A/N: I wrote this story before I saw Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season3 episode2, so this is my version on how Simmons got back to Earth.
And I've posted the chapters all at once cuz I finished the whole story before I posted it to avoid what happened the last time I made a longer story(I wasn't able to finish it... and so I abandoned it.) And also because I finished the last chapter then the second chapter before the first one. The whole story was already in my mind but the first chapter was just hard to write, since I'm not quite good with writing stories.
The POV shifts from Jemma to Loki frequently so I hope, this is not so confusing...
Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this.
Disclaimer: The mistakes are mine but not the rights to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Avengers.
It was raining. How odd, she thought. A different place but it's somehow similar to her home world. There are rocks, mountains, water and even breathable air. Living creatures are different there though, some big wild beasts but some are gentle beings and there are also small creatures; sometimes she can't help but wonder if she could find an intelligent being but until now, she hasn't. At least not yet. The sky is also different. Daylight is not as bright as it was on Earth, quite dim or gloomy-like , she compared, and at night there were constellations she had never seen before and there are more than just one moon. She just assumes they are moons but some of them, she is not sure if they are other worlds.
She was sitting alone in a cave as her shelter and staring at the fire she made. It keeps her warm on this cold and rainy night. She was thankful she knows how to make a fire without a blow torch or a match. Science was always on her side to keep her alive, it is what always saves her life.
Her her shirt is torn and she's also tired of running all day, being chased by vicious creatures and also hunting small prey for her to feed on. She has to eat somehow, that's why she hunts and sometimes, if she's lucky, she's able to find non toxic fruits. She already finished dinner and her eyes were getting heavy but as soon as she closed her eyes, she heard foot steps.
She quickly grabs her makeshift spear, just wood sharpened at one end, stood up and pointed to where the footsteps came from. To her surprise, no one was there. Maybe it was a figment of her imagination, she thought.
"And who might you be?" An eerie voice came from behind her that startled her. Instictively, she turned around and raised her spear to protect herself; but whatever happened was so sudden, that she didn't realize how she was disarmed and the next thing she knows, she's already pinned against the wall of the cave.
"I ask you again, who are you?" Asked the man in a demanding tone.
She was staring at her attacker in the face. He looks familiar. She tries to remember then realizes who her attacker was.
The man before her has dark hair neatly slicked back, deep dark eyes and was wearing a golden Asgardian armor with a green cape. He's the same man, responsible for the battle of New York. She wasn't there but remembered the images and information about him in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files. She is face to face with the person who killed her supervising agent, who was brought to life and now the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Her attacker is, no other than, Loki. Asgardian, Thor's brother, an evil man.
She assessed her situation to see if she can escape his grasp. They were just inches apart, her hands were held up above her head by his left hand and his right hand points a blade at her throat. Escape would be hard but possible, she just have to wait for the right timing. And so, she swallowed a lump in her throat and answers his question, "My name is Jemma Simmons."
"Hmmm.. That name doesn't seem to be relevant to me. Perhaps I should just kill you right now." He looks at her with a wicked smile creeping on his lips.
Jemma felt her heart beat was louder than her thoughts. Should've made the move earlier, she thought. She was terrified but she didn't show it, instead she chuckled.
Loki looked a bit confused, "You find humor in this? Not afraid, are you?" He said it like a statement rather than a question.
At that point she stopped, "It's just I've fought long and hard so I could survive this desolated place. Then you walked in here out of nowhere, and kill me just like that? Maybe I'm going mental instead of being afraid."
"Really now? Everyone is afraid of death." Loki presses the blade lightly against her neck making a small cut.
Jemma flinched due to the pain as a small amount of blood dripped from her skin, "No one is probably looking for me anymore, I was gone long enough. So killing me might just do us both a favor." She said truthfully.
"Your name sounds like you're from Midgard. You're human, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"You're not like most humans who begs for their life when threatened. You remind me of some human wariors." Loki seemed amused. The human in front of him looks frail yet she reminds him of the humans in the so called Earth's mightiest heroes. The Avengers. Fearless, or so they would seem.
At that moment, they heard something enter the cave. When Loki turned his head to look, Jemma saw an opening and made her move. She hit Loki in his groin with her knees. He scowls with pain and lets go of her. Getting self defence and combat lessons at the academy seemed to pay off. She immediately made her escape from him and took her spear on the ground.
When she headed to the opening, she finally saw what had distracted Loki.
