As should be obvious (though I've been remiss in pointing it out): nothing of Avengers belongs to me, it's all Marvel's and its creators (though Loki should be mine...)

Several warnings for this fic:

* This AU is the most different thus far from those I've written, the reasons will become obvious, if not in this chapter, by the second.

* There will be cameos here from two other fandoms: X-Men (movies) and Secret Circle (the books, mainly the first trilogy) you don't need to have watched or read those to understand what's going on, they're just minor characters that will contribute to a plotline.

* Characters from "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." will make an appearance, though some parts of the story will not be as it is in the show.

* The back-stories mentioned here are also important for the main story and will be included (except for those that don't fit time-wise) in their respective side-stories.

* Regardless of the timeline, "Thor 2" will not be relevant to this (though it will come up in other AUs as well as the actual sequel to the main fic.

* Whatever might have been said in movies and show after Avengers that doesn't fit with what was said beforehand in Nightingale is to be ignored in this verse (like the Aesir not being truly immortal, Darcy still being Jane's intern over a year after she should have been able to graduate, etc.)

*There will be changes in POV (mostly of women) as well as some scenes in 3rd POV.

That should be enough, if I think of anything else I will add it in the next update. Hope you'll enjoy the AU (it's the longest one yet).

Kinship

(Alternative Universe to Nightingale)

By: Lalaith Quetzalli

When hanging off the edge of the world, a change in Thor's choice: his father or his brother, brings a domino effect that will reverberate to the deepest corners of the universe. Nothing will ever be more important than family; not powers, not names, not war, not promises, not even blood…

Sanctuary

His choice changed my world… and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Today Father announced who will be taking over as King of Asgard while he goes into the Odinsleep." Loki informed me.

I kept my silence, knowing it was better to give him time to talk and just listen. Maybe that was all he truly needed, for someone to listen to him. And if not, when the moment came, I would try to do what was needed.

"It was Thor, obviously." Loki went on, his voice turning mocking briefly. "Thor Odinson, the man who can do no wrong…as if." He snorted, before talking normally once again. The Councilors, and other assorted high members of the Asgardian Court seemed to be of the belief that there was never any other option. Even the possibility of me ever ascending to the throne never so much as crossed their minds!"

"I thought you once told me you disliked the idea of being King…" I commented softly. "Something about considering it too boring…"

"Of course I do! All the pomp and circumstance…" He shook his head. "Not to my liking, I'm more the 'working behind the scene' kind of guy. Still, what angers me is that they never so much as considered the possibility that I might be as deserving of the throne as Thor. It's like… like I don't exist, maybe they think I shouldn't."

"Those who believe that are ignorant beings and you shouldn't bother with them Loki. If they cannot see your worth it's their loss. They're idiots."

"Wonder what they would think if a Midgardian ever told them that to their face." He snorted.

"I would if I could, not that I think it would mean much to them."

"No, it wouldn't. And that's yet another area where their ignorance shows. And in this case, not only the councilors', but also Thor's and Father's…"

We got off topic for a while, talking about the Asgardians' disregard for us Midgardians and our world, their apparent disapproval for any kind of connection between our worlds (which gave me an idea of just how hard a time we were gonna have when our connection was discovered; because I knew better than to think we could hide forever).

I tried to be patient, I really did, but eventually I had to push us both back to the original topic: Thor's upcoming coronation … and while I knew Loki never expected to get the throne, I still couldn't help but feel frustrated for him. He would be such an amazing King… I was sure of it. While he might not appear to be the 'nicest' person, he was kind, honorable, fair, he knew the political game like no one else I had ever known and had both the courage and the wits to do whatever it took to protect those he saw as deserving of his care and protection.

"So…if Thor being the heir isn't what's truly bothering you, what is it?" I tried to be kind even as I pushed for us to return to the main topic of conversation.

"First of all. I don't think Thor is ready. He's reckless, arrogant, temperamental, prone to acting before thinking. Who knows what kind of disasters he might bring upon Asgard if he becomes King as he is right now!"

"Have you shared your thoughts with your father, or Thor himself?"

"Ha!" Loki snorted. "Thor has little respect of my opinions whenever I'm not getting him and his friends out of mortal danger, even after I've just done so…" He shook his head. "And Father… if he trusted me in any way we wouldn't be in this situation, would we?"

I didn't say a word, waiting for him to go on, it seemed like we were finally reaching the crux of the matter, at last…

"I have no wish to be King, you know that. I always thought that one day Thor would ascend to the throne and I would be standing there to support him…maybe I could be his Head Advisor, or something like that."

"The position would fit you well." I agreed.

"Yeah well…seeing as he practically never listens to me, I'm not so sure…but that's not the point. When we were children, Father always said Thor and I were princes, both with equal right to the throne, both born to be Kings…why then does he disregard me so easily when the time comes for him to actually choose someone to take the throne? I don't wish to be King, I wish for my father to believe that I could do it if I had to!"

That, there it was, the core of everything: Loki wanted Odin to believe in him…

"Oh Loki…" I whispered, taking his hands in mine, trying to be as comforting as I could. "I'm no Asgardian, no one important who could possibly say anything to the Allfather to convince him to open his eyes and see what he's missing. He's blind if he doesn't realize the value you have. You might not be a warrior like Thor is, but your magic, and your cleverness, and your heart…you are a wonderful man Loki, and I truly believe your father will see it one day. Just give him time. A day will come when you will get the chance to prove yourself and your father will realize how amazing his second son is…"

Angels and Spirits above! If I had only know what would be happening in the following days, the way my words would be twisted and torn in the face of an impossible situation, a tragedy of immeasurable proportions…

xXx

A week later, things got very strange. My aunt and I were supposed to go buy my dress for the graduation ceremony, but right as I was getting ready for the outing I began feeling strangely dizzy. I told her, she claimed I looked flushed and worried I might be developing a fever, so she insisted I drink a lot of liquids and rested for the rest of the day.

It was a good thing that shortly after that some friend of hers from the embroidery club called her; she apparently was having a bazaar to get money to pay her recently deceased husband's debts. Aunt Kathryn of course immediately offered to help (well, after I convinced her that I wasn't dying and that if I truly ended up with a fever I would take some medicine and call a doctor). In any case, something told me what I was feeling wasn't really a fever, even if I had no idea what it could be if not that…

I was feeling very worn out, yet at the same time too wired up to sleep; which is why I ended up pacing from side to side in my own bedroom. I even took a long bath to try and relax; the effects didn't last. In the end I decided to drink some chocolate milk, or maybe some tea (I had read some teas helped people sleep better)… so I put a robe over my nightclothes (just in case) and made for the kitchen.

I had just finished preparing some lemongrass tea and was fishing the pot of honey out the pantry when suddenly a flash of light from the corner of my eye caught my full attention. There was someone outside, in the garden, my back-garden… I lost my breath and my heart skipped a bit, it was just for a second, but still enough for me to know, instinctively, what that flash of light had been about… Loki!

I rushed outside, knowing instinctively where to go. Soon enough I saw green, too smooth to be that of the grass or the leaves of any flower or tree: it was Loki's cloak. I was just about to reach him when a lot of red caught my attention: Loki wasn't alone. Beside him was standing a figure about his same height, inches more, inches less, but nothing like him: the other figure was broad-shouldered, blonde, blue eyed and dressed in red and steel.

"Loki…?" I asked softly, unsure about the stranger.

"Nightingale…" I heard my Maverick call softly.

The blonde reacted to Loki calling my name; there was a strange expression in his eyes as he looked at me, as if he were searching me or something.

"I'm here Loki." I told him softly. "Are you alright?" I pressed a hand against my chest, at the phantom pain I still felt. "What happened?"

He didn't answer, and as he looked at me with tired eyes I could tell that something was really wrong. I had never seen Loki so completely exhausted… I couldn't see any physical wounds on him, yet I knew he was in pain…

"I trust you." He whispered softly after what seemed like forever.

