On the Wings of Munin 2/?
Title: On the Wings of Munin
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance
Pairing: J2, other side pairings
Rating: NC-17
Summary: The year is 0045, Post Apocalyptic Era. Magni Agent Jensen Ackles has never questioned where his life would lead him. Genetically engineered to become the perfect weapon, Ackles has spent his entire life gearing up for the day that he would board a ship to sail to the new land of Asgard. However, even the perfect soldier can find a few chinks in his armor. Ackles' happens to come in the form of a 6'5" native named Jared Padalecki-- whose body can heal from even the most grave of injuries in a matter of minutes.
Banner made by the amazing lasvegas_lights .
|Part One|
On the Wings of Munin
Warnings: This story contains strong language, graphic scenes of violence and of torture/neglect/abuse, as well as eventual sexual content. It will also contain graphic war scenes in further chapters.
Disclaimer: Regrettably I do not own any of the cast of this tale. They are all their own persons, and in no way is the following content meant to be a misrepresentation of their lives-- obviously.
Part Two
Jensen spent the majority of his first night onboard curled over the side of the deck and spilling his guts into the churning sea below. The night wind was sharp and cold against his skin and the sea spray dampened his clothes within moments of stepping foot topside.
In short, he was miserable.
Unfortunately, even the risk of hypothermia could not ease Jensen’s rebellious stomach. He was stuck in a pair of cloth pants and a sweatshirt, and by the time that his gut had finally elected to grant Jensen a reprieve, he was too weak to return below deck at all. He’d slumped against the ship’s railing and promptly passed out sometime after midnight.
This was how Carlson found him early the next morning, half sprawled out on the deck and sporting vomit crusted into his neatly-trimmed beard.
“Well, it looks like someone had one hell of a night.”
Jensen woke with a start at the sailor‘s voice, lifting a hand to shield his eyes to scowl at the other man. He squinted in an effort to focus his vision. Jensen watched disinterestedly as the sailor gave him a once-over.
“Not much of a sailor, are you?” Carlson remarked with a sympathetic grin, dropping a coil of rope at Jensen’s feet.
The younger man glanced over at the sailor, his eyes squinted in annoyance. This only earned a bright laugh from the sailor.
“Not a morning person either, I take it?“ The other man surmised with a grin, stooping to retrieve the rope and simultaneously landing on his backside, folding his legs Indian-style beneath him. Carlson began running his fingers carefully along the braided rope, feeling for any weaknesses or knots and fixing what he did find as he went. He seemed content with Jensen’s not-quite hostile silence.
The silence lasted for some time.
Jensen shifted against the railing behind him, dropping his eyes to where Steve sat to his right, working steadily on the length of rope. His gaze narrowed as he scrutinized the easy-going sailor.
After several moments Carlson spoke, words lazy and vowels stretching out. “Somethin’ you wanna ask me, soldier?”
“Yes,” Jensen replied baldly, his tone drawing Carlson‘s attention from the task at hand. When bright blue eyes fixed on Jensen in obvious askance, he pushed on. “What do you know about Asgard?”
Jensen’s eyes narrowed as the sailor’s cheek twitched, giving the other blonde away before Carlson could so much as articulate a denial.
“Don’t bother lying to me.” Jensen warned, voice hard. “You can tell me the truth, or I can use alternative methods to get the information I want.”
Carlson’s eyes darkened at the challenge, all traces of humor gone.
“Threats aren’t going to get you anywhere on this ship, son.” The older man returned, his own eyes narrowed as he pushed himself to his feet with a groan. “But a bit of manners might do you some good.”
“I don’t have time for manners.”
“That a Magni thing?”
“It comes with the uniform.” A small smirk accompanied the soldier’s words, and this time Jensen’s glance towards the other man was shining with subtle amusement. “Now, are you going to keep deflecting, or can we get to the point?”
Carlson’s face turned pensive as he leaned next to Jensen, their shoulders just touching. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
A low whistle followed Jensen’s blunt response. “That’s a pretty tall order, Ackles.” The sailor’s voice was thoughtful, his eyes fixed on a crewman who was checking the main sails. “I don’t think anyone can claim to know ‘everything’ about Asgard.”
Jensen squinted slightly, glancing over his shoulder at the other man. “Well then just tell me everything you do know.”
“You’re a demanding son of a bitch, you know that?” Carlson declared flatly. A handful of moments passed in silence between the pair as the sailor appeared to mull over his words. The only sounds that disturbed the tense quiet were that of the crew and the biting morning wind.
“It’s been almost 50 years since the seas shifted and the world went to shit. Like you know, most of the land sank into the water during the quakes and tens of millions of people died when it did. The survivors all banded together on the remaining land--what’s now Vigrid-- but it wasn’t much, and back then, people were greedy as hell.” Jensen‘s derisive snort earned him a glance from the blonde sailor. “Yeah, not much has changed in that regard.”
“Anyhow, the survivors burned through their resources in no time. Soon, there was no green left in Vigrid. The flimsy economy failed before it had even had a chance to take off. After that, Vigrid dissolved into anarchy.
“Then one day the waters receded and spit out this island--everyone thought it was humanity’s final chance or some shit. Scientists were crawling all over the island in no time in an effort to make it inhabitable.”
Jensen tilted his head more towards the other man, his brow lowered into a thoughtful frown as he concentrated on the sailor’s words.
“About the same time that the new land rose up, a couple brought their kid into a military base to dump him. Supposedly the kid was like some sort of mutant, like something out of the old school comic books. There’s all sorts of rumors about what was wrong with him, but the truth is no one really knows. The whole thing is some big military secret.” Carlson punched out a breath and ran a hand distractedly through his hair, squinting out at the murky horizon. “Whatever it was, it happened again a few years later. Another kid was brought to a base called Aegir. It was the same story.”
“What do you think was wrong with them?” Jensen questioned with a frown, his gaze on the other man unsettling in its intensity.
Carlson laughed, but the sound was shaky and hollow. “Wrong with them? Maybe nothing. Maybe the problem was they were the closest thing to normal anyone had seen since the quakes.”