There was a large creature growling at her. It looks like a hybrid of a tiger and a hedge hog, and three times bigger than an adult bear. She has encountered one of these before, not too long ago. But everytime she was faced with such giant beasts, she always runs and hides. This time though, she has no where to run. So, she prepared herself to fight the beast for the first time. It launched on to her, she was thrown to the ground. Luckily, she hit it with her spear right in the chest area. But instead of getting weaker, she just made it more violent.
The beast was right on top of her and was about to slash her with its claws, when all of a sudden Loki walked up to the beast and slashed its claw using his dagger. It roared with pain,then jumped to attack Loki, but he was too fast. He ducked, grabbed the spear on its chest and used the beast's momentum and gravity to throw the beast onto the ground. The beast was lying on its back and before it can make a move, Loki pressed the spear deep into its heart and slashed its neck with his dagger. It's over, he thought.
"Look out!" Jemma yelled as the beast attacked Loki from behind by striking its sharp tail on to his head. Thanks to her warning, Loki managed to dodge and cut its tail. Now, it's over.
Jemma exhaled deeply. She looked at Loki with confusion as she stood up- did he just save her? She wanted to ask and thank him but Loki seemed to have read her expression, "Do not get the wrong idea. I did not save you, I merely eliminated the higher threat." He told her as he walks closer to where she is. "I still am going to kill you, unless you bow down and beg for your life. I am nice that way." He continued with a devilish smile. Just when she thought he might actually have a good side, he said those words.
"I will never bow down to you." She scoffed.
"You are a feisty little one." He stepped closer to her to intimidate her but it doesn't seem to work. She doesn't step back, she just looked him in the eyes and clenched her hands too hard that she felt her nails digging through her palm.
"It is such a shame to waste a pretty face." He teased. "I will not kill you just yet." He turned around and walked to a boulder near the wall so he can sit on it. "I am a little early for my meeting. It would not be so bad to have company while I wait. Then later, I will kill you." He finished.
Jemma's a little dubious about the situation but at least it gave her time to think. She realized Loki came here on purpose, if she figures out how he did it, she might find a way to get home. So she dicided to stick around for a while to ask him questions. She took the spear off the beast then went to the opposite side of the cave, away from Loki. He just sat there and followed her with his eyes. When she sat down, she faced him and took the courage to speak to him, "You haven't introduced yourself."
"I am surprised you have not made your escape yet. I thought humans already know who I am. I guess humans really are ignorant. Well, I am Loki, king of Asgard!" He proudly introduced himself.
"It's pouring outside, there might be more of that out there." She pointed at the dead creature, "And I know who you are." Jemma was clearly irritated to be called ignorant, "I just wanted to hear you say it yourself. Loki, brother of Thor but definitely not king. Aren't you supposed to be in a prison?"
"Choose your words wisely human, if you want to prolong your life." He warned her, does she really not fear him? He asked himself. "Yes, I was in prison, but only for a short time, and now I rule Asgard."
"How can that be? After everything you did, how can you possibly get the throne? What about Thor?" She was puzzled, surely Thor would have opposed or something.
"Thor was foolish to choose that woman, Jane Foster, over his kingdom. Since Thor does not want to rule Asgard, all that is left is the All Father, so I removed him from the picture, thus, I became king."
"You killed your own father? Were you always born evil?" Jemma felt her insides twist as she listens to Loki. She recalled what she had said to Fitz a long time ago, when Ward betrayed their team: some people were just born evil, and this man before her just proves that.
"He is not my real father! I did have to fight him, but I did not kill him. I am not that heartless. I just locked him in the farthest dungeon. And I would not call myself evil, I prefer wise." He looked at her with his deadly eyes.
"Didn't Lady Sif and Thor's other comrades tried to stop you?"
"Oh, I seemed to have forgotten to mention one little detail. Everyone thinks Loki is dead. I merely replaced Odin, so everyone thinks I am him."
Jemma almost forgot that Loki and some Asgardians posses abilities like sorcery. "So you disguise yourself as your father to rule Asgard? That isn't wise, that's cowardly!" As soon as the words escaped from her mouth, she regretted saying it bluntly because Loki stood up and pinned her against the wall again, wrapping his right hand on her neck, almost choking her. I should stop making him angry if I want to know how to get out of here, she thought.