"As I trust you." I replied with no hesitation.

A second later his jade green eyes seemed to roll into the back of his head as he collapsed. It was a good thing the blonde was there, as he held my Maverick, stopping him from falling onto the ground or something worse. I still couldn't help but extend my arms abruptly, letting my robe fall slightly open, caring little about the unknown man seeing my night clothes; I was just too worried about my best friend…

"I trust Loki…" I made a decision abruptly. "Which, I guess, means that for the time being I shall trust you as well." I took a deep breath before turning around. "Follow me."

We took no time getting to my bedroom. There I pulled back my quilt and sheets before signaling for the blonde to lay down Loki on them. The jostling was enough to awaken the sorcerer, something I took advantage of as I dug deep into one of my drawers, getting a small case with half a dozen vials. I could sense the blue eyes fixed straight on me, they were making me somewhat uncomfortable.

"You know, I trust Loki a lot, with my own life, and the lives of those I care for." I said as flippantly as I could. "Which is the only reason I let you into my house, considering I haven't the slightest idea who you are…" I shook my head. "Scratch that, I have an idea, but still. In the end, the only reason I let you inside was because you were with Loki…"

"You really trust him…" He whispered, a note of awe in his voice.

"I believe I already stated that." I deadpanned.

"My name is Thor, I am Loki's brother." He said what I'd been at least half-expecting. "Are you… are you really the Lady Nightingale?"

I couldn't help the smile, so Loki had talked about me in Asgard! Still, Thor probably hadn't been expecting what he was seeing in that moment: a mortal, human, young, small…

Finally I managed to take a hold of one of the bigger vials, uncorking it and pushing it to Loki's cold lips, rubbing his throat to encourage him to drink it.

"Nightingale…?" He croaked.

"Drink this." I insisted, pouring the first drops into his half open mouth.

"I shouldn't…" He began, trying to turn his head, but not being able to.

"Please, drink it, for me." I insisted. "I cannot see any external injuries but I'm sure there must be at least some internal ones. I need you to be alright, Loki. Please, for me."

Finally he allowed me to pour the rest of the vial of elixir into his mouth, slowly enough that he could swallow it without choking. Seconds afterwards he was falling asleep again, though he seemed a bit more relaxed than before.

"What is that?" Thor inquired, confused.

"Powdered stone diluted into the purest water found in this realm." I informed him as I put the vial away. "Stored in a vial spelled to be unbreakable, allow the powder to retain its properties until uncorked, and can only be uncorked by me." I made a pause as I ran a hand through Loki's raven hair. "Loki made the vials for me, in case of an emergency. There is one other of elixir as well as a few with just powder."

"Why the difference?" The blonde seemed honestly interested.

"The elixir is meant to be drunk, to be used for internal wounds." I explained. "The other vials have more powder, but can only be used for external wounds."

"You say Loki created this?" The Asgardian was still in awe.

"Yes." I smiled. "He was afraid something might happen to me when he wasn't around to help. It's why he gave those to me. I was only to use them in an emergency. I decided that this situation certainly applies."

After a few minutes I remembered the tea still in the kitchen and went to retrieve it. Along with it I also picked a number of pastries and sweets. Didn't know which Thor might prefer, or how much he might it, but I still had to be a good hostess. He didn't seem to be much of a fan of tea, but still accepted a cup, the pastries he liked more. It was a quiet meal, and as we ate both Thor and I kept turning to the bed, where Loki went on sleeping. I worried about him, even knowing I'd already done everything that could be done.

At least I didn't have to worry about my Aunt Kathryn arriving suddenly and finding the two quite imposing men in other-worldly clothes, inside my own bedroom. Apparently the bazaar had been a success, the embroidery group had gotten enough money to pay for the debts of my aunt's friend's deceased husband; still, the friend had insisted on preparing them something for dinner, and as they had finished late, they would all be spending the night. I would still have to think about how to either hide them or explain their presence to my aunt the following day… but at least it wasn't something I had to worry about right away, and not when I was already worried about Loki's own condition.

I'm not sure when I decided it, but at some point I climbed onto the bed, sitting near the top of it, back against the headboard, watching Loki sleep. Thor, meanwhile, remained on the comfortable one-place sofa he'd been on, watching us.

We were silent for a while as I remained just there; sitting against the headboard, rhythmically caressing my love's hair.

xXx

I don't know when exactly I fell asleep; but when I woke up I was curled up against Loki's side, my head on his neck, and I could feel a set of long fingers running through my locks.

"Maverick…?" I asked softly, not quite awake yet.

"I'm fine Nightingale." He assured me. "Perfectly."

As I finished waking up Loki helped me to sit up against the headboard again. Half-absently I began looking around, noticing Thor standing by my window, looking out. I did a double-take when I processed just how much light was coming in through the window… it was morning already! What's worse, it was late in the morning! Probably closer to noon even.

"Your Aunt Kathryn called." Loki informed, guessing where my line of thought was heading. "I faked your voice with some magic. She said her friend, a Ms. Kendrick or something would need some help with some legal things and a few of the friends were tagging along, either to help or just as moral support. So you were going to have to delay your dress-shopping for one more day… I also reassured her I wasn't sick anymore, that it had just been a false alarm…" his brows narrowed. "What was she talking about Nightingale?"

"Regarding the dress?" I pretended not to know what he was really asking. "As you know, my graduation is coming up and I need a dress."

"I meant the detail of you being sick… and you knew I did." He insisted.

"Well, just yesterday it seemed like I might be coming up with something." I tried to explain. "I was dizzy and tired all day, had already been feeling off for most of the week; then, in the afternoon I felt feverish nauseous and nearly had a fainting spell… Aunt Kathryn wasn't actually here for that last part, thankfully. Else she might have insisted I go see a doctor."

"Shouldn't you have done that anyway?" Loki insisted.

"I suspected the problem wasn't with me, per say." I replied, hesitantly.

I chose to leave the rest of the sentence hanging and yet, I'd already said enough. Loki could guess what I hadn't said.

"You were sensing me." Loki blurted out in shock.

"What?!" Thor seemed just as surprised as his brother.

"Somewhat, I still don't know what any of it meant, except that it wasn't good." I answered as honestly as I could. "The way you arrived last night proved that too."

"Oh Nightingale…" He was the picture of remorse, kneeling on the floor beside the bed where I was still sitting. "I'm so…"

"Don't apologize." I cut him off, a finger over his lips. "Whatever the reason for what happened yesterday, I do not regret it." I smiled at him. "You're here now. Safe and sound… nothing could ever be more important than that…"

I wouldn't know what exactly was going through my mind in those moments, but one second I was caressing Loki's cheek tenderly, doing my best to show I care, while still keeping all the love I'd recently discovered I held for him, tightly bound in a deep corner of my heart; far away from where it might be seen… judged… rejected… A second later Loki was gone, having moved too fast for my human eyes to follow until he was on the other side of the room, pacing the length of it, between the window Thor was still standing by and the closed door. When I turned my eyes to the God of Thunder, trying to find an explanation for Loki's sudden mood change, he seemed just as confused as I, except for a hint of… something hidden in the corner of a shadow that darkened his blue eyes. I knew, instinctively, that whatever was going on wasn't any good.

"Loki…?" I asked.

"Lies…" He hissed sharply, still not looking up. "It's all lies. My life, my so-called family, my race, even myself! All lies! And isn't that just perfect? Since I'm the God of Lies…"

I still had no idea what was going on, so I turned to Thor, hoping he would be able to give me some sort of explanation; instead, all I could see in his expression was pain.

