word. It is very similar to pizza." Felicia explained through her laughter. While Laura blushed when she realized she pronounced the word wrong.

"Ah…" Frigga turned to Laura, "not to worry young one. Even the likes of myself and Loki once had trouble pronouncing words. Though we may be Asgardians, no one is without faults."

Laura nodded as she listened, "how did you get past it?"

"I learned and practiced. Though I still have words I can't pronounce properly. Even Loki my son struggles to say, '$^#*!$&', though it is a simple word most Asgardian children can say." Frigga eagerly explained.

"Mom!" Loki yelled in distress.

Frigga chuckled while thinking, "not to mention my other son. Odin's beard is the boy so bull headed and arrogant. Ah… it is truly a shame, he could be such a good leader if he learned to listen and think with his head. Instead he runs into battle without thinking, at this rate he will end up like his father."

Laura hugged Frigga, "don't worry miss! I am sure it will be fine."

Frigga smiled sweetly and gave Laura a pat on the back, "thank you sweetie. If you did not have such great people as your caretakers I would kidnap you and adopt you for being so adorable."

Laura gave a sad smile when she heard that.

"Okay! Here are bacon wrapped dates, cream cheese rangoons, and crab rangoons." Ethan set another dish full of appetizers on the counter for them. Laura immediately grabbed a few and put them on her small plate to try.

"You must really like Ethan's food." Frigga stated as she too put some more food on her plate to eat.

"Yes, Ethan makes tasty food." Laura confirmed between bites.

"I must agree, young Laura."

Ethan only shook his head as he prepared more food.

A few hours later Ethan was packing the leftovers into the container while the others talked on the couch. Or rather the others talked while Laura laid in a food coma on the couch.

"That food was absolutely delightful. Of course the company was an entertaining surprise," Frigga glanced at Laura when she stated that.

Felicia nodded in agreement, "that is something I noticed when I met Ethan. For some reason he is a fantastic cook and knows all the best spots to eat. He won't even tell me how he finds these places."

Loki could only shake his head, "with his talents he could open his own restaurant. Either way, it is about time we head out. Even if, mother doesn't want to."

"Oh? Avoiding a problem at home?" Felicia asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Frigga nodded as she stood up, "unfortunately, but that is our problem not yours. So we will have to go and face it down. Thank you for hosting us." Frigga hugged Felicia and Felicia hugged her back.

"It was a delight having you, and if you ever feel the need to come to Earth again feel free to come by." Felicia offered.

Frigga nodded as she stepped away and gave Laura a pat on the head. Before she stepped towards Ethan who finished packing the leftovers and gave him a hug. "Felicia is right, feel free to stop by whenever."

Ethan nodded as Frigga accepted the gifts and then leaned towards him and whispered in his ear, "I suggest you use that bottle only after you and her get married. It wouldn't be good with its effects otherwise."

Ethan chuckled and nodded, "I know, I saw the label. Thank you for putting a translation on it for me." Frigga chuckled mischievously while she walked to the door.

Ethan opened the door as Frigga stepped out followed by Loki, "until next time." Loki waved goodbye as they hopped onto the elevator with bags in hand.

As the Elevator descended Frigga glanced at Loki, "so have you figured out a plan to get Thor in line?"

Loki nodded, "yes, I was going to trap him on Earth. But I realized he might like that. So instead I think it would be better to create problems and challenges for him using the criminals that are already on Earth. If items, weapons, and creatures from Asgard and the other realms start popping up in Midgard he will truly realize his fault in focusing his gaze on a single part of the kingdom."

Frigga raised an eyebrow, "you will need help, I suggest you find some capable subordinates." Loki nodded in response.

"I agree."