"Do you really not value your life woman or you simply like to be pushed againts the wall?" He is infuriated by her, or if he was more honest, by her words. To him he is no coward, but why does her statement makes him mad? Is it because it makes sense? - he wondered.
"Are you mad because I called you a coward or because you think I'm right?" She should really keep her mouth shut, but somehow she just couldn't stop. "What kind of king hides from the shadow of someone else's? Only a coward does."
"I am not a coward!" Out of frustration, he tighten his grip on Jemma's neck.
He's choking her, she couldn't breathe. This is where it all ends, so much for wanting to know how to get home, wasn't even able to ask the question, she thought as she struggled to live a little longer. She held his hand and tried to pull it with every bit of her strength and she managed to say, "Then prove it!" She challenged him. Her eyes filled with fire bore onto his.
He let go of her. She slumped on the ground, coughing and breathing heavily. She thought she was done for.
"What?" Loki asked her, not because he didn't hear her clearly, but because he couldn't believe the girl would say that.
"I said, prove it." She answered with a hoarse voice since her throat still feels sore.
"I heard you the first time. I am asking, what do you mean by that?" Loki looked at her expectantly.
Jemma tried to comprehend what's happening. Does Loki agrees with her but just not admitting to himself? Is there some kind of vulnerability from this man? Even so, she doesn't have the luxury to find out, she only needs to survive this. She stood up trying to look confident and spoke, "If you're doing so well ruling Asgard, shouldn't your people know who's really leading them? Reveal yourself, let them know it was you all along."
"That is foolish! Had I revealed myself, everyone would rebel against me, then off to prison I go again."
"Gee, I wonder why?" She snickered, but then she rembered not aggravate him again but then added, "A great king cares for his people. A true king admits his faults and takes responsibility. Kings are humble leaders. Are you?" She challenged.
"Am I not the king?!" His jaw tightened and clenched his teeth.
"You are a fraud!" She fired back.
Offended, Loki struck her left cheek with his palm. She hissed with pain.
"You betrayed your kingdom. You betrayed your family. People only follow you because of your lie. Aren't you bothered that no one trusts you?" Jemma continued as she compose herself.
The question lingered in Loki's head and stared blankly at her with furrowed eyebrows. Trust. That was the word that hit him. "Only Figga-" he stopped himself, backed away from Jemma and continued, "Mother, still trusted me after everything. But now she's gone." Loki turned around as he remembered the day when he heard the news that Frigga died. It was one of the darkest moment of his life.
Jemma saw Loki's eyes softened. Is it sadness or remorse? She didn't expect he is capable of those. "Did you..." She wanted to ask him if he killed her, but she didn't finished because it seems she didn't have the heart to.
As if he read her mind, he said, "I did not kill her if that is what you were going ask. But I was not there to protect her when she needed help." He doesn't entirely blame himself for Frigga's death, he already avenged her; but it still doesn't take away the pain from him.
"I'm... sorry for your loss." Jemma sympathized for him. She doesn't know what came over her to say that to him, considering he was once the cause of many deaths on earth; but it just seems appropriate to so say it to someone who mourns. She now sees the pain in his eyes, masked by his arrogance. Had he always been like this? Hurt? If so, she can now understand how Ward became who he is now. Just like Ward, Loki is a victim of suffering.
Loki was surprised to hear what she had said. How can she show compassion for him after what he had done to her people, to her? It baffled him, humans can be strange sometimes. He hasn't met anyone like her. He turned to her and met her gaze, "You are the first one to ever say that to me." He wanted to say thank you as a response, but held it back anyway. Jemma just looked at him, not knowing what to say. Loki continued to speak as he turned to look at the fire Jemma made, "Sometimes I think, maybe I am to blame for her death, though it was not me who killed her."
"And why is that?" She sincerely asked.
"Had I not been jealous of Thor, I would have not commited all those dreadful acts, I would not be in prison and could possibly prevented mother's death." He finally voiced out his inner thoughts as he looked back to the events of the past.
"You can't blame yourself for everything." Jemma said trying to comfort him.
"I don't... Well, not entirely. The person that I mostly blame is now dead. Sometimes I just cannot help to think about what could I have done if I were beside her."
"Everybody dies eventually."
"But she did not deserve to die that way!" His voice raised and his eyes became watery.