"All lies, nothing but lies." Loki went on with his rant. "My whole life, myself, everyone in it, it's all lies. Nothing is true, nothing is real…no one…"

That was more than I could stand. I still hadn't the slightest idea of what was going on, and Thor wasn't being any help on that front; but I couldn't just watch the man I loved being in pain and not try at least to do something about it. I could feel phantom pains inside my own heart in that moment, which I knew were caused by some sort of connection I had to him, maybe because of the deamarkonian, maybe for some other reason; it was still bad, and I couldn't stand it without trying to do something to change it. So, with that in mind, I got out of bed, half-absently pulling my dressing robe tighter over my nightclothes before walking to him. Thor was so lost in his own grief he didn't try to stop me, I wonder if he even saw me; I just kept walking until I was standing right in front of my Maverick, and when he kept ignoring me I pressed the tips of my fingers against his chin, enough to make him look at me.

"I'm right here Loki…" I told him softly yet seriously. "I'm not a lie."

"Ah…but you are." He insisted. "Because all you know about me, all you believe… is nothing but lies! So you are a lie yourself!"

I wanted to turn to look at Thor again, demand he explain to me what the hell was going on; but something inside of me told me that if I turned my eyes away from Loki he might not be there anymore when I turned back… the situation in that moment, whatever the cause of it might be, was so precarious… it was like standing on the edge of a cliff with a rocky wall pressing at my back and rocks sliding on the sides, no place to go, nothing to stay where I was or just fall…

"You have never lied to me." I said the first thing I could think of, hoping it would help. "Which means that if all I know are lies, they are lies you yourself believed when you told them to me. Which therefore means it isn't your fault…" I shook my head, knowing it wouldn't be enough, so I took a different approach. "Who lied to you? About what?"

"Everyone, about everything." He answered simply, emotionlessly.

"Loki!" I insisted. "You can trust me, you know."

"When you know you'll just reject me, like everyone else…I am unworthy…"

As he spoke he folded in on himself, until he was on his knees in front of me and doubled over. The whole posture made him look so small, so defeated… it was wrong! It made me cringe deep inside, and I knew I had to do something to change things, and soon!

"No you are not!" I almost screamed at him, holding his face between both of my hands. "I don't care what anyone else may have said. You are not unworthy, you never will be. I could kill whoever made you believe such a thing…" I saw a hint of blonde hair from the corner of my eye and remembered something else. "And Thor doesn't think that either! He's here with you! You brought him here, to my home. You always said I had to be a secret from all Asgardians, for my own safety; but you brought him here now. He came into my house because he trusts you, and I let him in because I trust you. So, you see? We trust you Loki, we believe in you, that you are worthy… and no monster!"

He chuckled, but it wasn't a happy laugh, there was a derisiveness in the sound, a self-loathing I just couldn't stand. So I decided to throw caution to the wind, ignore the promise I'd made to myself of keeping my love under wraps so as not to risk rejection; instead I dropped to my knees in front of Loki, took careful hold of his face with both hands, pulled him to me and kissed him, fully, on the mouth… imprinting in that one kiss all the love I held in my heart.

For a handful of seconds the contact lasted, it seemed like things might go well… then he pulled back from me, jumping to his feet abruptly and practically stalking to the other side of the room. I couldn't help the deep hurt that pierced inside me.

"No!" He practically yelled at me. "You cannot do this!"

"I can!" I yelled right back at him as I rushed to my own feet. "I love you Loki!"

I was quickly losing what little control I may have left over my emotions and I didn't care; I cared about nothing but Loki in that moment.

"You cannot love me!" He screamed. "No one can love me!"

"I can! I do!" I insisted as strongly as I could.

"You cannot love a monster!"

"You are not a monster Loki! I don't care who said that! You aren't!"

"You are not a monster brother…" It took hearing Thor speak behind me to remember he was in the room as well.

"I am not your brother Thor! But I am a monster…" He stopped screaming, his voice turning quiet, cold and hard… "I am a monster…No one told me that, I discovered it on my own…"

"I refuse to believe that." I insisted.

More aware of Thor by that point, I could tell he was anxious, like he wanted to say something but didn't dare; like he was afraid that any word coming from his mouth might make the situation worse… maybe it was something that had already happened, when they were still in Asgard. Maybe it was the reason for the shadow in Thor's eyes…

"I'm not an Aesir…" Loki whispered, as if he were confessing to a heinous crime. "I never was… not really, I…"

He didn't say anymore, but he didn't need to, he just changed. Between one second and the next his skin was no longer the healthy light-peach color that I'd come to associate with him… instead it was dark, cobalt blue; It looked hard, and cold, and was decorated by an array of tattoo-like dark markings; and his eyes… they changed from the light, bright emerald green I knew and loved to a dark red, like old, dried blood…

My breath caught in my throat, I could almost swear my heart stopped beating for a second but I refused to back down, look down, to so much as flinch. His looks were, indeed, very shocking, but I was not afraid of him. How could I? I could still see Loki, the Loki I knew, had known for the past eight years, in the shape of his eyes, in the shape of his face; and most importantly, I could still feel him inside me in ways I couldn't fully explain and which seemed to go beyond the deamarkonian locked onto our wrists. He was the same Loki who had offered all of him to save the life of a sick fourteen-year-old, asking for nothing in exchange… he was the same Loki I had realized not even two weeks prior that I loved with all I was…

Slowly, so as not to startle him even more, I crossed the room, standing in front of him, I raised my hand, about to touch his face when we were interrupted…

"No! Don't!" It was Thor. "His touch…"

I had no idea why he didn't want me to touch Loki, but I ignored him anyway, allowing my hand to lay on his cheek. I could feel the hard, almost biting cold beneath my fingertips, like holding ice in my hands… but I ignored it, refusing to move my hand away.

"…burns…" Thor finished, though he sounded unsure.

I could understand his surprise; even I didn't know what he meant about burning. Loki felt pretty cold, but not enough to actually cause frostbite, at least not to me. Also, I could almost swear that the longer I held on touching him, the more I grew used to it, the less I noticed it.

"You're not burning…" Thor's voice sounded half like a question.

I didn't actually have an answer, I barely understood that he'd expected Loki's skin to burn me for some reason… still, I didn't care at that point. I only cared about Loki.

"You're still the same." I told him with complete confidence.

He snorted, turning away from me, though I never stopped touching him.

"Yes, you're cold, and blue… but you're still you." I tried to explain, at the same time I remembered his earlier rants, about lies. "You're still Loki, the same Loki I've known for years. That is not a lie. And I'm still here, not a lie either."

We remained in that same position for a while longer, I felt a bit tired, holding myself up, my hand high to be able to reach him; but I refused to let go until I was sure he'd gotten the message. I was wondering what else I could do, or say, to convince him of my honesty when I remembered something; I couldn't help it, I laughed.

"Are you laughing at me?" He demanded, turning to look back at me.

"No." I assured him immediately. "It's more like laughing at myself…" I snickered a bit more. "I just remembered something I said…eight years ago."

He looked at me a few seconds more, and I could see a change in his eyes, so small, yet it made obvious he remembered it too. I had been eleven, on our second meeting. I had revealed to him I knew who he was, told him he didn't have to hide with me, that he could show me his true self… then I asked him, before he changed, if he was blue, or red, or green, and something about appendages…I only wanted to know beforehand so I knew what to expect…

"Seems I am blue after all…" Loki drawled.

"And just like I told you back then. I don't care. You are still you."

Before he could make any more objections and with considerable more difficulty than the first time since he'd since gotten on his feet and had more than a foot on me, I wound my arms around his neck, stood on my toes, and pressed my mouth hard against his. His lips were as cold as the rest of his body, and yet somehow, the kiss still heat me up inside.

For the first couple of seconds it was nothing more than a touch, no reaction on his part; until, as if a switch had been flipped, he began moving as well; suddenly my lips were molding against his, as my mouth surrendered to his.

I'm not quite sure when Thor left the room, or how he managed to achieve such a thing when Loki and I stood between him and the door; he still managed.

