A/N: It's November. I need to go write on Eves of Rain. Plot bunnies are eating at my ankles though...

PLEASE NOTE: this is part of my series and even if you have not read it, you should go back and read the short story Uninvited Guest. This story pulls from a conversation in that story.

Hold Me Under

And I could hear the thunder and see the lightning crack

All around the world was waking, I never could go back

Cause all the walls of dreaming, they were torn wide open

And finally it seemed that the spell was broken

Blinding, Florence + the Machines

He'd been locked in the library for days and had barely left for necessities. Three days in Thor had seen him come out if only briefly for a bit of food, but otherwise he was not to be seen. Loki had cast various illusions and cloaking spells so that the elder prince couldn't quite pinpoint which corner of the vast space he'd nestled himself into, no matter how hard he looked. He thought he'd out-tricked the trickster at one brief moment on his second day of searching, following almost silently behind and hiding every time the younger prince looked, but when he finally reached out to clasp his shoulder his hand had gone right through, the image splitting in sparks of green and gold. The only other time he was sure he was remotely close to uncovering his brother's whereabouts was when he'd flung open a pair of doors that led to a section of the library Loki was particuarly fond of. It had taken hours to find the doors again as the room was cloaked in a heavy illusion that left him in a maze that moved with its own will. Or perhaps someone else's a bit more devious.

When Thor had begun his search he'd been thrilled at the prospect of a challenge. With the countless council meetings and other official duties he'd taken on since officially being named the crowned prince of Asgard, the thunderer was sure he would go mad with boredom. So when his brother had disappeared he'd chased after him with more focus than he might usually possess. He'd enjoyed the game at first, not having had this sort of playful challenge from the mischief god in many centuries, but five days in now he was beginning to lose patience.

So there he sat, leaned forward on one of the steps at the library's main entrance, chin placed firmly in the thick palms of his hands and elbows on his knees. He had been going over every possibility in his mind so hard and with such dedication that he never heard the footsteps on the far side of the stairs, nor even noticed that he was no longer alone until a smooth voice reached his ears.

"Sulking, are we?"

Thor startled, looking over to see Loki smiling that smile that won him most anything he desired.

"The game is over then?"

"You were never going to find me," the trickster answered as he took a seat next to him. He still wore that smile, and while there was no sign of wear visible on him, Thor could see it beyond his brother's projection. He was tired, having been working on something in his solitude that he didn't want anyone interfering with. This had been more than a silly game to lighten Thor's spirits.

"You are good at hiding things, including yourself," the elder prince answered with a small smile of his own. He leaned into Loki's thinner frame, giving him a playful shove that the other returned in like. "What is it you've been doing these last days?"

There was a spark in those green eyes, and the smile stretched broader. "Oh, just a bit of light reading. I thought you could use a distraction from the mundane before it drove you mad."

"Such a thoughtful brother."

"I am, aren't I?"

Thor chuckled at this, wrapping an arm around narrow shoulders and giving Loki no chance to squirm away as he pulled him closer into a hug. "But you'd tell me if anything was amiss, yes? We've promised each other enough times that we'd keep no more secret."

"I've promised you no such thing."

"Loki..."

This brought a laugh from the younger prince and instead of pulling away he surprised his brother when he leaned in. "All is well, Thor. There are times when I simply need my solitude. I was long overdue."

"Mm. Well then, if you're fully recharged from your studies, what do you say to a hunt? Or a camping trip? Or both?"

"You really are bored."

"I am," Thor admitted, his voice low as if he feared to be overheard. "And Father has kept me busy as if late. I fear he means to make me forget Jane."

"Ah," Loki breathed. "So by hunting, you really mean to go to Midgard?"

"No, but I'd like to leave Asgard's boarders. I need to get away for a bit. I was hoping perhaps you might fetch Jane for me. If I go to Heimdall Father will know of it."

"Well I see where my usefulness lies."

"That's not it at all! Brother.."

Loki laughed, a full and playful sound that put Thor at ease. "Of course I will fetch your fair lady for you."

"And will you come with us on the trip? I mean to have the Warriors Three and Sif along."

"If I say no, will you let me out of it?"

Thor grinned. "No."

Loki rolled his eyes good naturedly and stood. "Then I suppose I'm going."

"And you'll fetch Jane?"

"I've already said yes. Make sure to have a place in mind by the time I get back. Otherwise Odin will spot that we have a visitor if we linger too long."

Loki did not make it a habit to seek out any of the Warriors Three without Thor's request. They were on easier terms in more recent times, and the threats had eased between them, but that didn't mean that they were meant to be dear and close companions. So the fact that he was sitting and listening to Fandral rattle on about some pointless tale that he had more likely overheard in the tavern rather than lived was becoming excruciating. He should be getting himself to Midgard and offering Jane a trip to Asgard before Thor was called to another meeting because their father realized what was happening.

"You are going with us, aren't you?"

Loki perked, realizing that he was being spoken directly to now. "Yes."

