Chapter 1
Loki's breath came just a little bit quicker than usual as he waited, bracing himself. He was about to be transported across the universe, with no guarantee it would work; he was nervous.
But he had no choice.
"I'll do it." He rasped quietly, eyes fixed on the circular metal platform before him, two staffs connected to the Tesseract's energy either side of it. The blue energy of the cube gleamed in the staff heads, flowing down to form a crystal blue ring amongst the metal platform. The light gleam was strange amongst the darkness of the excluded realm in lay in.
The device was set against a background of dark grey and black dusted ground, a wasteland. The sky was practically lightless, just a handful of stars smattered across the sky.
No wonder these creatures were so unpleasant,Loki grumbled in his head, glancing over the grey, dull skinned forms of the Chitauri ahead of him.
He could feel their leader, The Other, breathing down the back of his neck, reminding him that he had no choice. It was either he went through the portal, or they would torture him and throw him through. A Chitauri couldn't do this. Only him. He could blend in like no other alien could.
The staff weighed mockingly in his hand, similar to Odin's staff. The only difference was the type of energy flowing through them, this one illuminated with the same bright blue energy of the Tesseract.
It would lead the way for this army. The way through Earth and its conquered people.
His eyes dampened slightly; Summer would be one of those people.
He'd missed her world in the fall of the Bifrost. He'd ended up here where his only option was to adhere to the Chitauri's wishes or to die. Even he couldn't fend off an entire army singlehanded. But when he found out their plan, he found he didn't want to – they were taking him to Earth.
As miserable as these creatures were, their plan coincided with his own: they were destined for Earth, as he was. Even better, they were going to take him there! And when they ruled, Loki would be able to share in the glory, have his own share of power. As long as they would leave him in peace, he didn't care about the rest.
He would do what they wanted him to, but he had a mission of his own – Summer. The Chitauri could conquer Earth, as long as Loki could find Summer and keep her safe at his side.
The rest of the world could burn – especially that bastard who had been kissing her back on Earth. Loki would win back Summer and her child, and her mortal lover would be nothing in comparison to him. It wouldn't take her long to forget him.
He wouldn't hold anything against her. He could only imagine what she must have felt, so alone, so hopeless… perhaps she had felt the same hurt that Loki felt now. Loki could hardly blame her for that. She had to survive. She had a child to care for. As much as it hurt Loki, he would forget it all if she would only be with him again.
And what of Thor? Surely the changed, self righteous bastard would come after him for this, once his precious Earth was under siege.
Perhaps he could find Thor's lover as well...
"Should you betray us, we will find you." the harsh, gravelly voice cut through his thoughts and Loki grimaced.
He had no reason to betray them though, not even a flicker of impulse. He would have nothing if he did. "I'll not fail." He breathed darkly, fingers tightening around the staff. He would have to get pretty comfortable with it very quickly if this plan was going to work.
The plan would work. He would make sure it would. If not, everything he had done would be for nothing.
He would have nothing.
His eyes moved forward to the feeble technology before him. The platform was flat and engraved with markings he didn't understand. Either side were two posts that had once been smooth and complete but now were crudely packed back together, wires and trinkets poking out in all directions. These creatures, Loki grimaced in his mind.
At least it still worked. At least, he hoped it would. If not, he might end up splattered across the universe if not transported across it.
He stepped towards it, with determination in his eyes.
XXX
The mirror wasn't the best in the world with little black dots marring the reflection in the corners, but Summer had made do with less before. She pulled her meagre makeup supplied out of her jacket pocket and slapped them down on the sink.
She didn't think she'd be disturbed anytime soon; there hadn't been many women out there in the bar, mostly just men. Sadly, that was why she had to make so much effort.
Typical, she thought. The lads could get away with jeans and t-shirts. Daniel was even wearing a bobble hat for goodness sake! But she, being the only girl, had to dress up. She would be the one everybody looked at, so she had to look good.
Brushing a bit of makeup over the dark circles under her eyes, she thanked whichever god that was responsible for granting her such clear skin. It helped save the bottle, when the only bit of her skin tone to level out was under her tired eyes. Brushing on a bit of blusher to bring a bit of life to her paleness and stroking some mascara onto her lashes, she started to look a little less weary than five minutes ago.
She shoved the makeup back in her pocket and shrugged off the jacket with a sigh, examining her dress. Black, short and clinging to her slim frame, it fit the bill perfectly. She just wished there was a little more of her to fill it out.
Fluffing up her loose curls of dark hair into something a bit less perfect, she deemed herself acceptable.
Her lips mumbled over the lyrics of their first song, knowing it would be just her luck to forget on their most important gig in months.
Then a glint of silver caught her attention in the mirror and she froze.
The mermaid pendent gleamed at her in the reflection, hanging between the small swell of her chest. Loki's necklace still looked beautiful a year on.