After a while I gathered my wits enough to pull away from Loki, only then noticing that at some point during our cuddling/makeout session he'd changed back into his Aesir form.

"You don't have to hide from me…" I whispered, caressing his pink face like I'd caressed his blue one. "Aesir or Jotun, or whatever else you might be. I accept you…"

"This form is actually easier for me." He admitted, looking at himself. "Probably because I've used it for so long…"

"As long as you know you do not need to be anyone for me, I'll always love you for you, whatever shape you take."

"You truly are one of a kind, my Nightingale…"

"Yours." I agreed wholeheartedly.

Finally I pulled away from him fully. Taking a quick shower before dressing in a simple long white skirt and an off-the-shoulder ¾ sleeved peasant blouse in varying shades of lilac; white sandals finished my attire.

It was almost noon already but I didn't care. I made some brunch: pancakes, sliced fruit and coffee in fact (chocolate-milk for me). Thor commented how different the food was to what he'd eaten while with Jane and her friends; when he told me they'd had omelets I had forced to admit I couldn't cook an egg to save my life, in fact, I could cook very little. Something Loki would make fun of me for every so often.

After we were finished with brunch we went back to my bedroom.

"I want to know, exactly, what happened this last week." I told the two Asgardians straight out.

"We could give you each our own accounts…" Thor began.

"That's not what I'm talking about." I stated, my eyes fixed straight on Loki.

"Are you sure, my Nightingale?" My love asked quietly.

It took Thor a couple of seconds to be on the same page at us; when he was, he gaped.

"That's not possible!" He hissed. "Loki, you cannot mind-meld with a human, it's too dangerous. We don't know what could happen to the Lady Nightingale! She will be hurt!"

"You mean, like I would get burnt for touching Loki as a Jotun?" I arched a brow challengingly. "I know you have certain beliefs Thor, and they might even be right for the most part, but I exist outside of the average…" I willed him to see the deamarkonian. "This bracelet is one half of a deamarkonian. Loki has the other half." I made a pause as I decided on how to best explain things. "I am sick Thor, have been almost my whole life. A sickness that cannot be cured, not by any known force here in Midgard, possibly not by any force in any realm… it is also a sickness that should have killed me five years ago. The only reason I'm still alive is because of the deamarkonian. These bracelets are spelled so I can take some of Loki's energy, not enough for him to truly affect it, but enough to fight off the worst effects of the Cancer, enough for me to live like a normal person even though the sickness still runs through my veins…"

The blonde Asgardian could only look at Loki with what almost seemed like reverence.

"I have never heard of an object capable of such miracle." He declared.

"That's because they are a unique set." I clarified. "They did not exist until Loki created them… five years ago…"

I didn't believe the God of Thunder to be stupid; he could read between the lines, the implications I was making… I could see it in the way the reverence in his look grew.

"In any case, we're already pretty much an impossibility." I went on. "Me being alive, the connection we share, everything… connecting our minds would be the least of it in the grand scheme of things, really."

It looked like Thor might still have his reservations, but he couldn't deny my statement, so in the end he didn't say a thing; allowing Loki and I to make the decision ourselves.

"I don't like this, my Nightingale." Loki said quietly. "But I know you're much too stubborn and unlikely to let this matter drop…"

"I learnt from the best." I smirked mischievously at him.

Really, he had to have known there would be consequences for having first met when I was young. His presence, his friendship had influenced me a great deal, and not just in my school and professional choices… a lot of what I was, I owed to him…

I automatically closed my eyes as I felt long, strong fingers brushing first my forehead, pushing away a rebellious bang of auburn hair, then pressing, two fingers in the very middle of my forehead; I didn't pay attention to whatever he might be saying, in a second I was lost to an ocean of images, voices, sensations…

I saw Loki and Thor standing side by side, discussing Thor's upcoming coronation; Loki standing a step from the top of the dais in the Throne Room, watching as Thor knelt at the bottom of the steps, while Odin stood imposingly before his huge throne; Loki and Thor behind Odin after discovering a pair of dead Aesir guards and the remains of the Jotun that had tried to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters; the brothers, Sif and the Warriors Three in Jotunheim, battling Laufey and his Jotun, two of them being badly injured before Odin arrived and got them out; Loki's skin turning blue at contact with one of the Jotun… Thor being exiled to Earth for his actions; Loki screaming at his… the Allfather for his lies; Odin falling into the Odinsleep, no one knowing when or even if he would wake up; Loki being left with no choice but to step up as the new King of Asgard; the obvious disbelief and downright distrust from everyone around; Frigg telling her son that Odin never did things without a reason; Loki going to look for Thor, only to discover his brother wasn't truly trying to get back to Asgard; Heimdall's questioning, the Warriors' betrayal, the Destroyer, the fight in New Mexico, the fight against Laufey, the fight between the two brothers on the Bifrost, the breaking of the Rainbow Bridge…

There were so many feelings, all more intense than the last one, driving me to the point where, as the last scene began running inside my mind I could barely keep myself from going insane trying to step in and do something to change the insanity taking place. Except, even if I wanted to, there was nothing I could possibly do. Things had already happened, both the good and the bad, and the only consolation was knowing that both Loki and Thor had somehow managed to survive the whole mess, knowing consciously that they were in that moment in my bedroom, where I was as well, even as I had to see them hanging off the edge of the Rainbow bridge…

Loki was suspended in midair, his green cape swaying with the same rhythm as the rest of his body; his right hand still holding onto Gugnir, the Asgardian Royal Staff, which had been handed to him along with the title of King. Thor was upside down, off the bridge as well, holding tightly onto the staff, knowing it was the only thing stopping his brother from falling straight into the abyss. And finally, the last piece of the puzzle was Odin himself, just awoken, standing on the very edge of the bridge, holding onto his oldest son's ankle.

"I could have done it father!" Loki screamed. "I could have done it! For you! For all of us!"

I could feel the despair, the way he was standing in the edge of a breakdown, as if they were my own feelings; and at the same time, as an spectator, I could also feel a mix of horror, grief and my own wave of despair.

And then, the last hit…

"No Loki…" Odin shook his head in refusal.

Seeing Loki right there, his very life hanging by a thread (or a staff), the absolute destruction that was so horribly clear in his expression the moment his father, not by blood but his father still, and the only Loki had ever known… the moment Odin refused him the one thing Loki had always wanted… it was too much. His own father did not believe in him… it was more than Loki could take… than anyone could take…

Abruptly, it was as if everything were in slow motion. Loki's hold on gugnir slackened, and he took a deep breath, preparing to let go, he'd already given up… and yet, Thor noticed, and that, somehow, changed everything.

Whether Thor actually screamed the denial that could be seen in his expression or not, I couldn't hear it; still, I couldn't not be aware of his own actions, and their consequences: as Thor moved his free leg, delivering a sharp kick to his father's arm, hard enough that Odin couldn't help but release Thor's ankle…

By the time Loki let go of the staff, Thor was falling too. The blonde took hold of his brother's arm before the two could be separated.

For a handful of painfully long seconds Loki could only watch his brother, holding onto him as the two fell through the stars, wondering what could have ever made Thor do something so foolish, so suicidal. And then Loki decided he couldn't allow that. No matter how tired he was, how hurt, how emotionally broken… the green-eyed watched the blue-eyed and couldn't help but want to try something, anything…

*I need a place…* Loki was practically screaming mentally as he fought to focus any and all power he might have left. *A safe place… a Sanctuary… Nightingale…*

The next second the two were gone.

I gasped loudly, limbs flaying wildly as I returned to consciousness. An instant later there were arms around me. I recognized the touch instinctively, going limp in Loki's arms.

"Lady Nightingale!" Thor cried out, obviously shocked and maybe concerned about me.