Silence fell between the pair for several moments, each debating the potential truth behind such a claim.
“Point is,” Carlson resumed at length, “more of these kids started popping up all over the radar in the years after that. Rumor has it that some scientists messed with them pretty bad-- did horrible things to them and treated them like lab rats rather than a bunch of innocent kids. Eventually, they’d done too much to the poor bastards and had to dispose of them somehow.”
Jensen’s eyes widened in alarm and he pushed off of the railing, turning to fully face the sailor. “They killed them?”
The sailor’s mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. “Nah, the higher ups would never have heard the end of it.” His words were as snide as the turn of his lips. “Needless to say, they had to get creative. They took them to Asgard and used them in a different sort of test. The scientists set up a base on the island and had the kids play guinea pigs. See, Asgard’s different from Vigrid in every way imaginable. I can’t even put it into words, Ackles. The plants, the sky, the air you breathe-- it’s all completely different from back home.”
Carlson blinked at Jensen, noting the soldier’s contemplative expression. His own shut down instantly. “It’s just different from our world. Anyways, scientifically speaking, humans can’t live on the island for any significant length of time-- some shit to do with the oxygen levels. The scientists needed a way to test their theories about sustaining life on the island, so they set up camp and shoved the kids out the tent door and made them rough it out.”
“So the kids just didn’t come back?”
“Oh no, they did. The scientists kept them on a tight leash-- they were too valuable just to let wander off into the ‘unknown’. But after a few months on Asgard, the oldest two kids-- the first ones to be discovered all those years ago-- took the younger kids and broke out. The environment killed off anyone who went after them, and rumor has it the kids grew up on the island, still alive to this day.”
Jensen allowed his eyes to widen marginally, belaying his disbelief. “And people buy this story?”
He was met with a shrug. “I can’t tell you much about people. As for me, you’re damned right I buy it.”
Something about the other man’s tone caused Jensen’s gaze to narrow thoughtfully, as if waiting for the other foot to fall. He wasn’t disappointed. After a moment, Carlson’s gaze slid over to meet his own, lips upturned in the barest hints of a grin.
“I’ve seen one of them, after all.”
Jensen’s jaw clicked as he fought back the surprised laughter that tried to bubble up in his throat.
Before he could formulate a response to the outrageous claim, one of the other sailors was demanding Carlson’s attention. Jensen was still working to school his expression when the older blonde pushed to his feet.
“Sorry, soldier. Duty calls.” Carlson offered distractedly, attention already shifting to an apparent argument between the Sailing Master and the Quarter Master. Their conversation seemed all but forgotten.
Jensen was left to stare at the departing sailor’s back, trying to discern from the man’s gait rather Carlson was under the effect of any sort of narcotic or hallucinogen--because there was no way a sober man could believe a word of the sailor’s morbid fairytale.
He was dismayed to note that Carlson, for all points and purposes, seemed perfectly alert and aware as he made his way towards the forecastle to settle the dispute between the other two sailors.
“He’s insane. The man is literally insane. And you know what’s even worse?” Chris paced irritably along the small confines of their shared cabin, pausing only to point an accusing finger at his partner. “The worst part is that you’re insane for actually believing that hippie’s acid trip!”
Jensen scowled at the other man, perching on the edge of his cot with his elbows resting on his knees. “You don’t think I can tell when I’m being lied to, Kane?”
Noting the steel lacing his partner’s words, Chris’ irritated pacing stuttered to a hault. The brunette turned to glare at Jensen but flinched visibly when he met the other man’s fierce scowl. Chris quickly schooled his features, deeming to pretend that he had never noticed Jensen’s scathing glare.
“I’m not doubting your training, man.” At Jensen’s disbelieving snort, Kane amended, “Alright, so I am. But seriously, Jensen?”
“Look, I’m just as skeptical as you are, Kane. The whole thing sounds like something out of a really lame paperback. But this guy believed every word of what he was saying. No questions asked, no doubts or hesitations.”
“So he’s crazy. I get that.”
Jensen’s pointed glare let the other man know that he was far from impressed. Kane pretended once again not to notice the look.
“I can‘t believe this. You’re backing up some ship hand’s fairytale about kids with powers.”
“Is it really as far fetched as it sounds, though?” Jensen cut in, his voice flat. “Before the world went bad, no one would have thought we could exist either.”
Chris’ mouth quirked incredulously. “That’s different. We’re genetically altered, not mutants from planet X.”
Jensen’s face twisted. “Do you hear yourself? Fifty years ago someone would have laughed in your face if you told them you were ‘genetically altered’. Why the hell are you finding this so hard to believe?”
“Why the hell aren’t you?!”
At this, the blonde soldier blinked. Suddenly, he understood his partner’s behavior. “Jesus Christ, Kane. I’m not saying that I’m sold on this shit. I’m just telling you that this guy Carlson is.”
Chris threw his hands in the air. “Then why in the hell are we arguing over whether or not any of this is possible?!”
“Because what if it‘s the truth?” Jensen’s voice fell suddenly soft. “Who the hell are we to say that science can’t pull something like that off?”
Chris came to stop in front of Jensen, his hands going to his hips. “You’ve got to stop talking in fucking circles, Ackles.”
Green eyes narrowed in open annoyance. “I don’t know, okay? I know the sailor’s story sounds crazy. But I also know that this guy believes every word of what he told me. What if--” At the humorless snort from his partner, Jensen’s jaw visibly set, his dangerous expression keeping the other man from saying anything. “What if there’s something to it?”
Chris laughed shortly in disbelief, falling back a step from Jensen and running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “This is fucking crazy.” The brunette shook his head, pointing at Jensen as his lips lifted into a somewhat hysterical smile. “You’re crazy. Absolutely crazy.”
Jensen eyed his partner, the tension between his shoulders betraying his detached expression. He spoke no further. His silence, however, spoke volumes.
Chris spun abruptly, staring at the walls of the cabin as if they could somehow provide all the answers the pair so desperately needed. His hands remained fisted in his hair, tugging and tangling and twisting until the locks began to resemble something akin to a rat’s nest.