"You can't do anything about it now, so why are you brooding over it! It's not like it's going to bring her back!" That might be the dumbest thing to say to someone who have killed plenty of people but Jemma thought he needs a wakeup call. "Instead of pretending to be king and moping around, why don't you honor her life by living the way she had wanted you to, live by her teachings, be an embodiment of her virtues." She finished with an exasperated breath.
Her words were like spears shot through his heart. What she said were right, he thought, that nothing in his power that he can do can bring Frigga back. The feeling of pain and rage are slowly welling up again, but when he heard the last sentence she said, it made him think. To honor how Frigga lived rather than to dwell on her tragic death? That's easier said than done, he thought. "Do you still think I can still be an embodiment of her virtue?" He asked in a low voice as he clenched his fists and never leaving his gaze from the fire.
Slowly turning to face Jemma, Loki raised his hands, opened his palms and looked at it. "After all the horrifying things I have done, do you think I still have hope for redemption?" He said it like it was the most outrageous thing he ever had heard.
"You just lost someone dear to you. Losing is a learning experience. It teaches humility." She quoted Yogi Berra.
Loki chuckled a little, "You find me humble?" He thought this woman has a poor judgement of character.
"I don't, really." She spoke the truth, then continued, "But I know that arrogance is just a facade to cover your pain. If you'll be more honest with yourself, maybe you'll eventually find humility. "
"And if I do, it would still not be enough for Father, Thor and everyone else to forgive me." He said as he walks closer to her.
"So you'd rather live in a lie? Does that throne really mean everything to you?"
"I never wanted the throne... I only wanted to be seen as Thor's equal. To prove my worth to father." He told her intensely.
"And where did that lead you?" She paused to think carefully of her next words because Loki is close enough and she doesn't even know if she can handle his next attack if he's provoked. "You are not Thor. And you don't have to be equals to prove your worth. Heck, you will never be his equal and he will never be your equal as well. He is great in some things in his own ways that you may or may not able to do, but you are great at other things that he will never be good at too. So that makes it fair. And if they don't see that, then they are not worthy to see your greatness." Now she's not sure if she's patronizing him to live a little longer or she's just giving a friendly advice to an enemy. Maybe a little bit of both, she thought.
As she speak, she observes Loki's reaction to her words. He seems to be paying attention; he seems to be taking it all in.
"Are you saying Asgard is not ready for me to be king?"
"I didn't say that."
"But that is what you imply."
"I am responsible for what I say but not what you understand." Jemma hopes that he would interpret her words in a good way though.
Her words somewhat made sense to Loki. All of it. He already knows he will never fit in Asgard, after all he has done. He loved Frigga and even Thor and Odin; but growing up, he had always felt out of place. And when he found out that he is not of Asgard, he couldn't accept it and just lashed out his anger to eveybody.
In the middle of his contemplation, it hit him. Odin once told him and Thor that both of them were born to be kings. He realized Asgard is not the only place he can belong, he also belongs to Jotunheim. After all, he is Laufey's son. Laufey's dead, so by birth right, he is the next heir to the throne. Though frost giants are the monsters he heard in stories when he was a child, who probably hates him and might kill him for killing their king, he is one of them by blood and he just might be able to lead them. Not to make war with other realms and Asgard but to live in peace. The sense of belonging will be a bonus if everything works out well.
"Tell me, what do great human leaders do when everything has fallen apart?" He asked her.
"Not all human leaders are great... But those who are, they become beacons of hope." She answered and added, "A wise man had said: Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." She quoted Dumbledore. She doesn't know where this conversation is going , she just tries to answer her best.
A beacon of hope? To light up the dark path and world of Jotunheim seems hard, Loki thought; but he always likes a challenge. "And how does one become a beacon of hope?" He asked just wanting to know what her thoughts would be. And she simply answered, "Be the change you want to see in the world." This time she quoted Ghandhi.
Much to her surprise, Loki smiled, not in a sinister way, but, if she's not delirious, in a nice way. Then he heard him say, "I guess humans did became wiser over the centuries."
Jemma is not sure of what had she said that made him comment like that, she just quoted a few famous people. But somehow she doesn't feel hostility from him. She no longer feels threatened.
A moment passed by and Loki turned around to walk towards the dark portion of the cave.
"Where are you going?" Jemma asked.
"Back to Asgard." He simply answered.
Jemma thought, this might be it; the ticket to go back home.
A/N: I also want to apologize if Loki and other Asgardians are out of character especially on how they speak... I'm not really good in making them speak like Shakespeare or old english or what ever...