"She's alright." Loki assured him as he ran a hand soothingly through my hair. "I am just fine my Nightingale, everything's alright…"

"You trust me so much…" I gasped, pressing my face against his neck.

Two things, in everything I saw, moved me the most: first, Thor's choice of his brother over his father, being willing to risk death or worse to stay with Loki; then Loki's trust in me, to the point where even in the worst danger his mind went to me, in that moment he had used up to the last sliver of magic and energy left to get himself and his brother to the one place he trusted, he saw as a sanctuary: my home.

"Of course I trust you my Nightingale." He assured me, kissing my hair. "Completely and absolutely. Just like I know you trust me." He shook his head sadly. "I should have never made you watch any of that…"

"You didn't make me do anything Loki…" I reminded him calmly. "I told to show me, and you did. Thank you." I turned to Thor then. "And thank you, for standing by him when I couldn't…"

"I only did what any good brother should." Thor told me with a small smile before turning to Loki. "Because no matter what you say, what blood might run in our veins, you're still my brother Loki, and you always will be."

"The Blood of the Covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb." I quoted with a knowing smile, looking at each of them in turn.

"You just love to use your books against me, don't you?" Loki asked with a smirk.

"It's a gift." I quipped.

"Or an annoyance." Loki countered.

We dissolved into laughter afterwards. It was an old argument between the two of us; one we enjoyed reenacting every so often.

"Are you sure you're alright, Lady Nightingale?" Thor inquired softly. "For a mortal to see into an Aesir's mind…"

"I won't say it was easy, but I'm alright Thor, I promise." I assure him.

And really, it was in no way easy, though not for the reason he might be imagining. The mind meld wasn't the problem, what I had seen and felt, that was harder for me to deal with.

"I still don't understand why you would want to do something as risky as that." Thor insisted. "Even if you're already connected somehow, with those bracelets… it's still dangerous…"

"Because I believe it helps me understand things better, understand Loki better…" I turned to look straight into bright green eyes as I went on. "It makes me closer to you…"

For a few seconds no one said a thing, and during that time I couldn't help but remember everything that I'd seen:

"Everything went so wrong, didn't it?" I blurted out the question without thinking.

My question called Thor's attention and I realized right then that while he'd been there, he didn't truly understand Loki's actions, his reasoning…

"So very, very wrong." Loki agreed with a sigh, he seemed to forget all about Thor's presence as he began talking. "It was supposed to be so simple… The Jotun would interrupt the coronation ceremony. I was quite sure of how Thor would react… knew he would be all for a counterattack, something f… Odin wouldn't want. I knew Thor would end up going himself, with just the Warriors 3 and Lady Sif with him, so I made sure I was with him when he made his decision. I made sure someone knew what was going on and then… the first thing went wrong…"

"Heimdall." I nodded, having noticed the detail as well.

"He's supposed to serve his King! The Allfather had given orders that no one was to go to Jotunheim! Why then didn't he at least try to stop us, or even stall?! If he had done as he was supposed to we would have never gotten to Jotunheim! Then, once there, of course Thor would be hotheaded and want to fight, and of course he would ignore my attempts at defusing the situation, rising to the idiotic bait from the Jotun…"

"And then you discovered your past…" I whispered compassionately.

"I was so confused…" Loki admitted. "Volstagg had just been burnt on touch by another Jotun and yelled at us to avoid touch. Right then, the one I was fighting grabbed my arm. I was bracing myself for the pain when I noticed it wasn't coming…I could feel the cold but it didn't burn… and then I saw my skin turning blue…"

"You thought you were cursed."

"I did. Odin arrived, got us all back to Asgard. I was so out of it I didn't fully understand what was going on until it was too late to stop it and Thor had been exiled…" He shook his head. "I went looking for the Casket, I needed to know what had happened. Odin must have seen what I was doing, he confronted me…"

I had to bite my tongue not to say exactly what I thought about the 'Allfather'. While a part of me understood why he wouldn't tell Loki about being adopted, or being Jotun… that didn't justify all the years of neglect, all the times he put Thor over Loki, leaving my love to believe he wasn't good enough, that he wasn't worthy…

"My Nightingale… Shh… it's alright, I'm alright, I promise you." He picked on my emotions through the deamarkonian.

"It just makes me so mad… Odin is supposed to be your father Loki. I don't care if you were adopted or whatever. In fact, I think that just might make things worse! When you adopt a child, you're choosing to become their parent, it's not an accident, not something that happened by chance, it's a decision. He chose to take you, not just out of Jotunheim, he chose to become your father. And then he was a crappy one! He should have noticed when you felt less than Thor, should have understood that your magic wasn't just mere tricks, valued you, your gifts…"

"You are the only one to see things that way…"

"Well I shouldn't! They're your family, it should all be quite evident to them! If I ever get the chance to tell them exactly what I think about each of them…"

"They're not the only ones who made mistakes. I've had my share… what happened three weeks ago… I wronged my brother in so many ways…"

"I am sorry brother…"

By that point even I had forgotten that Thor was there. Loki paled as we both turned to look at the blonde, not quite believing that we'd just said all those things in front of him.

"I am deeply sorry that I wasn't there when you truly needed me, it seems I've failed you many a time in the past…" Thor mumbled sadly before shaking his head once and straightening up, resolute expression on his face. "I promise that's a mistake I won't make again, never. From this day on brother, I will always be here for you."

Loki just cocked his head to a side; he could obviously see the honesty in Thor's voice and expression, for he nodded.

"We will always be here for each other, brother…" Loki nodded.

The smile on his face was quite possibly the smallest I had ever seen, but also, perhaps, one of the most sincere…

"Will you tell me what really happened the last few days?" Thor asked quietly. "Sif and the Warriors Three told me some things when they met with me in Puente Antiguo… which now I'm beginning to realize might not have been exactly right…"

"They weren't lying either." Loki pointed out.

"They didn't understand you." Thor insisted. "I want to. Let me at least try…"

Loki didn't seem to fully like the idea, but was willing to at least give Thor a chance. I think that Thor having chosen him when they were hanging off the edge of the Bifrost was making Loki tolerant, at least until Thor either turned against Loki for good, or proved to truly be on his side. I hoped it would be the later…

"Odin exiled you, Thor; and I need you to understand one thing: there was no way I could bring you back." Loki stated very carefully. "When we met in that mirrored room the humans had built, you asked me to let you return h… to Asgard; but there was nothing I could do. Even if I had just been made King. It wouldn't be right for my first royal order to be one that went against the last one the Allfather made. That, and if I had brought you back, it would be like saying I couldn't handle the throne on my own… I already had a hard time considering that none of the Advisors had any trust in me whatsoever, and Mother was too worried over her husband to help. Also, even if I'd ignored all that and brought you with me back to Asgard, that wouldn't have given you back your powers, for that you needed to do things as your father intended…"

"So you were left as a new King, distrusted and with no back up." Thor winced after saying that. "I am sorry brother…"

"Doesn't make a difference now, though the sentiment is appreciated." Loki declared with a small shrug. "I knew I needed your help. But, like I said, I couldn't just bring you back, it just wasn't possible. We both know the Council would have jumped at any excuse they could find to declare me unfit to rule… however, if you regained your powers, if you regained the Allfather's favor and were able to return to Asgard on your own…"

"He would be worthy." I understood the entirety of the intentions and implications before Thor did. "And if he stood behind your appointment to the throne, then no one else would be able to stand against the two of you together."

"Exactly." Loki agreed, most of his attention still on his brother. "So I went to see you, Thor, to assess on your progress… there was none." He let out a frustrated breath, running a hand through his dark hair. "You hadn't managed anything except to annoy a number of Midgardians and call the attention of that female scientist… Lady Jane, I believe was his name. I didn't have time! I needed you!" He shook his head. "I decided you needed to be pressured so you would wake up and do the things you were supposed to. So I went and told you that your father was dead, and that mother didn't want to see you. It didn't work. Instead of going into action, you became depressed! And then… that bunch of idiots. Your friends… They didn't understand!" He sneered. "Either that or they just chose to ignore me. They went and disobeyed my direct orders of not going after you! And Heimdall aided them! How can I be a King if those who should be my most loyal subordinates are, in fact, the first ones to betray me?!"