Humans with powers? Absolutely crazy.
The problem was, neither man was so certain that such a thing was impossible. Not really.

“Tell us we’re insane. Please, God, tell us we’re fucking crazy and send us packing.”
Samantha Ferris pursed her lips, her hands resting on her impressive hips. “You’re not crazy.” She admitted reluctantly, her tone belying her reluctance to voice the words at all.
Jensen’s eyes slid closed, head dropping back in defeat.
Chris began spewing an impressively creative string of profanities.
“Kane, do you kiss your mama with that mouth?” The older redhead demanded, moving into the empty lab and leaving the two men to follow in her wake. The ship had grown quiet as night descended, and a majority of the crew and soldiers were already in their quarters for the night. “Get in here, soldiers. We need to have a talk.”
As one, the two men trailed behind the scientist. Chris perched on the edge of one of the lab tables, scowling expectantly at the older woman. Jensen remained standing, his rigid posture testament of his wariness.
Samantha, on the other hand, folded herself gracefully into one of the desk chairs, eyeing the pair of soldiers openly. “I guess the first question to address in this situation is how in the hell two knuckleheads like you managed to get your hands on this classified of information.”
Chris opened his mouth to respond, but Jensen’s voice cut across the other man’s before he had the chance. “Our intel is of little consequence to you or your team.”
“On the contrary, Ackles. This information is highly classified-- we can’t afford to have whispers of it being passed around the ship.” Samantha’s voice was laced with steel, her gaze narrowed to match.
“I’ll see to it that this isn’t the case.” Jensen’s voice held little room for argument, evident somehow despite his flawlessly respectful tone.
Chris eyed his partner with smug approval.
The scientist, on the other hand, was eyeing Jensen as if she would like nothing more than to smash him under her heel like a common insect. Her jaw was set painfully tight, and the grip she had on the clipboard in her lap was turning her knuckles white.
Jensen seemed unfazed by her open hostility. He met the older woman’s gaze steadily, his stance a practice of false ease. The two held the gaze for several moments, neither willing to back down, and the air between them steadily grew more charged.
Finally unable to take another second of the tension, Christian slid off of the lab table and moved between the pair, his hands held up in a pacifying gesture. “Alright, alright. Let’s calm down before someone finally lunges for a throat.” The man’s easy smile was pinched around the edges.
Jensen fell back a step, but his stilted gaze never strayed from the woman’s.
Chris turned, his own eyes narrowed as he turned his attention fully to the scientist who was still attempting to flay Jensen with her sharp gaze. It took several seconds for the woman to slide her gaze over to meet Chris’, and only then did he move closer.
“Now let’s get this straight, lady.” Unlike his partner, Chris made no attempt to sound respectful as he placed his hands on either armrest of Sam’s chair, effectively caging her in her seat. “We’re the ones who get to ask the questions here, seeing as you’re the one who had every intention of using us like a couple of pawns on a chessboard.”
Sam, for all her attempts to keep her expression derisive, could not hide the way her eyes widened slightly as the Magni leaned in, his eyes bright and dangerous.
“I suggest you back the hell away from Ferris, boys.”
Both soldiers turned sharply at the lazy drawl that came from behind them and spotted Jim Beaver leaning against the bulkhead, eyeing them through squinted eyes. The man’s body was relaxed, but there was no mistaking the warning in his words-- or the pistol held loosely in his hand.
Exchanging a glance with Jensen, Chris slowly pushed away from Sam’s chair, rising fluidly and turning to regard Jim with his hands held palm-out near his waist. “Alright, pops. Moving away.” He drawled, lips pulling into an amused smirk.
Jensen noticed the smirk and reached out suddenly, staying Chris with his arm in front of the other man. “Don’t even think about it, Kane.” The murmured, shooting his partner a sharp look. Even now, the way that Chris shifted almost imperceptibly from one foot to the other warned Jensen that the brunette was gnawing at the bit for a fight.
Chris’ smirk widened but he dropped both the pretense and his hands, shaking his head. “Fine, we’ll play this your way.” The silent for now was loud and clear, though Chris allowed it to go unvoiced. Still, the older man seemed unable to resist peaking at Jim through the curtain of his hair, watching the old scientist with all the intensity of a hungry wolf.
Jim seemed unsteadied by the brunette Magni, if the way his spine straightened and shoulders tensed under Chris’ gaze was any indication. The old man swallowed thickly and returned the gun to the folds of his lab coat, his movements painfully slow as if trying not to spook a wild animal.
Chris’ eyes followed the man’s every move.
“We’re not here to fight.” Jensen declared, voice seeming suddenly too loud after the stand off between the other two men. At Jim’s disbelieving snort, Jensen continued more firmly. “Believe what you want, but we’re just here to get answers.”
“This doesn’t look like a friendly Q and A to me.” Jim sneered in return, still taking care to remain unmoving under Chris’ watchful gaze.
“These boys seem under the impression that they’re being used to hunt down people with powers.” Samantha offered, her lazy tone a stark contrast to her tight features. The woman had yet to move so much as a muscle from her chair, seeming all too aware of Chris’ near proximity.
Jim snorted. “Well that’s quite a theory, boys.”
“According to Ferris, it’s a bit more than a theory.” Jensen retorted flatly.
Now it was Jim’s turn to exchange a glance with Sam, who’s only response was to give a tight nod.
Jim sighed and moved into the room, movements deliberate while his eyes pointedly avoided Chris‘. Rather than move to a desk chair beside Sam--which would require risking actually moving past the restless Magni-- the old man perched on the end of one of the lab tables.
Jensen did his best to ignore the smugness he could feel radiating from his partner as a result of the old scientist’s skittish behavior. His eyes returned to Jim as the old man sighed heavily, watching as the man readjusted his worn ball cap.
“Well,” Jim began gruffly, eyeing the two soldiers from the corner of squinted eyes. “let’s hear what you think you know, and we’ll go from there.”

