In hindsight, she probably should have brought her coat.
She wasn't sure what made her decide to leave her coat in the lab. Stupidity probably. It was a classic bitterly cold January night in London's back alleys and to leave any building without an overcoat was either a death wish or pure stupidity. She bargained on the latter. However, living only a few blocks away it did not bother her. She knew the alleys well after a year of working between the MI5 and Scotland Yard and had nothing to fear from the drunks, homeless or anyone else due to the cold.
Snow began to fall lightly. She sighed in a similar manner to the falling flakes; quietly. In a loose white peasant shirt, she shivered and scanned the small street in front of her. It was quiet, empty bar a tall figure leaning against a street light not 20 metres from where she was walking. The snow was illuminated by the dying streetlight but it did nothing to identify the figure. Knowing the risks of stopping, she continued to process him as she neared his position: Tall, male, buff, well clothed, a beard possibly or just long hair- it was hard to tell.
5 metres from him and the man shifted his position, allowing himself to be fully illuminated by the flickering street lamp. He was now standing directly in her path, clad in what appeared to her as armour. Steel breastplates, shoulder plates, leather pants and to add insult to injury, a bright red cape which brushed the ground.
She stopped a few metres in front of him, her eyebrows raised somewhat skeptically. She said nothing.
He appeared to survey her curiously and she met his eyes with a certain amount of forced hostility.
"You are Lady Alina Everton?" His voice was deep and rumbling with power.
"I am. May I help you?"
The man smiled.
"Indeed you can. I am Thor of Asgard and it would be greatly appreciated if you would come with me."
"I most certainly will not go anywhere with you Mr…. Asgard?" Alina replied sarcastically
She could've sworn she heard a chuckle from the alley to the left of her. Brashley, she reached for her waist only to remember she did not have either of her guns. Thor noticed.
"We mean you no harm"
Alina jerked her head up.
"We?" She queried
"Yes…. we" A voice drawled from behind her.
Reflexively, Alina turned to face the second man and found herself face to face, or rather face to neck with a tall, dark haired man with piercing green eyes. She tensed up more so, careful not to step backwards into the blonde man. At 5'7" she had to look up to glare at the man in the eyes. He didn't appear in the least threatened.
"We require your participation Miss Everton" Thor spoke
Alina turned to him. She was aware of extraterrestrial appearances after her work in New York but this felt different. They were different. They looked human to a certain extent barring the odd get up and armour which they sported.
"And what do you need my participation with?" She asked
"We need you to come with us. All will be explained"
"That will not be happening sir" she replied indignantly
Loki grabbed her from behind, wrapping around her forearms and holding her firmly against his chest. Alina didn't move. It felt as if the whole scene had frozen. Thor remained still, looking down at her, Loki kept her still against his chest, she did not struggle. The only thing moving was the snow falling and gathering at their feet. A single light was on in an apartment but there was no noise. Thor and Alina stared at one another, reaching an impasse.
Thor nodded to Loki and turned around, walking away. Loki followed, dragging Alina with him. For some odd reason a calmness had come over her, she felt lethargic and unable to find the energy to move or fight back. Instead she went limp, allowing the raven hair man to drag her along with him. They were now stood in the middle of the road and Loki dropped her body into the snow. She could have sworn she saw the curtain pull back in a window and a face peer out.
Thor gave him a pointed look. Loki rolled his eyes.
"Do we leave?" Loki asked
"Indeed. I imagine we shouldn't keep people waiting. You know how father is"
Loki sneered.
Alina began to shiver a little but lacked the energy to even prop herself up anymore. As she lay on her side, her eyes began to flicker and she felt the overwhelming urge to close them and sleep. Her training said no and she fought the feeling fiercely. At this thought, Loki glanced down at her with raised eyebrows.
"Loki?" Thor queried
"She's fighting my enchantment"
"Loki now is no time to court a lady" Thor lectured
"No you imbecile I mean she's fighting the magic. She should be out cold by now"
"You know the circumstances" Thor said with a lowered voice.
Both men looked down at her and Alina did her utter best to attempt a glare back up at them.
"Let's go" Thor spoke
Loki lifted her into his arms.