"Oh brother…" Thor whispered.

As I embraced my love tightly, offering as much comfort as I could through that simple gesture; I could see the changes in the blonde Asgardian's expression, I would have bet he had a few choice words for his so-called friends…

"Things just went crazy after that." The Sorcerer stated with a sigh.

"You sent the Destroyer to Midgard…" Thor pointed out quietly.

"He did." I couldn't help but point out something I had noticed and wasn't sure she had. "And did you notice it didn't kill anyone? It didn't even go after the retreating townspeople!"

Thor actually seemed to stop to ponder that piece of information.

"I gave it specific instructions." Loki stated a bit stiffly. "It was to cause destruction, purely material of course, and delay your return; while I handled the problem with the Jotun." He signaled to Thor briefly. "The way I saw it, if you wanted to stop the destruction of the town where your new friends lived you would have to find a way to be worthy of your power as the God of Thunder once again. There was no other choice… At least that's what I thought until you went and pulled that stupid stunt…"

"Loki…" Thor began.

"You got yourself killed!" Loki cried out at the blonde. "You were dead! I killed you!"

"I am here brother…" The blonde said quietly.

"What if you weren't?" Loki hissed, his voice a mix of fury and horror. "What if not even the fact that you were finally worthy had been enough to bring you back?! Huh? You would have been dead! And it would have been my fault!" He shook his head in denial. "No matter how crazy things might get, how insane you might make me at times, if there's one thing I've never wanted it is for you to die Thor. If you believe nothing else that ever comes from my mouth, believe that, please. I do not want you to die! If you ever were to… and if it were to be my fault… I don't think I'd ever be able to take that…"

I did not say a word as I stepped away from Loki but Thor still seemed to get the idea as he stepped forward and embraced his brother, ignoring when he tried to get away, hugging him tightly for a full minute.

"I cannot tell you what I was thinking in that moment." Thor said quietly. "All I know for sure is that I wanted to protect Jane and her friends and I truly believed, despite whatever Sif and the others might have said, that you weren't evil, you weren't trying to kill me." He sighed. "Things might have gotten bad at some point, but it ended alright. I am alright brother, you need not blame yourself anymore."

The God of Thunder finished his statement with a kiss to Loki's brow before releasing him again to me. Loki didn't resist, I think he might have still been mostly trapped in the deep love and acceptance his brother was showing him. His own relief over those facts, I certainly could feel it through the bond.

"You were put in an impossible situation Loki." I told him quietly, caressing his hair softly. "I'm not saying you're blameless, but in any case, it's not all on you. Too much happened in too little time. You and Thor were both forced to make impossible decisions, brought about by the actions of others, the Allfather included; Heimdall's, Sif's and the Warriors Three's actions didn't help matters any. You had no one to support you in the way you should have. Even if things hadn't gotten as bad as they did, as a new King there should have been someone you could trust above everyone else, and there wasn't…"

"You weren't there." Loki said quietly, embracing me back.

"I wish I could have been." I nodded. "I don't know what, if anything, I could have done. But you can be sure I would have tried…"

"I know." He nodded, kissing my hair. "And that brings a warmth and joy to my heart like you cannot begin to imagine."

"I think I know…" I smiled at him, pressing a kiss to his neck.

And I did, for I could feel it too.

"I wasn't there for you either brother, but like I said, that is a mistake I won't be making ever again." Thor informed Loki with resolution. "I promise you."

"I believe you, brother." My love nodded.

And I could feel that he truly did believe that.

xXx

Of course, things just had to get harder before they could get better. I had ordered some Italian from my favorite restaurant in town. Thor, Loki and I were just about to begin eating, when we could all hear the front door opening.

"It's my aunt!" I cried out in shock.

I had completely forgotten all about her.

I was aware, from the corner of my eye, the moment Loki waved a hand, changing his Asgardian clothes for a simple forest-green long-sleeved button-up shirt with dark-gray jeans and dark leather boots, while Thor was left in a red plaid long-sleeved shirt with rolled up sleeves, light-washed jeans and brown boots. A black leather jacket and a brown gabardine one appeared across the back of a chair and what looked like a couple of suitcases too.

"I'm home darling, are you having dinner?" Aunt Kathryn called as she walked.

She found us in the kitchen, where I was standing by my own booth, in the nook we used for meals most of the time (the dining room was too big).

"Oh…" She stopped when seeing I wasn't alone. "I didn't know we were having visitors."

"It wasn't too planned, auntie." I admitted sheepishly.

Really, I hadn't the slightest idea of how to even begin to explain the presence of the two Asgardians to my aunt.

"We were always talking about getting together, but never actually did, until today." Loki explained as he got on his feet, using his most charming tone. "My brother insisted on coming when he knew I was going on a trip. My apologies for not giving prior warning…" He made a show of shaking his head as he added. "Oh! Where are my manners? I am Luka Hveðrungr. And the one over there is my brother Donar."

"I see… I am Kathryn Salani, Silbhé's aunt." Aunt Kathryn's eyes sparkled in an almost eerie manner for a second before she dropped the bombshell then. "I suppose you're the one to whom I owe mi niece's life."

Loki's was actually left speechless at that, as were Thor and I.

"There might be no logic behind it." Kathryn went on. "But I know very well that there are many things in this universe that exist beyond what most of us would consider logical. In a logical world a girl cannot be dying of blood cancer one day, only to wake up cured the next. They especially cannot continue living, five years after being declared as beyond-saving, as if they had, in fact, gone into remission, or even yet, completely healed!" She sighed. "I do not know what it was you did to save my niece. But I will forever be thankful to you for it."

I was still trying to think of some way to keep the secret, when Loki did the one thing I was least expecting: he revealed himself.

"I am Loki, of Asgard." He introduced himself honestly. "I am a Sorcerer. Nightingale… your niece is very dear to me, I couldn't let her die if I could do something about it."

"It is an honor." My aunt bowed to him respectfully. "And like I said before, I shall always be thankful for what you've done." She turned to Loki's brother. "I can assume you're Thor, then?"

"I am, my lady." The blonde smiled at her. "Thor Odinson, of Asgard, God of Thunder… and Loki's brother…"

"Two Asgardians, here on Earth…" My aunt commented contemplatively. "Something tells me there's quite the story behind that…"

There was, indeed; and it made for quite an interesting dinner conversation.

I will never know what made my aunt accept everything happening as if it were the most logical thing in the universe. As if two Asgardians, believed by the Ancient Norse to be gods, being in our home, having Italian with us, telling us how they'd fallen through space before using magic to teleport to our back-garden… as if it all were the most normal thing in the world. No, it wasn't logical at all, though I guess that where normal is concerned… it's all a matter of opinion.

xXx

It was two weeks before we did anything. Loki had claimed to be ready a week after his and Thor's arrival, but we insisted that we mostly rested one more week. While we weren't planning on needing magic, if things got delicate we weren't going to risk Loki, and he had been so weakened after the battle on the Bifrost and the emergency Shadow Walk… It was enough of a miracle they had made it out of the abyss at all!

In the end I offered to handle the matter of Jane myself. Loki had his doubts, insisting that if something went wrong he wouldn't be there to help me; Thor too had his doubts, though he insisted he did trust me to do what needed to be done. In the end, practicality won, I could get in and out of Puente Antiguo without calling too much attention onto myself, and even if I was discovered by someone I could easily claim I was just traveling around, enjoying my free time before my graduation ceremony (after which I was expected to get a job).