In the darkness of a cave deep within the forest of Asgard, a tiny brunette awoke with a startled scream. Bright blue eyes, wide with fear, began to fill as her small form began to shake. Her hands were firmly held over her ears, as if the futile motion would somehow block out the sounds of the haunting screams that had followed her from dreams into the waking world.
Beside her, a man pushed himself into a sitting position, his hands already moving to pull the terrified woman against his chest. He was lean, but noticeably well muscled, the lithe grace in his movements visible in even the dim light of the cave.
Somewhere deeper within the cave, a fire burned, providing the only source of light in the otherwise dark shelter.
The terrified woman moved readily into the man’s hold, turning her face into his bare chest and winding her arms tightly around his middle. She continued to tremble against him.
The man sighed heavily and pulled her closer against him, one hand lifting to smooth the hair from her sweat-dampened forehead. His shoulders were laced with wary tension as he soothed the terrified woman in his arms, ducking his head to press his cheek against hers.
“Milo,” the woman breathed shakily, lifting one of her hands to his other cheek to hold his face against her own.
“What is it?” He inquired softly, voice careful and barely above a whisper so not to wake the others who slept deeper within the cave. When he received a small shake of the head as his answer, the man--Milo-- drew back and hooked a finger beneath the woman’s chin, forcing her frightened gaze to meet his own.
“Alexis,” he admonished, swiping his thumb across one of the silvery trails of tears running down a flawless cheek.
Alexis leaned into the touch, allowing her eyes to slide shut as she relished the gentle motion, eyelashes dampened and standing out stark against her pale cheeks.
“Is it something to do with why Samantha has been so on edge? Is something coming?” Milo pressed gently.
The brunette’s immediate tensing gave her away.
“It is, isn’t it?” He continued, pulling the girl into his lap and ghosting his fingertips across her high cheek bones, his eyes studying her face with a fierce intensity. “Alexis, talk to me.”
At the sound of her mate’s pleading, the woman finally surrendered to his prodding with a weak shudder. She ducked her head to avoid meeting his eyes, her long hair shifting to partially shield her face from his ever-curious gaze. “There’s… there’re others coming. Other people.”
Suddenly, Milo was sitting impossibly still. “What?” His voice was both incredulous and horrified.
Alexis nodded miserably. “They aren’t like us. They’re coming for the land--”, she cut off sharply, twisting in Milo’s hold to grip his arms desperately. “Milo, they’ll burn everything. Everything they touch turns to ash! The trees, the animals--”
“Alexis,” Milo interjected firmly, his rigid posture belying the certainty carried in his voice. “That’s not going to happen. We won’t let it happen.” When the woman in his arms still avoided his gaze, he hooked his finger under her chin to bring her gaze back to his own. “Samantha’s visions have been wrong before. But if she’s right, and there are people coming? Then we’ll protect our home-- I’ll protect you.”
Milo’s fierce declaration drew a watery smile from the stunning brunette in his arms. Alexis, returning one hand to rest lightly against his cheek, smoothed her thumb over a thin scar that ran from Milo’s left eyebrow down to the curve of his cheekbone.
“I know you will.” She replied, her voice finally steadying as she allowed herself to melt into the comfort offered by her mate.
Moments passed before a rustle of wings from the cave’s entrance drew the couple’s attention, effectively breaking the moment. Alexis raised her head and looked over her shoulder, lips slowly tilting into a genuine smile as she spotted a giant of a man standing at the mouth of the cave, shaking water from his soaked hair and apparently oblivious to his audience.
“Been playing in the rain again, I take it?” Milo drawled around a grin.
The man at the entrance stilled and looked up quickly, expression turning sheepish in an instant. “Did I wake you guys?”
Alexis’ smile only widened. “We were already awake.” She reassured, though she continued to openly eye the giant. “What are you even doing up, Jay?”
The question drew a brilliant grin from the younger man. However, he offered no explanation. Alexis seemed to have expected as much and sighed, settling back in Milo’s arms without taking her eyes from the other man.
Jay’s grin only widened at her long-suffering sigh. “Don’t worry mom, I can handle myself just fine.”
Milo valiantly fought back a snicker, but the sudden jerk of his shoulders still gave him away and earned the smaller man a disapproving glance from his mate. His arms tightened around Alexis apologetically, but his mischievous smile remained firmly in place.
Alexis pointedly ignored him.
“I’m going to bed.” Jay announced in an effort to break the (amusing) tension between the seated couple. He reshouldered his drenched pack and moved past them, ignorant of the way the other two’s eyes followed his movements. With a distracted wave over his shoulder, the brunette disappeared.
As one, Alexis and Milo both exhaled heavily.
“Do you think he even notices?” Alexis inquired incredulously, nose scrunched in apparent annoyance-- though whether with herself or the drenched brunette was unclear.
At this, Milo laughed shortly. “Not a chance. Jared is the definition of oblivious.”
Alexis shook her head with a huff. “Point taken.”
She made no move to brace herself as Milo lowered them both back down to the furs of their bedding. Instead, she caught one of the pelts and pulled it up over both of their shoulders and turned in her mate’s hold so that her cheek was pressed against his shoulder. After a few seconds passed where the couple shifted until they were both situated, she sighed contentedly and draped an arm over Milo’s stomach, eyes already closing.
She fell asleep tucked securely in Milo’s arms, and the rest of the night was passed without another nightmare.

Author’s Note: My apologies for the late update-- real life got in the way and made a quicker update impossible. As such, this chapter is currently being posted unbeta’d in order to speed things up, so any mistakes are my own. Also, I apologize for the quality of this chapter. I’m really not happy with pieces of it; I reworked them half a dozen times but they just refused to write how I was hoping. In any case, don’t hold them against me. :p
The next chapter should be out on schedule and be put up this Saturday. In Chapter 3 things really start moving and the plot begins to thicken. Now that a majority of the players have been introduced, things can get interesting.
Thanks for sticking with me! Please, leave me feedback. Let me know if this chapter turned out as awful as I’m afraid it did, and if it didn’t let me know. Either way, I hope you’ll stick around.
