"This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper."

―T.S. Elliot, The Hollow Men

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Chatter & Notes:

This story was inspired by three very different stories I've been working with over the past few months up to a year. I haven't had an itch to begin a new Lokane story for a while, so I want to capitalize on this opportunity. I know I have two other "in progress" stories with two different categories. I've updated them at a pace I am content with. Neither story have gone terribly ignored. I'm just stupendously busy with work to place myself in the proper headspace for either right this second. I'm intending this story to be a bit lighter than the other two I'm currently writing.

Synopsis:

This story begins when Thor is banished to earth. The twist is that an unsuspecting astrophysicist is swept away from earth at the same time. With the Jotun breach and his brother's banishment still fresh, Loki deals with her on Odin's behalf concurrently as he faces the crossroads of a path of betrayal or a path of redemption. And will Thor ever be truly worthy?

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Our Whispers Are Quiet and Meaningless

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Kaleidoscopic, iridescent rainbow lights danced around the vehicle, whose inside gadgets and contents zapped, beeped, and honked loudly. Three ordinary humans occupied the tight spaces the machines did not.

A student with thick black curly hair whirled around with her hands on her ears, "Jane! What the hell is going on?"

The astrophysicist's features were ignited with wonder and a maniacal calm. Large brown eyes observed the happenings beyond the cracking glass with a childlike and dangerous curiosity that was as illuminated as a hot beacon of light captured on the shore of vast, treacherous ocean. When the student barked at her once more, she winced away from her state and turned, "It's my theory! I was right!"

An older man raised an impatient brow and reached for her, but was shunned by Darcy's howling, "What?"

Jane held a wondrous grin that perfectly displayed the tight string of joy about to break from her features. Her attention reluctantly snapped away from the commotion outside the vehicle and settled on the wary intern, "Take your hands away from your ears!" Her hands cupped her own ears as if to demonstrate the issue.

Darcy animatedly shook her head and sealed her mouth to a frown, "Nuh-uh! My brain is going to ooze if I move them with all this noise!"

The astrophysicist garnered her excitement and threw her eyes to the hand-held screen her fingers coiled over. The readings were foreign to her, which was odd considering she had invented every last setting and sound of the device herself.

"This is it, Erik!" Jane Foster hollered over the absurd noises bouncing around the vehicle. She kept the pad in her left hand as she curled her fingers around the door handle of the passenger side of the large van.

When the door popped ajar, Erik threw his hand at her, "You can't go out there!"

"I need a closer look! We may never have this chance again, Erik! I'm not wasting this!" she countered resolutely.

He frowned and tightened his grip, "We cannot afford to be stupid about this, Jane!"

Despite the pressure, she slipped out of his grip, but clumsily spilled out of the car. Perhaps a seatbelt could have spared her the inflicted knee scrape. Too late now! Jane turned around and slammed the door shut as she moved closer to the center of the cylinder of lights. They was so bright that she had to use a hand to shield her eyes from them.

Hesitantly, she cast a quick look at the hand-held and saw it was not even legible. The screen was shaking with static, but she hit it anyway. Sometimes it helped. This time it did not, though.

"Damn it!" she muttered as she glanced straight up again, swearing her eyes beheld the shape of a man.

Suddenly, the world became dark and she swore she felt pain and warm traces of blood, but she couldn't tell if it was someone else's or her own.

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"Whosoever holds of this hammer, if you be worthy, you posses the power of Thor," Odin quietly uttered against the Hammer before tossing it into the Bifrost.

Loki's eyes were bright red and they hurt, "Father..."

The Allfather stood silent in his boots. After his brief pause and open reluctance, he cast his attention to his other son. He quickly rushed over to Loki, embracing him in a painful hug, "You tried, my son..." Loki clung onto the words of disappointment like an anchor at his feet.

The plan shouldn't have strayed so far from his control. None of this should be happening. Regardless, Loki looked over Odin's armored shoulder to examine his exposed arm. What in the world was happening? Had his magic protected him? Was he somehow immune to the lethal physical touch of Frost Giants?

His ignorance halted.

His heart violated his mind and infiltrated his unbreakable guard. The prince closed his eyes and swallowed. Thankfully, he had total control over how he appeared to others. He called out to his magic and felt it wrap over him as he pulled away from the Allfather. Within the barrier, Loki frowned harshly and released straggling tears. Odin would only see a sad smile provoke his otherwise somber features.

That action made sense for the situation. Loki should be remorseful of his brother's banishment, but understanding of the Allfather's reason. He knew his position well. It hadn't ever changed. Now, he only felt more lost than ever. Loki could feel the dangerous thoughts plaguing his loyalties and reason, mixing and twisting with them until he could no longer see which were real or false.

Odin nodded once and turned away from him.

Something impaled Loki's back, tugging him down as it weighed down his long green cape. He gracefully and swiftly jumped up and grabbed hold of his knife. His eyes softened slightly as he lingered over the body of an unconscious woman...a human. His lip curled with a hint of disgust as he lifted his free hand to the back of his head to inspect it for injury. He knew there would be none, but it was comforting to know for sure.

"Who is she?" Odin hollered as he glared at Heimdall.

Heimdall withdrew the large two-handed blade and stepped closer to the woman. Loki placed his hand on the Allfather's shoulder, "You've dealt with enough today, father. I will take care of this matter." He adjusted the magic enveloping him to softly speak, "Go to mother."

Odin raised a brow, but ultimately nodded without a word. "Heimdall, ensure the Bifrost is sealed, so we have no more unwelcome visitors...Jotun or no."

Heimdall bowed obediently and replied, "Your Majesty."

Loki's eyes hovered over Odin's back and skillfully shifted his outward appearance to appear longing and understanding. Inwardly, he sneered. Asgard had never more felt like a cage. So potently did the loss of normalcy grip and scratch away at him until it disbanded shape and clung over to suffocate him slowly. He swallowed and made sure Heimdall would see no change in his demeanor.

"What will you do with the woman?" the gatekeeper questioned curiously.

The prince narrowed his eyes down at the battered and a bit bloodied thing. Her hair covered her face, but he was far from interested in studying her specimen. Instantly, he closed in on her predatorily and swooped her up in his arms despite the fashioned and clean dressings that shined over him. The servants could use a task to complete in his unkind opinion.

His eyes lazily stationed over her light form and raised his attention to Heimdall, "We will act in the same regard of a Jotun or enemy. We do not know how she arrived. With the latest breach, I am unsettled by the mystery that shrouds her. She will be healed accordingly and kept under my discreet supervision in the cells below the palace for now."

Ruthless eyes softened a little when she mewed a soft grunt...possibly in pain, he'd imagine. The noise disrupted his dark, tunneled thoughts momentarily. His interest piqued, but he would not allow Heimdall the satisfaction. Instead, he made himself appear rather dull and distracted as he towed her away in his tightening but gentle grasp.

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Breviary-Rose

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All reviews and reads are highly appreciated.