The plan worked really well: a plane from Portland to Albuquerque, a bus from there to Santa Fe; then hitching a ride with an architect who was among those hired by the government to work in the reconstruction of Puente Antiguo (the brothers probably wouldn't approve of my hitching a ride with a complete stranger, but I didn't have much of a choice, it was either the architect in his SUV or one of the trucks filled with workers –which they would disapprove of even more.-)

I developed a sort of tick, continuously fingering the half dozen white gold bangles around my left wrist. They were made of pure magic, meant for me to call on when needed, Loki's way of making sure that I would have the means to protect myself in case of an emergency. In the end, they weren't necessary. It was easy enough for me to find Dr. Jane Foster (using the memory of her Loki had planted in my mind). I was observant enough to see there were agents around, though none paid much attention to me. They didn't seem to notice me as more than some tourist; which was almost sad, I mean, they were supposed to be the best, the men and women standing guard, ready to protect our world… either knowing what I did made me more paranoid than I thought, or they just weren't observant enough.

In any case, I waited to approach Jane until she was sitting on the steps outside of the building where she was conducting her research. A lot of people had chosen to take their breaks right then, and the few agents around had dismissed me, like many others (maybe it was my short stature, simple clothes and touristy attitude).

Keeping my attitude aloof, and taking a sip from the bottled water I was carrying I sat down, a couple of steps below where Jane was sitting.

"Jane…?" I called, just loud enough for her to hear me.

"Yes." She nodded. "Who are you?"

I imagined she was looking at me, trying to remember where I might know her from, though I did not turn to look at her. What I did do, however, was pull out of my bag a small pocket-mirror, which allowed me to look her, and for her to look at me, somewhat. I even applied some lip-balm while I was at it. Puente Antiguo was hotter than I was used to, a lot, probably because of the dessert; I really wasn't liking that much heat.

"You do not know me." I clarified. "And one might say I don't actually know you… I am here as a personal favor to a mutual friend." I smiled. "Donar wanted to come, but it's a bit hard to get plane tickets when you don't have an identity in this realm…"

I could see she was about to cry out and raised a hand in a discreet signal for her to keep quiet.

"I really don't think it's a good idea to call the attention of our gentlemen-friends on the roof across the street." I told her quietly. "I would much rather my presence here go unnoticed, at least as much as possible considering the circumstances."

"Thor is back." She wanted me to confirm. "Why isn't he here?"

"It's complicated." I told her. "Not a story we can get into right now. Suffice it to say that he's alright. He wanted to come, but I convince him to let me do this." I pulled an envelope out of my bag, placing it by her feet. "Inside that envelope is a bus ticket to a small town just across the state border and into Colorado, then another to Denver where, if all goes well, I will meet you to take a plane to where you will be able to meet Thor."

"Why should I trust you?" Jane asked me.

I was glad that she was doubtful, she was looking after herself; even if her distrust meant I had to work harder to convince her. In the end it meant she had more chance of surviving the mess that was to be all our lives. She might not know it yet, and the brothers might not have said much about it, but they were in Midgard, when Asgard believed them either lost or dead; Loki had refused to use the Shadow Paths to return to the Realm Eternal, claiming a great danger lurked in the abyss and could reach them through there if they weren't careful, it was a danger too great for him to be willing to take the risk at the time. Then there was the fact that Loki, most likely, was still considered as 'persona non-grata' by Asgard (to say the least). So yes, our lives would definitely be in turmoil, but I would gladly take it as long as I could remain by Loki's side.

"I have little in way of proof." I admitted. "Except this: He said you had a deal. He's back in Midgard, has come to honor his part, but you have to meet him halfway."

In the end, it would be up to her; she could trust me or not, though if she didn't Thor might try riskier things to get in contact with her.

"I shall meet you in Denver then." She announced.

I just smiled, closing the mirror and putting it away. It had gone well.

xXx

It really seemed like a joke, or a bad spy show. I found a couple of tourists that were passing by Puente Antiguo and who were kind enough to take me all the way to Amarillo, Texas, where I got on a plane to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and finally a bus to Denver. All a mess, really; but while I didn't think there would be much trouble if S.H.I.E.L.D. happened to connect me with Jane's departure and eventual return (hopefully with Thor), it was better for all of us, but especially Loki, if no connection was made.

Things went well, I met Jane in the airport in Denver three days later (I'd spent a night in Amarillo, and her own bus hadn't left Santa Fe until the day after I'd left). We had breakfast together in a small coffee shop attached to the airport before boarding our plane to Boston with a layover in New York; then a second, smaller plane to Portland, Maine; where a driver was waiting to take us to Salani mansion.

We didn't talk much in the plane, there were too many people and Jane understood that our topics of conversation weren't to be handled in public. It wasn't until we got in the car that she finally began bombarding me.

"Just who are you?!" She demanded. "I've played this game with you the last few days, but now I really wanna know what the hell is going on."

"It's complicated." I sighed, trying to decide on an explanation that wouldn't make me sound completely insane. "Look, we both know just who Thor is, right?"

"How do you even know Thor?" She insisted.

"You are not the first human to come in contact with an Asgardian, Jane." I told her quietly. "And Thor is not the first of his people to spend time in our realm." I took a deep breath before finally dropping the bomb. "I am Silbhé Salani, I'm nineteen years old, and I've known and been in frequent contact with an Asgardian for the last eight years…"

In an amazing display of timing, or possibly magic. We parked right then, inside the Salani estate and right in front of the front door. I had noticed since we'd gotten into the car that it wasn't a rental, and that the driver was none other than Loki, but I'd chosen not to say a word. Right then my door opened and I accepted Loki's hand to step out before helping Jane do the same.

"Who?" She asked the moment we were out.

"Jane?!" Someone called from the house.

We all turned briefly to see Thor standing at the door, a bright smile on his face as he saw Jane.

"Thor!" Jane cried out ecstatically.

I expected her to rush straight at him; however, she was too much a scholar not to still want answers, so, instead, she turned back to me.

"Who do you know?" She insisted.

"Dr. Jane Foster." I called formally as I stepped back and straight into my love's arms. "Meet Luka Hveðrungr, my fiancée… you might know him better as Loki."

xXx

In the end Jane took things much better than I, than any of us, expected her to. She slapped Loki once, for giving her the 'scare of her life', and then declared she was willing to bury the hatchet and move on. Loki and Thor seemed very surprised, I could just smile. I might not have known Jane, but I knew what she was doing; she loved Thor so much she was willing to do anything, even forgive Loki. I knew and understood because I loved Loki just as much.

When Jane was told my story she kept repeating how romantic the whole thing was. Especially with us being due to marry the day before my graduation (as it was the day my father arrived, and we had plans to go on a honeymoon in Europe for the summer).

The wedding took place in the garden in Salani mansion, with us standing beneath the huge lavender tree, with the rose patch beyond us. As a special gift, one I never expected or even imagined possible my father had my mother's wedding dress brought out of storage, cleaned and tailored to fit me. It was gorgeous: ivory white, a-line, with a sweetheart neckline, backless, the torso was like a wrap, ruffled a bit and hugging my figure, it was separated from the skirt by a tight sash (the original one was champagne, but my aunt changed it to golden), the skirt was done in such a way it looked as if it were covered in blossoms, it reached to the ground on the front, with a chapel train in the back. The shoes were simple golden sandal-flats. There was no veil and my hair was arranged with my two forelocks pulled back, keeping the rest of it in order, pinned together with a golden clip lent to me by Jane. Finally the garter was blue. So, all traditions were kept: something old (the dress), something borrowed (the clip), something blue (the garter) and something new (the shoes).