Thanks for reading! <3
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance
Pairing: J2, other side pairings
Rating: NC-17
Summary: The year is 0045, Post Apocalyptic Era. Magni Agent Jensen Ackles has never questioned where his life would lead him. Genetically engineered to become the perfect weapon, Ackles has spent his entire life gearing up for the day that he would board a ship to sail to the new land of Asgard. However, even the perfect soldier can find a few chinks in his armor. Ackles' happens to come in the form of a 6'5" native named Jared Padalecki-- whose body can heal from even the most grave of injuries in a matter of minutes.
Banner made by the amazing lasvegas_lights .
|Part One|
On the Wings of Munin
Warnings: This story contains strong language, graphic scenes of violence and of torture/neglect/abuse, as well as eventual sexual content. It will also contain graphic war scenes in further chapters.
Disclaimer: Regrettably I do not own any of the cast of this tale. They are all their own persons, and in no way is the following content meant to be a misrepresentation of their lives-- obviously.
Part Two
Jensen spent the majority of his first night onboard curled over the side of the deck and spilling his guts into the churning sea below. The night wind was sharp and cold against his skin and the sea spray dampened his clothes within moments of stepping foot topside.
In short, he was miserable.
Unfortunately, even the risk of hypothermia could not ease Jensen’s rebellious stomach. He was stuck in a pair of cloth pants and a sweatshirt, and by the time that his gut had finally elected to grant Jensen a reprieve, he was too weak to return below deck at all. He’d slumped against the ship’s railing and promptly passed out sometime after midnight.
This was how Carlson found him early the next morning, half sprawled out on the deck and sporting vomit crusted into his neatly-trimmed beard.
“Well, it looks like someone had one hell of a night.”
Jensen woke with a start at the sailor‘s voice, lifting a hand to shield his eyes to scowl at the other man. He squinted in an effort to focus his vision. Jensen watched disinterestedly as the sailor gave him a once-over.
“Not much of a sailor, are you?” Carlson remarked with a sympathetic grin, dropping a coil of rope at Jensen’s feet.
The younger man glanced over at the sailor, his eyes squinted in annoyance. This only earned a bright laugh from the sailor.
“Not a morning person either, I take it?“ The other man surmised with a grin, stooping to retrieve the rope and simultaneously landing on his backside, folding his legs Indian-style beneath him. Carlson began running his fingers carefully along the braided rope, feeling for any weaknesses or knots and fixing what he did find as he went. He seemed content with Jensen’s not-quite hostile silence.
The silence lasted for some time.
Jensen shifted against the railing behind him, dropping his eyes to where Steve sat to his right, working steadily on the length of rope. His gaze narrowed as he scrutinized the easy-going sailor.
After several moments Carlson spoke, words lazy and vowels stretching out. “Somethin’ you wanna ask me, soldier?”
“Yes,” Jensen replied baldly, his tone drawing Carlson‘s attention from the task at hand. When bright blue eyes fixed on Jensen in obvious askance, he pushed on. “What do you know about Asgard?”
Jensen’s eyes narrowed as the sailor’s cheek twitched, giving the other blonde away before Carlson could so much as articulate a denial.
“Don’t bother lying to me.” Jensen warned, voice hard. “You can tell me the truth, or I can use alternative methods to get the information I want.”
Carlson’s eyes darkened at the challenge, all traces of humor gone.
“Threats aren’t going to get you anywhere on this ship, son.” The older man returned, his own eyes narrowed as he pushed himself to his feet with a groan. “But a bit of manners might do you some good.”
“I don’t have time for manners.”
“That a Magni thing?”
“It comes with the uniform.” A small smirk accompanied the soldier’s words, and this time Jensen’s glance towards the other man was shining with subtle amusement. “Now, are you going to keep deflecting, or can we get to the point?”
Carlson’s face turned pensive as he leaned next to Jensen, their shoulders just touching. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
A low whistle followed Jensen’s blunt response. “That’s a pretty tall order, Ackles.” The sailor’s voice was thoughtful, his eyes fixed on a crewman who was checking the main sails. “I don’t think anyone can claim to know ‘everything’ about Asgard.”
Jensen squinted slightly, glancing over his shoulder at the other man. “Well then just tell me everything you do know.”
“You’re a demanding son of a bitch, you know that?” Carlson declared flatly. A handful of moments passed in silence between the pair as the sailor appeared to mull over his words. The only sounds that disturbed the tense quiet were that of the crew and the biting morning wind.
“It’s been almost 50 years since the seas shifted and the world went to shit. Like you know, most of the land sank into the water during the quakes and tens of millions of people died when it did. The survivors all banded together on the remaining land--what’s now Vigrid-- but it wasn’t much, and back then, people were greedy as hell.” Jensen‘s derisive snort earned him a glance from the blonde sailor. “Yeah, not much has changed in that regard.”
“Anyhow, the survivors burned through their resources in no time. Soon, there was no green left in Vigrid. The flimsy economy failed before it had even had a chance to take off. After that, Vigrid dissolved into anarchy.
“Then one day the waters receded and spit out this island--everyone thought it was humanity’s final chance or some shit. Scientists were crawling all over the island in no time in an effort to make it inhabitable.”
Jensen tilted his head more towards the other man, his brow lowered into a thoughtful frown as he concentrated on the sailor’s words.
“About the same time that the new land rose up, a couple brought their kid into a military base to dump him. Supposedly the kid was like some sort of mutant, like something out of the old school comic books. There’s all sorts of rumors about what was wrong with him, but the truth is no one really knows. The whole thing is some big military secret.” Carlson punched out a breath and ran a hand distractedly through his hair, squinting out at the murky horizon. “Whatever it was, it happened again a few years later. Another kid was brought to a base called Aegir. It was the same story.”
“What do you think was wrong with them?” Jensen questioned with a frown, his gaze on the other man unsettling in its intensity.
Carlson laughed, but the sound was shaky and hollow. “Wrong with them? Maybe nothing. Maybe the problem was they were the closest thing to normal anyone had seen since the quakes.”