That was because it was she real deal, she thought with a small smile, fingers rising to stroke over the arching mermaid's tail. It wasn't cheap or fake – this was real silver. Maybe it wasn't even silver, but a similar Asgardian compound, nothing but the highest quality.
So many times when she'd been sat in the street, wondering why she'd held onto that necklace when she knew it was the most expensive thing she'd owned. It would have been so easy to sell it, to get some money for food…
But it was the biggest source motivation that drove her on.
Loki.
A lump built in her throat as the god came to her thoughts, remembering his dazzling emerald orbs. What would he think of her now, she wondered.
He had adored her in Asgard. She never went hungry or out of comfort for anything, when Loki was around, always looking after her despite the amorous attempts of his brother. Everyone had there when she had first arrived in the realm; she had been a celebrity.
Now all that remained of that life was the necklace. Now, instead of a wonder to behold, she was a nobody singing to drunk men for money across the county.
It was her pride that stopped her doing anything worse than that in her desperation. That, and those perfect emerald eyes shining in her memory.
Still she had built herself up, bit by bit. Since running away on that bus a year ago, she had travelled half way across the country, gotten a morning job as a cleaner, day-time job as a waitress and evening work singing with her band. Slowly the money had started coming in and she had turned it towards the rent for the flat she shared with the boys, looking after her son and the rest – saved, as much as possible.
She was saving for them both to go back where they belonged – back to Loki.
If he would have her, trailing another mans child in her wake; even worse that the child was his brother's. When he had found out though, he hadn't been mad at her, just at his brother. He knew exactly under what circumstances Ewin had come into being.
She had nothing to lose though, and she needed to find him. When she had first been dumped back on Earth, the idea of going back to Asgard was nothing more than a fantasy. A dream.
Since seeing Thor's picture on Facebook though, her perspective had changed. She would not give up her life so easily, while Thor was clearly roaming his where he pleased. He had taken a lot from her that day he raped her but he would not have the rest of her life. She would make that hers again.
And that involved winning Loki back.
A smack on the bathroom door drew her from her thoughts and she snapped herself back to reality. What time was it?
Blinking quickly in the mirror to clear her blurred vision, she gave herself one last look over in the mirror before turning on her heel and making for the door.
On the other side of it, was the band's leader and drummer, Anthony, with his usual scowl. He wasn't the happiest of guys.
His almost black eyes were weighted with dark eyeliner on the lower lid, only making him look all the more brooding. "Twenty minutes." was all he curtly said before wondering back across the pub towards their stage for some final checks.
Summer didn't spare him a second thought before she disappeared through the 'Staff Only' doors, making her way back through the kitchen to the room behind the stage, where the rest of the band were tuning up their guitars.
She shoved her coat in the corner with the rest and paused only for a moment to tuck her necklace down the low neckline of her dress.
Then out of the corner of her eye, she caught something that made her eyes widen.
"Danny!"
Her hair whipped around her as she turned, making a bee line for the bassist perched on the stool – with her one year old son balanced on his lap. The infant held the guitar pick in his little fist.
Ewin had barely raised his hand, barely opened his mouth before Summer strode forward and snatched it from him. In a heartbeat, she swept the baby up into her arms too.
She glared at the ragged 18 year old on the stool. "What have I told you about giving him small things?" she snapped viciously. "He'll put anything you give him in his mouth – you know that! Something as small as this," she hurled the little guitar pick and Daniel raised his hands just in time to deflect it from hitting his face. "He'll choke on in a second!"
The lad just stared at her with raised eyebrows through his long wavy hair as he lowered his hands. "We were just playing!" he insisted. "Look –he's fine!"
Summer didn't care, her eyes flashing dangerously. She clutched her child close to her chest, wrapping the blanket tighter around him. Ewin rested his head against her bosom, ignorant of his mother's rage as he put his thumb in his mouth.
"Summer, can you keep it down!" Anthony suddenly hissed from the doorway.
A sharp jerk of her head redirected her glare to the drummer, but she quickly simmered it; this was not the time to start a shouting match with Anthony.
She didn't want to start a fight just before a show. They needed to knock this one out of the park. This was the most popular bar in the area – and it was known for taking on bands it liked as regular features to their nightlife. This was their shot.
She couldn't screw this up. She needed this more than the rest of them did. The money would make all the difference to her plans.
But she was not wrong and would not apologize for another idiot's ignorance. Not when it affected her son.
Too many times had her fate been out of her own hands and ruined from other people's mistakes. She would never let that happen again. If there was anything she had learned, it was that she could only rely on herself to keep things ticking.
With a last warning gaze at Daniel, she turned her back and marched away to the door, making sure to knock Anthony's shoulder hard as she did so. Cradling Ewin close, she kept her head down until they were safely in the tiny little room adjacent to the one the band were preparing in, where they locked away their things during a show.
Ewin's bed of coats laid waiting for him: Harry's padded body warmer covered by Daniel's soft leather jacket and the many think jumpers that Josh wore instead of a coat helped to make it comfortable for the youngster.