The ceremony was small but very beautiful. The only guests were my Aunt Kathryn, my father, Jane and Thor. My father's new wife and step-children didn't attend, as they were still in Europe (where they lived). A benefit of having little-to-nothing where a social life was concerned, was that there weren't many people we might have invited to the wedding. Aside from those there the only other family I had were some cousins in Britain I hadn't spoken to in a long time, I didn't know enough of my Aunt Kathryn's friends to invite them, and there was no way to invite any of Loki's family (Thor and Jane was more than we'd expected). A minister married us right there in the mansion, as had been arranged by my aunt; and after my father had retired for the night, Thor followed the instructions Loki had given him in the previous weeks to perform what was effectively a hand-fasting ceremony.

Of course, we put our own spin to things, exchanging consort presents (as was tradition in Asgard), necklaces: mine was a nightingale pendant with so many protective spells as to make me almost invulnerable; his was a locket with a heart made of Celtic knots, the inside had a chip in which I'd recorded myself playing the dizi flute, one of my favorite melodies: Trail of the Angels. When the time came to exchange rings they were made of pure magic (as neither of us was exactly a fan of actual rings) and left tattoos of claddagh rings in our fingers. Then, once those things were done, and with the ropes still tied around our crossed wrists, we recited the Ancient Vows:

"I do so swear that you will be my only one. I shall look at no other the way I look at you, I shall think of no other the way I think about you, I shall talk to no other the way I talk to you, I shall desire no other the way I desire you, and I shall lay with no other the way I lay with you. I shall be with no other for you are now and forever shall be my one and only; my friend, my lover, my partner, my match…"

I didn't know it back then, but that would be the last time I would see my father… he would die two and a half years later, drowned after a naval accident during a storm in the Mediterranean. I wouldn't even know a thing until almost a month later… at least the last time we met we were all happy. He never asked about my fiancée, why the two hadn't met before, why we were marrying so quickly; on the last part I'd explained we didn't want people talking, as we were planning on living together, and on the first… I suspect auntie might have told him something, though I never really asked her about it.

We weren't expecting any gifts, not with the wedding being so sudden: still, my father signed over the property of the mansion to me, as well as transferring the full contents of my mother's accounts to mine, my aunt gave me a box filled with my mother's most valuable possessions (mostly jewelry, books, a numbers of scarves, pictures and other trinkets). Thor leading the handfasting ceremony was his own gift; while it might not mean much in Midgard, we were expecting that, when the time came, it would mean something for Asgard. Jane had insisted on being the one to buy the wedding cake. It was small (as we were so few), heart-shaped, a mix of vanilla and milk-chocolate covered and decorated by three chocolates and comestible-roses (not a traditional wedding cake, but still).

xXx

Finally the 11th of June came and I walked across the stage to receive my diplomas for my Master Degrees in European Mythology and Folklore, History and Literature from Norwich University, in Northfield, Vermont; I was officially Professor Silbhé Arianna Salani-Hveðrungr.

My father left shortly after I received my papers, having to travel to New York for a business deal. Jane and Thor were there too, at their insistence, wanting me to have family with me, even if my father had to leave. Loki had spun a small glamour spell around them to prevent anyone from looking too closely at either of them, and especially remembering anything about them afterwards (another detail to make sure we wouldn't be tied to them when Thor eventually met with S.H.I.E.L.D.) We had plans to go for lunch to an Italian restaurant, a favorite of Loki and I, before Loki and I took a plane for Europe, Jane and Thor one to Texas and my aunt one back to Portland, Maine.

Loki reached me as soon as the ceremony was over and with a hand on the bare expanse of my back (I was wearing a violet and silver Greek-style dress with silver slippers my father had bought for me before my engagement). We were looking for my aunt so we could leave the campus when we were suddenly intercepted by a couple of men in suits; I knew even before I sensed Loki's uneasiness through our bonds that there was something off about those men, their posture just screamed 'secret agent'.

"Professor Salani?" The one who seemed to be the higher ranked among the two men asked as he stood in front of me.

I was instantly in full alert (not that I wasn't beforehand), a complete stranger, particularly one that looked like a government agent, knowing my name was never a good thing. Especially not with the man that was standing behind me, with an arm around my waist.

"Salani-Hveðrungr, in fact." I corrected calmly. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"

"We would like to talk to you Professor, in private if possible." The man stated, taking an obvious look at the people all around.

"I'm afraid we don't have much time right now." I told him easily. "My aunt is waiting on us to go have lunch and then my husband and I have a plane to catch."

"Husband?" That certainly seemed to take the agent by surprise.

"Luka Hveðrungr, Doctor in Social-Anthropology and European Cultural Studies." He recited the degrees in his fake papers (though he had certainly studied such topics enough to deserve them).

"Interesting…" The man nodded. "This connection wasn't in your files Professor."

My eyebrows rose and I could feel the tension in Loki's body behind me. Neither of us liked that last part, and the fact that the agent kept looking at the two of us… we had no idea what he was thinking, what he might do…

"And why would you have a file on my wife?" Loki asked coldly.

"Professor Salani… sorry Salani-Hveðrungr is someone we consider, shall we say, of interest to current and future projects." The man said in a very formal manner. "You were on our list too, Dr. Hveðrungr, though we had been able to find very little about you and had no idea how to contact you. I guess this might even work in your favor."

"You have yet to give any explanation whatsoever." Loki reminded him. "And like N… Silbhé already told you, we do not have the time. We have lunch, and then a honeymoon to get to."

The man was average looking, though some power and authority could be sensed coming from him; he blushed at Loki's words, or probably just the very blasé way in which he said them.

"Yes, of course." He nodded. "If you do not have the time today I would like to know when the best date might be to approach you, I have a job offer."

I actually froze at that. Working for the government? One thing Aunt Kathryn had been very clear on was that I was never, ever, to work for the government. She had worried about me after I had passed the half-dozen languages, knowing the CIA liked recruiting young people with that kind of knowledge; however, my medical record somehow protected me from such maneuvers (it is unlikely an agency would be interested in having an agent that was ill, an incurable disease that, technically, could claim her life at any moment). Still, that somehow didn't seem to be stopping the men standing in front of us right then.

"What kind of job?" I inquired, not able to help my curiosity.

"I'm afraid that the kind that cannot be discussed in the open." The man stated, signaling discreetly to all the people around us. "If you could give us a better date when you might have the time to talk with us, both of you."

"We plan to travel through Europe for the next month or two." Loki informed him somewhat vaguely. "The plans aren't definite; it will all depend on how we feel."

"Well, once you're back in the country, we would like it if you could contact us." The man stated, reaching into his jacket.

He handed me a plain white card, it looked like presentation cards from some companies, except there was no name, no logo: only a phone number: I vaguely noticed that the area code belonged to New York, or somewhere around there.

Loki took the card from my hand carefully, looking it over before slipping it inside his own jacket (not like I had where to put it anyway).

"You're being pretty insistent about us contacting you, but you have yet to tell us who you even are, who is intending to hire us." Loki stated in a cold voice. "Even if the job itself cannot be discussed in the open, you cannot expect us to just follow you blindly, without having at least some idea what exactly you want from us."

As he was saying all that, suddenly something occurred to me. Something I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of before. Really, while the CIA and possibly other government agencies hired agents due to their knowledge in languages, the fact that he was trying to establish contact during my graduation, and not only that, but he was referring to me as Professor, it meant that his interest laid in my grad-studies. I could only think of one group that might have an interest in someone with my area of study, and Loki's as well… the confirmation came a second later, as the agent finally answered my husband's question:

"True." He smiled politely. "My name is Philip Coulson, and I work for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Divisions… S.H.I.E.L.D. for short."

And just like that, everything changed.

Forever

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I could have left things here for this one, but there was too much I wanted to write... so more will come.

Next: time has passed, the brothers have families and lives on Midgard. Just what kind of lives, you will find out.

Fanarts might prove a bit spoilery this time around but, as always, they can be found in full size in my deviantArt account.

Updates will come every other week.