Silence fell between the pair for several moments, each debating the potential truth behind such a claim.
“Point is,” Carlson resumed at length, “more of these kids started popping up all over the radar in the years after that. Rumor has it that some scientists messed with them pretty bad-- did horrible things to them and treated them like lab rats rather than a bunch of innocent kids. Eventually, they’d done too much to the poor bastards and had to dispose of them somehow.”
Jensen’s eyes widened in alarm and he pushed off of the railing, turning to fully face the sailor. “They killed them?”
The sailor’s mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. “Nah, the higher ups would never have heard the end of it.” His words were as snide as the turn of his lips. “Needless to say, they had to get creative. They took them to Asgard and used them in a different sort of test. The scientists set up a base on the island and had the kids play guinea pigs. See, Asgard’s different from Vigrid in every way imaginable. I can’t even put it into words, Ackles. The plants, the sky, the air you breathe-- it’s all completely different from back home.”
Carlson blinked at Jensen, noting the soldier’s contemplative expression. His own shut down instantly. “It’s just different from our world. Anyways, scientifically speaking, humans can’t live on the island for any significant length of time-- some shit to do with the oxygen levels. The scientists needed a way to test their theories about sustaining life on the island, so they set up camp and shoved the kids out the tent door and made them rough it out.”
“So the kids just didn’t come back?”
“Oh no, they did. The scientists kept them on a tight leash-- they were too valuable just to let wander off into the ‘unknown’. But after a few months on Asgard, the oldest two kids-- the first ones to be discovered all those years ago-- took the younger kids and broke out. The environment killed off anyone who went after them, and rumor has it the kids grew up on the island, still alive to this day.”
Jensen allowed his eyes to widen marginally, belaying his disbelief. “And people buy this story?”
He was met with a shrug. “I can’t tell you much about people. As for me, you’re damned right I buy it.”
Something about the other man’s tone caused Jensen’s gaze to narrow thoughtfully, as if waiting for the other foot to fall. He wasn’t disappointed. After a moment, Carlson’s gaze slid over to meet his own, lips upturned in the barest hints of a grin.
“I’ve seen one of them, after all.”
Jensen’s jaw clicked as he fought back the surprised laughter that tried to bubble up in his throat.
Before he could formulate a response to the outrageous claim, one of the other sailors was demanding Carlson’s attention. Jensen was still working to school his expression when the older blonde pushed to his feet.
“Sorry, soldier. Duty calls.” Carlson offered distractedly, attention already shifting to an apparent argument between the Sailing Master and the Quarter Master. Their conversation seemed all but forgotten.
Jensen was left to stare at the departing sailor’s back, trying to discern from the man’s gait rather Carlson was under the effect of any sort of narcotic or hallucinogen--because there was no way a sober man could believe a word of the sailor’s morbid fairytale.
He was dismayed to note that Carlson, for all points and purposes, seemed perfectly alert and aware as he made his way towards the forecastle to settle the dispute between the other two sailors.

“He’s insane. The man is literally insane. And you know what’s even worse?” Chris paced irritably along the small confines of their shared cabin, pausing only to point an accusing finger at his partner. “The worst part is that you’re insane for actually believing that hippie’s acid trip!”
Jensen scowled at the other man, perching on the edge of his cot with his elbows resting on his knees. “You don’t think I can tell when I’m being lied to, Kane?”
Noting the steel lacing his partner’s words, Chris’ irritated pacing stuttered to a hault. The brunette turned to glare at Jensen but flinched visibly when he met the other man’s fierce scowl. Chris quickly schooled his features, deeming to pretend that he had never noticed Jensen’s scathing glare.
“I’m not doubting your training, man.” At Jensen’s disbelieving snort, Kane amended, “Alright, so I am. But seriously, Jensen?”
“Look, I’m just as skeptical as you are, Kane. The whole thing sounds like something out of a really lame paperback. But this guy believed every word of what he was saying. No questions asked, no doubts or hesitations.”
“So he’s crazy. I get that.”
Jensen’s pointed glare let the other man know that he was far from impressed. Kane pretended once again not to notice the look.
“I can‘t believe this. You’re backing up some ship hand’s fairytale about kids with powers.”
“Is it really as far fetched as it sounds, though?” Jensen cut in, his voice flat. “Before the world went bad, no one would have thought we could exist either.”
Chris’ mouth quirked incredulously. “That’s different. We’re genetically altered, not mutants from planet X.”
Jensen’s face twisted. “Do you hear yourself? Fifty years ago someone would have laughed in your face if you told them you were ‘genetically altered’. Why the hell are you finding this so hard to believe?”
“Why the hell aren’t you?!”
At this, the blonde soldier blinked. Suddenly, he understood his partner’s behavior. “Jesus Christ, Kane. I’m not saying that I’m sold on this shit. I’m just telling you that this guy Carlson is.”
Chris threw his hands in the air. “Then why in the hell are we arguing over whether or not any of this is possible?!”
“Because what if it‘s the truth?” Jensen’s voice fell suddenly soft. “Who the hell are we to say that science can’t pull something like that off?”
Chris came to stop in front of Jensen, his hands going to his hips. “You’ve got to stop talking in fucking circles, Ackles.”
Green eyes narrowed in open annoyance. “I don’t know, okay? I know the sailor’s story sounds crazy. But I also know that this guy believes every word of what he told me. What if--” At the humorless snort from his partner, Jensen’s jaw visibly set, his dangerous expression keeping the other man from saying anything. “What if there’s something to it?”
Chris laughed shortly in disbelief, falling back a step from Jensen and running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “This is fucking crazy.” The brunette shook his head, pointing at Jensen as his lips lifted into a somewhat hysterical smile. “You’re crazy. Absolutely crazy.”
Jensen eyed his partner, the tension between his shoulders betraying his detached expression. He spoke no further. His silence, however, spoke volumes.
Chris spun abruptly, staring at the walls of the cabin as if they could somehow provide all the answers the pair so desperately needed. His hands remained fisted in his hair, tugging and tangling and twisting until the locks began to resemble something akin to a rat’s nest.