The band mates always emptied their pockets and agreed to lock their possessions in a guitar case, just to make sure there was nothing the little lad could hurt himself on in his slumber. Knowing the stuff some of them carried around with them – Anthony's cigarettes and Josh's pocket knife just a few of the worst. The last thing any of them wanted was for Ewin to hurt himself on something they carelessly left behind. They could be idiots sometimes, but her band mates were not malicious.
The toddler whined as Summer knelt and laid him down on the makeshift bed, his little arms reaching up for her. Heart aching, she pressed a kiss to his forehead and arranged his blue blanket to cover him warmly.
He had grown so much and it both pained and delighted her. Every day, he was stronger, more alert and she was proud that her meagre earnings had managed to support him even through their hardship. He had never once gone hungry and it showed in his strong, chubby limbs. He was a healthy young boy, if a little reserved.
But the more he grew, the more he grew into the vision of his father. Blonde locks grew on his head and bright blue eyes stared up at her, the exact lightning blue shade of the thunder god of Asgard. It was uncanny how Thor shone through the boy.
Luckily though, that was where the resemblance ended. Even though he was just a boy, Summer could tell he was a gentle soul. He was quiet and shy. He didn't like strangers; Summer had been travelling with her band for the last 10 months and it had taken half of that before he would even smile around them. He often just stood at her side, clinging to her leg. He didn't say a word.
Still, he was her beautiful baby boy and she loved him more than life itself.
"Want a story before sleep?" she asked with a gentle smile, hand stroking back his blonde fringe from his face.
Thumb lodged back in his mouth, Ewin nodded, brilliant blue eyes still eagerly bright.
Summer chuckled as her crossed her legs beneath her, offering down her finger to her little son. He clasped it firmly.
"Once upon a time, there was a prince called Loki." She began. "He lived in a far away land called Asgard with his family, including his evil brother, Thor."
Most of her stories went like this, with Loki, and Asgard, and whatever else she remembered of that wonderful realm. She wanted Ewin to know of the world he had come from – the good parts at least. And the good parts always involved Loki.
"A princess called Cinderella lived in the palace as well and she wanted to dance with Prince Loki at the ball. But Loki's brother, Thor was jealous and he wanted to have the princess for himself." Her smile slipped slightly as she spoke, the story only all too real for her.
"When she said no, Thor banished her to a land called Midgard so that she could not go to the ball. Then a fairy goddess called Sif came to help her. The fairy goddess Sif took her back to Asgard so that Cinderella could go to the ball."
Summer knew Ewin wouldn't understand everything she said but she told it to him anyway, and he listened intently. Slowly, though, his bright little eyes blinked sleepily.
Brushing his hair from his forehead, Summer went on. "Cinderella went to the ball, and Loki asked her to dance. She was so beautiful to him that he fell in love with her straight away."
Had he?, she often wondered. He had saved her life, tended to her and cared for her – how long had that taken to bloom into love?
It was one of the many questions she intended to ask him when she found him again.
And she would find him again.
For now though, she watched little Ewin's eyes flutter shut in slumber and smiled softly. One day, there would be more to the story.
One day, it would no longer be just a story; "And they lived happily ever after."
XXX
For a moment it had felt like he was on fire. White hot as powerful cosmic energy had consumed and carried him across the universe, energy still oozing from him like smoke - crystal blue smoke – as he stood there.
Where?
He wasn't sure exactly. Earth, that much he knew. The grey, precise floor gave that much away. There was nothing like that in the Chitauri wastelands that he had ever seen, not even in their ships were they so sleek. No, this was Earth. He had succeeded.
Grinning with triumph, he decided to get a better view. He could hear the slow footsteps of advancing men long before he looked up, but he wasn't fazed. They were mortal – what harm could they do him? Three black clad figures approached him with weapons in their hands, aimed squarely at his chest. Loki eyed them curiously, studying the metal work.
A calm, authoritive voice suddenly broke the silence, echoing greatly in the large chamber: "Sir, please put down the spear."
Loki glanced away from the soldiers to the dark skinned man across the room, one of his eyes patched and covered. Like Odin, he growled in his head, smile gone.
His eyes fell to the strange weapon in his hand. He wasn't used to it yet. It was light, so light Loki near forgot it was there until the apparent-Commander reminded him. The metal gleamed beautifully, the small ball of power between the blades just…awe-inspiring. It was so mystical, stunning.
It was not a weapon for 'putting down though' – it was a weapon for conquering.
Even on Earth, Odin's form was trying to keep him from Summer. No more,Loki decided in his head, fingers clenching around the spear. Nothing could stop him this time, not these mortals. This time, his father and brother were not here to ruin his plans again. And this time, it was not just him - it was him and his army. He would claim this world and have Summer rule with him at his side.
He just prayed she would forgive him for the sins he committed in the process: a blast from his spear killed his first mortal.