"Heimdall" Thor roared
Before her vision was attacked by flashes of colour and blackness, Alina could have sworn she heard vehicles skidding and pulling up behind them and a shout to stop. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for shots or screams but all that came was an intense jostling movement and harsh wind. By the time it stopped she felt as if someone had taken her by the head and shaken her violently.
Everything felt unruly and muddled. Her head banged and when she attempted to open her eyes the brightness forced them closed again. She stood leaning against a cold wall and slowly attempted to open her eyes again, with more success. What greeted her made her want to shut her eyes again.
She was leant against the wall of a massive golden dome with a raised platform in the middle. It resembled some sort of golden observatory.
But how did we get here so quickly, she thought, fear setting in as she considered her escape options. There appeared to be none. The entire dome was enclosed.
To her immediate right stood the two men who had grabbed her in the street, Thor and Loki. They were grouped, speaking with 4 other strangely dressed people. On the raised platform stood a man who was clothed in golden armor and held a sword pointed at his feet. He glanced your way and spoke a soft word to the group below him.
They turned to face you. Alina reciprocated, taking a deep breath and pushing off the wall to stand off from the wall.
A blonde man with messy hair and perfectly polished armour took a step forward and threw her a charming smile.
"My My she is a pretty one isn't she? I would not have guessed she is a mere mortal! An Asgardian Queen perhaps?"
She tilted her head ever so slightly and stared, staying silent. She knew better than to open her mouth in such a situation. As if on queue the man spoke again.
"Ah! How rude of me! My name is Fandral of the warriors three, protector of the realms"
He strutted forward to kiss her hand. ALina raised her eyebrows. The situation was completely perplexing and she was unsure what to make of it.
"A pleasure… Fandral. I'm Alina" she spoke evenly
A wicked grin formed on his features as he looked her over.
"Such a lovely demeanour. This is Volstagg, Hogun and Lady Sif and I am sure you are well acquainted with our dear Thor and Loki"
He gestured towards his friends. Volstagg sported a large ginger beard, stark contrast to the neat, dark haired Hogun. Lady Sif was a woman with dark hair and eyes contrasted against brilliant silver and maroon armour and a even posture. They were warriors, no doubt about it. And this was certainly not MI6, SHIELD, or anywhere else on earth.
"Again, a pleasure. Where is this?"
"Tis the eternal realm of Asgard, Lady Alina" Volstagg spoke
"And tell me how do I get back to the slightly less eternal realm of Earth?"
"You don't. Not right now anyway" Loki smirked
"Smile like that one more time and I am going to break your pretty neck" she hissed
Confusion, doubt and fear were beginning to set in but she remained level. Worrying right now would only cause her to make stupid decisions and right now, she needed answers.
Loki chuckled.
"You are a fiery mortal"
"I'll set you on fire…" she muttered, leaning back against the wall.
Thor took a cautious step towards her. He did not wish to scare her, treating the girl as a scared animal.
"Lady Alina, we need you to accompany us to the palace."
"No"
"You do not even know what is going on" Lady Sif pointed out
"And I do not wish to"
"My you are a stubborn one" Hogun murmured
Alina glared daggers at the man. She had begun to feel cornered in her position but the dome seemed to have no other opening to escape to and so she held her position, attempting to stay calm.
This shattered as Loki appeared suddenly to the right of her. She gasped loudly and reached quickly to throw a punch but he smoothly blocked it, grabbing her by the wrist. Their faces were centimeters apart and she sneered at him angrily but realising her position, chose not to move.
Loki laughed gently at the girls' fiery resoluteness and the attack that nearly threw him off guard. She was hot headed yet intriguing. Her decisions, although angry, seemed calculated and formed. He almost regretted what he was about to do.
"I am sorry about this darling"
With his free hand, he placed two fingers to her forehead and subsequently knocked her out cold, dropping her gently to the ground.
"Loki was that really necessary?" Thor sighed
"Please Thor, You and I both know she is stubborn and resolute and we still do not know fully of the power that it is suspected she possesses. It is best for now that she is easily transported."
"For once, I agree with Loki" Volstagg grunted
Sif shook her head in disdain. Loki had the cheek to call this mortal stubborn and resolute. At her annoyed thought, Fandral strode toward Loki and Sif feared perhaps he was going to try and defend the girls honour or something equally as ridiculous. Instead, he sidestepped the raven haired prince and checked the girl for injuries before picking her up and glancing around him.
"Shall we go then?"