Humans with powers? Absolutely crazy.
The problem was, neither man was so certain that such a thing was impossible. Not really.

“Tell us we’re insane. Please, God, tell us we’re fucking crazy and send us packing.”
Samantha Ferris pursed her lips, her hands resting on her impressive hips. “You’re not crazy.” She admitted reluctantly, her tone belying her reluctance to voice the words at all.
Jensen’s eyes slid closed, head dropping back in defeat.
Chris began spewing an impressively creative string of profanities.
“Kane, do you kiss your mama with that mouth?” The older redhead demanded, moving into the empty lab and leaving the two men to follow in her wake. The ship had grown quiet as night descended, and a majority of the crew and soldiers were already in their quarters for the night. “Get in here, soldiers. We need to have a talk.”
As one, the two men trailed behind the scientist. Chris perched on the edge of one of the lab tables, scowling expectantly at the older woman. Jensen remained standing, his rigid posture testament of his wariness.
Samantha, on the other hand, folded herself gracefully into one of the desk chairs, eyeing the pair of soldiers openly. “I guess the first question to address in this situation is how in the hell two knuckleheads like you managed to get your hands on this classified of information.”
Chris opened his mouth to respond, but Jensen’s voice cut across the other man’s before he had the chance. “Our intel is of little consequence to you or your team.”
“On the contrary, Ackles. This information is highly classified-- we can’t afford to have whispers of it being passed around the ship.” Samantha’s voice was laced with steel, her gaze narrowed to match.
“I’ll see to it that this isn’t the case.” Jensen’s voice held little room for argument, evident somehow despite his flawlessly respectful tone.
Chris eyed his partner with smug approval.
The scientist, on the other hand, was eyeing Jensen as if she would like nothing more than to smash him under her heel like a common insect. Her jaw was set painfully tight, and the grip she had on the clipboard in her lap was turning her knuckles white.
Jensen seemed unfazed by her open hostility. He met the older woman’s gaze steadily, his stance a practice of false ease. The two held the gaze for several moments, neither willing to back down, and the air between them steadily grew more charged.
Finally unable to take another second of the tension, Christian slid off of the lab table and moved between the pair, his hands held up in a pacifying gesture. “Alright, alright. Let’s calm down before someone finally lunges for a throat.” The man’s easy smile was pinched around the edges.
Jensen fell back a step, but his stilted gaze never strayed from the woman’s.
Chris turned, his own eyes narrowed as he turned his attention fully to the scientist who was still attempting to flay Jensen with her sharp gaze. It took several seconds for the woman to slide her gaze over to meet Chris’, and only then did he move closer.
“Now let’s get this straight, lady.” Unlike his partner, Chris made no attempt to sound respectful as he placed his hands on either armrest of Sam’s chair, effectively caging her in her seat. “We’re the ones who get to ask the questions here, seeing as you’re the one who had every intention of using us like a couple of pawns on a chessboard.”
Sam, for all her attempts to keep her expression derisive, could not hide the way her eyes widened slightly as the Magni leaned in, his eyes bright and dangerous.
“I suggest you back the hell away from Ferris, boys.”
Both soldiers turned sharply at the lazy drawl that came from behind them and spotted Jim Beaver leaning against the bulkhead, eyeing them through squinted eyes. The man’s body was relaxed, but there was no mistaking the warning in his words-- or the pistol held loosely in his hand.
Exchanging a glance with Jensen, Chris slowly pushed away from Sam’s chair, rising fluidly and turning to regard Jim with his hands held palm-out near his waist. “Alright, pops. Moving away.” He drawled, lips pulling into an amused smirk.
Jensen noticed the smirk and reached out suddenly, staying Chris with his arm in front of the other man. “Don’t even think about it, Kane.” The murmured, shooting his partner a sharp look. Even now, the way that Chris shifted almost imperceptibly from one foot to the other warned Jensen that the brunette was gnawing at the bit for a fight.
Chris’ smirk widened but he dropped both the pretense and his hands, shaking his head. “Fine, we’ll play this your way.” The silent for now was loud and clear, though Chris allowed it to go unvoiced. Still, the older man seemed unable to resist peaking at Jim through the curtain of his hair, watching the old scientist with all the intensity of a hungry wolf.
Jim seemed unsteadied by the brunette Magni, if the way his spine straightened and shoulders tensed under Chris’ gaze was any indication. The old man swallowed thickly and returned the gun to the folds of his lab coat, his movements painfully slow as if trying not to spook a wild animal.
Chris’ eyes followed the man’s every move.
“We’re not here to fight.” Jensen declared, voice seeming suddenly too loud after the stand off between the other two men. At Jim’s disbelieving snort, Jensen continued more firmly. “Believe what you want, but we’re just here to get answers.”
“This doesn’t look like a friendly Q and A to me.” Jim sneered in return, still taking care to remain unmoving under Chris’ watchful gaze.
“These boys seem under the impression that they’re being used to hunt down people with powers.” Samantha offered, her lazy tone a stark contrast to her tight features. The woman had yet to move so much as a muscle from her chair, seeming all too aware of Chris’ near proximity.
Jim snorted. “Well that’s quite a theory, boys.”
“According to Ferris, it’s a bit more than a theory.” Jensen retorted flatly.
Now it was Jim’s turn to exchange a glance with Sam, who’s only response was to give a tight nod.
Jim sighed and moved into the room, movements deliberate while his eyes pointedly avoided Chris‘. Rather than move to a desk chair beside Sam--which would require risking actually moving past the restless Magni-- the old man perched on the end of one of the lab tables.
Jensen did his best to ignore the smugness he could feel radiating from his partner as a result of the old scientist’s skittish behavior. His eyes returned to Jim as the old man sighed heavily, watching as the man readjusted his worn ball cap.
“Well,” Jim began gruffly, eyeing the two soldiers from the corner of squinted eyes. “let’s hear what you think you know, and we’ll go from there.”