"That does allow for more options, doesn't it? Sif might be ready to kill you for it. She hates traveling through your pathways."

The prince made a noncommittal sound as green eyes flickered to where Fandral was was leaning against a wall.

"Where are we going?" the swordsman asked at last.

"That's up to Thor."

The blond let out a long sigh. "That means we'll either be fighting off some terrible creature or bored out of our minds. He's bringing the girl, isn't he? It's likely to be the latter..." He stopped, as if realizing just who he was talking to a grimaced as Loki quirked a dark eyebrow upward. "Well... Not that he needs to..."

"Why don't you suggest a place?" Loki asked reasonably. "A few places outside of Vanaheim are nice this time of year, and if we kept to the far section of the woods and don't cross the border, the woods outside of Svartalfheim are very good hunting grounds."

"As long as we avoid their archers?" Fandral teased.

Loki offered a strained smile, resisting the urge to lift a hand to his shoulder. It had been many years since they'd last been to those woods, but there were times even now that the scar that their poison arrow had left in his shoulder ached in reminder. Times had changed though, as the Elves had since retreated further inward towards Svartalfheim.

"There was a good hunt there, even if we nearly started a war," Fandral said thoughtfully. "But you say that the far side of the forest is not patrolled any more? And you think it safe enough for the little mortal girl?"

"Most definitely," the prince answered smoothly.

"Well then we have our place. Should you want to tell Thor? Your idea and all?"

"While I appreciate the gesture I have little use for the credit. I'm off to fetch his Jane Foster now. The honour is all yours, my friend."

The blond beamed and Loki did his best not to roll his eyes as he faded away to Midgard.

Jane was not overly fond of of coming home to surprise guests. She'd tried to explain to Loki before that it was not socially acceptable to break into a lady's apartment, but every time she mentioned it he would give her his most innocent of smiles and remind her that him standing and waiting outside her New York City apartment might not be best. With a sigh, every time, she had to relent at that. At least he didn't show up at her workspace. She'd been working with SHIELD recently and Agent Coulson had mentioned that the michief god enjoyed unnerving him by showing up every once and a while, if only to prove he could.

He must have been waiting some time as he was nursing a mug of hot tea while curled into the corner of the couch he seemed to have claimed for himself. He had a book propped on one knee, and as Jane dropped bags of groceries on the kitchen floor and kicked the door closed behind her, he held it up for inspection.

"What's this?"

"A theory. I know how you love theories," he answered as she took the book.

Dark eyes slimmed the page that he'd been reading, finding names and races that she'd never heard of. She glanced at him where he was standing to dispose of the mug emptied of the beverage. "Dark Elves," he translated the word she was trying to wrap her tongue around.

"Elves? Like Santa's elves or like Lord of Rings?"

The Asgardian prince blinked at her. "I don't know what you mean."

"Never mind," she huffed. "What's your theory and how can I help?"

"This is to help you, Ms Foster," Loki answered, tone suggesting he'd expected her to catch on quicker. "An interesting legend in that books speaks of a deep magic that runs through the Dark Elves. The legend suggests-" he pointed to pictures that jumped to life in the page, and she couldn't be sure if all Asgardian books did this or it was just his own theatrics - "that perhaps the Dark Elves' earliest ancestors were mortals, living not much longer for each lifespan than a human does today."

"So you're saying that they actively did something to change that?"

"So it would seem. Keep in mind: this is even legend to the Aesir. Before our father's father's time."

Jane took the book now, eyes rapidly reading over the words now that she new mostly what she was looking for. "I honestly thought you'd hit a dead end on it," she whispered.

"I doubt there are any true dead ends in all the realms, only a lack of patience to find the correct route." He sighed softly, thin fingers closing over her hands an pulling the book down so that he might gain her attention. "I've been looking for a clue on this since before we spoke on the matter and this is all I have found. I've set up a way to check into it further, but it does involve misleading Thor."

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable lying to Thor..."

"Not lying, necessarily. I would never ask you to. If it comes down to it, I'll lie to him and ask forgiveness later. It's expected of me and you'd simple be an unhappy participant."

"But why would we need to? Thor... I mean... He wants me to... Doesn't he?"

Loki seemed to catch on to the uncertainty. "Of course he does. I will just have to bring you into Svartalfheim with me, and he won't be happy about that. Our last journey there was less than pleasant."

"So... What's the plan? You do have a plan, right?"

"Yes. I intend to keep Thor and his friends close enough that should we need them they are there, but well enough out of it that they will not alert the entire race if our location." He paused and gave her a very sincere look. "This is up to you, Jane. This sort of thing is complicated and most likely will need to be done on the spot. I won't lie to you and say there isn't a great deal of risk involved, but I swear to you that I will not knowingly take you into harm."

"I know. I trust you, Loki," she said quietly, the weight felt in each word spoken.

Thin lips curled upward at the corners. "A dangerous pastime. Shall we?" he asked, reaching an arm out for her to take. She did and he pulled them through the realms.

TBC