Chapter 1

It was a quite evening. The stars were dully lit in the sky – hiding beneath the clouds that trapped their glow. Seeing no reason to stare up at the sky any longer, Jane lifted her tired body off the couch and began to make her way to the kitchen to make herself some tea.

"What time is it?" she mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.

"A little after 10" replied Darcy absently, who was sitting on one of the armchairs watching cartoons.

10? I must be getting old, she thought to herself as she flipped on the kettle. As she waited for the kettle to cease hissing, she saw it. That same light that made a fumbling mess of her life – entrapped her in the reality of the truth behind other realms. Her breath got caught in her throat – unable to speak. She made her way towards her trailer door, unlocking it with fumbling hands. She took three steps out onto the cool gravel that numbed her feet.

"He's come back," she whispered.

"Jane?" called a voice that she recognised was Eric who was reading the paper. "What is it?" he asked.

"It's him," she whispered. Suddenly, she came back to life. She ran outside, slamming the door shut behind her as she ran to her room, returning with her dark jeans and jacket on with her boots.

"Jane," she heard Darcy say as she made her way outside. She flipped her head around, noticing that Eric was holding her car keys in his hand. Sighing, she ran over and grabbed them out of his hand, waving for them to follow.

He'd quickly fell to the hard dirt ground. Landing on his back. Hearing something crack, he held in his breath – awaiting the pain that he so clearly deserved. He slowly released his breath, easing into the startling pain and sighing. He felt his chest tighten, tempting to restrict his airways.

"Where am I?" he whispered to himself as he tried to move but failed. He could barely remember what had happened. He remembered fighting on the bridge with his brother, and falling into a deep space that consumed him willingly.

Thor.

He thought to himself. He slowly lifted his arm, resting it behind his head for some support.

Brother, he thought to himself, though quickly shook that thought away. No. He wasn't his brother. Nor was Frigga or Odin his mother or father. He had no family. No blood ties. Nothing. Perhaps falling to Midgard wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. Nor was it his best option right now, though he'd make do with what he got.

After breathing a few steady breaths, he managed to sit up, only slightly. He rested his head in his hands reluctantly, feeling the tightness in his midsection. When he felt something cold touch his fingers, he drew them back, noticing the red that trailed down his hand.

"Brilliant," he mumbled to himself. He made no effort to sit up further, nor did he try to sit back down. He didn't dare contemplate his actions in the future. "Loki Odinson, look how far you've fallen," he whispered. "No – Laufeyson," he reluctantly added. He was the son of a monster. Abandoned by his own father for being too weak. A mere child, left without a way to defend himself. Loki rested his head in his hands again, startled when he saw two bright lights which stopped 50 feet away from his position. He made no attempts to move.

"Darcy look!" yelped Jane as she quickly braked. She was startled with the image of a man who lay not 50 feet from her car. Head in hands and cape spread out behind him. Her breath hitched in her throat - threatening to overcome her.

"Who is it?" muttered Darcy as Eric opened his car door reluctantly from the back of the car. Slowly making his way towards the stranger. Jane and Darcy were quick to follow – their hear whipping their faces, clouding their already blurred vision.

"Erik what is it?" called out Jane as she stood beside the frozen man. "Erik?" she repeated, tugging on his arm – pulling him from his trance. The man stood not 5 feet from them.

He lifted his head from his hands, shocked at what he saw. Her. He thought to himself. He'd seen her before from Asgard – the one that had changed his so-called 'brother'. Jane Foster he thought to himself, remembering Thor mention her name briefly. "Oh the irony" he muttered to himself, with a grin plastered on his face.

She rushed towards him, suddenly coming to a halt when the elderly man stopped in his tracks. He saw her tug on his arm, looking shocked when he spoke. Her head quickly diverted towards his direction. She slowly made her way over to him – without the young female or male's consent.

"Who are you?" she whispered. She knelt down so she was sitting across from him – face to face.

"Oh but I think you know" his raspy voice came out much sicklier than he intended, though didn't bother him. "Loki," she whispered.

"You would be most correct," he said. He felt something in his midsection – his heart beat faster than normal. His expression was painful. Wincing – he closed his eyes, furrowing his brow and scrunching up his nose at the excruciating pain that overtook him. He felt a soft hand on his upper arm, pulling him from his painful experience. He blankly stared at her. Surely she wouldn't be touching him if she knew who he were?

"Where's Thor?" she asked, wind blowing her long hair around her face. When he didn't reply, she repeated with the same question, though more sternly. "Where is Thor?"

"Ah yes, Thor's pet," he retorted. "Should he not be here with you?" he saw her lip quiver, then suddenly her face changed when she saw him wince.

"Are you okay?" though when she got no reply, she waved for the other two to come over. "I need you to help me lift him up." He heard her ask. "But Jane…" he heard the girl say. "No buts. He's hurt." The last thing he remembered was being lifted up into the back of a car and falling into unconsciousness at a thoroughly uncomfortable ride.

"Jane you have to call SHIELD. He's a wanted fugitive," said Erik as they were sitting at the kitchen table, staring at the large form that covered her couch as they silently drank their tea.

"I can't – not yet at least," she replied. Taking a sip of her tea, she felt the hold liquid run through her. He'd been unconscious for 4 days. Occasionally stirring in his sleep and yelling at a man named Odin. And anger that he had betrayed him. "Jane what do you mean not yet. He's dangerous – who knows what he'll do when he wakes!" hoarsely whispered Erik as he dropped his hands against the table, making it thud.

"Erik, he can offer us answers. We can finally learn how to travel through different realms. Learn of the different scientific discoveries - how people live!" she cried. "He's our only lead," she mumbled to herself quietly.

"To Thor" he answered. Her head shot up. "Yes but not just to Thor," she defended. He's in no position to harm us. Look at him – he can barely move unconsciously without wincing in pain, let alone hurt us."

"Jane I'm not so sure. I understand he said he'd return, and that was god knows how long ago, but you cannot risk your life for the sake of science!" She sighed. Wiping the stray hairs that fell on her face. She knew he was right. Well, partly. He was only looking out for her. But think of what would happen if she were to uncover the mysteries of the world. It would be a scientific breakthrough! Sure she missed Thor. But she wasn't a child – he had her hopes up, then felt them slowly tumble down as the days turned into weeks.

"Erik -," she said, grasping his cold hands between her warm ones. "I promise you, if he poses as any threat, I'll call Fury. But until then – we need to take advantage of this." Waving towards the man that Lay on her couch, dripping blood onto her velvet cushion. As soon as she hear him sigh, she knew she'd got him. "Very well – but if he threatens you, you tell me and we'll go to Fury and hand him over – not another thought. Not questions asked – do you hear me?" he said sternly. She simply smiled, and squeezed his hand in hers, taking a daring glance towards the man that would someday consume her.