In the darkness of a cave deep within the forest of Asgard, a tiny brunette awoke with a startled scream. Bright blue eyes, wide with fear, began to fill as her small form began to shake. Her hands were firmly held over her ears, as if the futile motion would somehow block out the sounds of the haunting screams that had followed her from dreams into the waking world.
Beside her, a man pushed himself into a sitting position, his hands already moving to pull the terrified woman against his chest. He was lean, but noticeably well muscled, the lithe grace in his movements visible in even the dim light of the cave.
Somewhere deeper within the cave, a fire burned, providing the only source of light in the otherwise dark shelter.
The terrified woman moved readily into the man’s hold, turning her face into his bare chest and winding her arms tightly around his middle. She continued to tremble against him.
The man sighed heavily and pulled her closer against him, one hand lifting to smooth the hair from her sweat-dampened forehead. His shoulders were laced with wary tension as he soothed the terrified woman in his arms, ducking his head to press his cheek against hers.
“Milo,” the woman breathed shakily, lifting one of her hands to his other cheek to hold his face against her own.
“What is it?” He inquired softly, voice careful and barely above a whisper so not to wake the others who slept deeper within the cave. When he received a small shake of the head as his answer, the man--Milo-- drew back and hooked a finger beneath the woman’s chin, forcing her frightened gaze to meet his own.
“Alexis,” he admonished, swiping his thumb across one of the silvery trails of tears running down a flawless cheek.
Alexis leaned into the touch, allowing her eyes to slide shut as she relished the gentle motion, eyelashes dampened and standing out stark against her pale cheeks.
“Is it something to do with why Samantha has been so on edge? Is something coming?” Milo pressed gently.
The brunette’s immediate tensing gave her away.
“It is, isn’t it?” He continued, pulling the girl into his lap and ghosting his fingertips across her high cheek bones, his eyes studying her face with a fierce intensity. “Alexis, talk to me.”
At the sound of her mate’s pleading, the woman finally surrendered to his prodding with a weak shudder. She ducked her head to avoid meeting his eyes, her long hair shifting to partially shield her face from his ever-curious gaze. “There’s… there’re others coming. Other people.”
Suddenly, Milo was sitting impossibly still. “What?” His voice was both incredulous and horrified.
Alexis nodded miserably. “They aren’t like us. They’re coming for the land--”, she cut off sharply, twisting in Milo’s hold to grip his arms desperately. “Milo, they’ll burn everything. Everything they touch turns to ash! The trees, the animals--”
“Alexis,” Milo interjected firmly, his rigid posture belying the certainty carried in his voice. “That’s not going to happen. We won’t let it happen.” When the woman in his arms still avoided his gaze, he hooked his finger under her chin to bring her gaze back to his own. “Samantha’s visions have been wrong before. But if she’s right, and there are people coming? Then we’ll protect our home-- I’ll protect you.”
Milo’s fierce declaration drew a watery smile from the stunning brunette in his arms. Alexis, returning one hand to rest lightly against his cheek, smoothed her thumb over a thin scar that ran from Milo’s left eyebrow down to the curve of his cheekbone.
“I know you will.” She replied, her voice finally steadying as she allowed herself to melt into the comfort offered by her mate.
Moments passed before a rustle of wings from the cave’s entrance drew the couple’s attention, effectively breaking the moment. Alexis raised her head and looked over her shoulder, lips slowly tilting into a genuine smile as she spotted a giant of a man standing at the mouth of the cave, shaking water from his soaked hair and apparently oblivious to his audience.
“Been playing in the rain again, I take it?” Milo drawled around a grin.
The man at the entrance stilled and looked up quickly, expression turning sheepish in an instant. “Did I wake you guys?”
Alexis’ smile only widened. “We were already awake.” She reassured, though she continued to openly eye the giant. “What are you even doing up, Jay?”
The question drew a brilliant grin from the younger man. However, he offered no explanation. Alexis seemed to have expected as much and sighed, settling back in Milo’s arms without taking her eyes from the other man.
Jay’s grin only widened at her long-suffering sigh. “Don’t worry mom, I can handle myself just fine.”
Milo valiantly fought back a snicker, but the sudden jerk of his shoulders still gave him away and earned the smaller man a disapproving glance from his mate. His arms tightened around Alexis apologetically, but his mischievous smile remained firmly in place.
Alexis pointedly ignored him.
“I’m going to bed.” Jay announced in an effort to break the (amusing) tension between the seated couple. He reshouldered his drenched pack and moved past them, ignorant of the way the other two’s eyes followed his movements. With a distracted wave over his shoulder, the brunette disappeared.
As one, Alexis and Milo both exhaled heavily.
“Do you think he even notices?” Alexis inquired incredulously, nose scrunched in apparent annoyance-- though whether with herself or the drenched brunette was unclear.
At this, Milo laughed shortly. “Not a chance. Jared is the definition of oblivious.”
Alexis shook her head with a huff. “Point taken.”
She made no move to brace herself as Milo lowered them both back down to the furs of their bedding. Instead, she caught one of the pelts and pulled it up over both of their shoulders and turned in her mate’s hold so that her cheek was pressed against his shoulder. After a few seconds passed where the couple shifted until they were both situated, she sighed contentedly and draped an arm over Milo’s stomach, eyes already closing.
She fell asleep tucked securely in Milo’s arms, and the rest of the night was passed without another nightmare.

Author’s Note: My apologies for the late update-- real life got in the way and made a quicker update impossible. As such, this chapter is currently being posted unbeta’d in order to speed things up, so any mistakes are my own. Also, I apologize for the quality of this chapter. I’m really not happy with pieces of it; I reworked them half a dozen times but they just refused to write how I was hoping. In any case, don’t hold them against me. :p
The next chapter should be out on schedule and be put up this Saturday. In Chapter 3 things really start moving and the plot begins to thicken. Now that a majority of the players have been introduced, things can get interesting.
Thanks for sticking with me! Please, leave me feedback. Let me know if this chapter turned out as awful as I’m afraid it did, and if it didn’t let me know. Either way, I hope you’ll stick around.
Thanks for reading! <3