A/N: So this is the second chapter! It's kind of, eh, in my opinion. Just getting the story started, basically, but I kind of skimmed through because I'm just so excited for Loki to appear! I didn't want to add too much filler, that always gets so boring! By the way, if you're worried I'll start and abandon this story, don't! I've written the first 7 chapters already, and I'll post them regularly. I wanted to thank ShatteredSoul37 for the review. I really appreciate it! Reviews are always welcome.

Recap: I looked through the peephole first, and groaned, not caring whether or not the extremely unwanted visitor heard me. An all too familiar man with shoulder length blond hair and barbaric facial hair stood at the door. His huge frame filled the entire view. He caught site of the peephole from the outside, and shoved his face towards it, attempting to look inside, his blue eye magnified.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. Why.

Chapter 2: Unrealistic Requests

He beat on the door again, the sound reverberating through my apartment. Most likely disturbing my neighbors as well. Soon the old lady next door would come out swearing and throwing her middle finger in the air.

"Go away," I called through the door, watching him through the peephole.

As I'd expected, he stayed, never one to give up a challenge. "Allow me entrance into your chambers, Elise, for this is an important matter!" he yelled back.

I shook my head, even though he obviously couldn't see me. "No, I told you guys to leave me the fuck alone. Go away, Thor."

Just as I turned to walk away from the door, Thor said, "Elise I do not want to have to break this door down, but I will if I must." And I knew he was right. He would remain true to his word. And the last thing I wanted was a broken front door. My landlord would have an aneurysm.

I grit my teeth, and took a deep breath, annoyed that I had known this would happen. I'd never be left alone. I knew as soon as I gave in to helping Fury the first time, they'd keep coming back.

After unlocking the door, I opened it swiftly, making my annoyance apparent on my face. "I knew you assholes would do this. I knew as soon as I gave you an inch, you'd take a fucking mile," I ranted.

Thor ignored my biting words, and pushed past me into my apartment, staring in wonder at the smooth, luxurious look of the mahogany floors, burgundy walls, black technology, and white furniture. I soon learned he wasn't alone, though. A little, mousy, brown-haired girl entered as well, looking nervous and out of place. Her eyes flitted to me, and she took in my obvious post-coitus appearance. She didn't look judgmental, but a blush slowly crept to her cheeks.

"Elise, I know you must not happy with me, but I can assure you I have good reason to disturb you," he said. He was dressed in a plain t-shirt and jeans, that strained at his muscles. The sight of his hulking figure in my apartment in normal clothes was almost laughable. Everything looked smaller with him present. "I would not bother you unless it was imperative," he assured, palms out, as if I were a startled horse.

I sighed and folded my arms. My eyes trailed from him to Jane, then back again. "Have a seat," I clipped the words out reluctantly, gesturing towards the sofa. "Do you want anything to drink? Or eat? I have cake," I offered to Jane. She looked so awkward, I had to try to be nice to her. Even though nervous girls always rubbed my nerves the wrong way. The pair sank to the couch, in completely opposite ways. Thor was sprawled out, taking as much space as he wished, whilst Jane took up as little space as possible. It was endearing and agitating.

She shook her head quietly, just as a curious Evander poked his head from within my bedroom.

"Elise?" he said hesitantly, "is everything-" he paused, seeing Jane and Thor, eyes widening in surprised and recognition at Thor. He must have seen him on the news in one of those awful cell phone videos of the Avengers saving New York. His eyes trailed to mine, filled with questions I honestly didn't want to answer.

I gave Thor a scathing look. "See how you ruin my life?" I asked and he chuckled, as I turned my head back to Evander. "Come on in, Evander, you may as well join the conversation, too."

Silently, he complied, approaching me and sitting in the recliner across from Thor and Jane. I took station on the arm of the chair, and he placed a hand on my thigh. Jane averted her eyes as if we'd just started fornicating right before her.

"Before you say anything, dear Elise," Thor began, trying to butter me up. His voice sounded as if he were about to make a big royal announcement to us all. "hear me out. After I returned Loki to Asgard, father was furious-"

I rolled my eyes. "That's his natural emotional state, though-"

"-And wanted to throw Loki into prison for the rest of his life, the minute we arrived. But I begged for my dear brother, and we came to an agreement after hours of heated debate. I thought of you Elise, and I think you can help him. I wish to bring him here-" I opened my mouth ready to disagree, ready to let him know what a ridiculous idea that would be, but he held a hand up, and continued. "-so he can learn to appreciate mortals, so he can learn from them. And as you have lived upon this planet nearly all of your life, you can teach him. I believe you can help to reform him, and I have faith in you, and hope for my brother. Nick Fury has hesitantly agreed as well, only wanting you for the task."

I was quiet for a long while. Looking into Thor's blue eyes, filled with hope and unconditional love for his murderous manipulative brother. Thor still believed Loki could change, when everyone-including myself-knew he couldn't. Finally I spoke,

"What is this? Some sort of after school special? I'm not a babysitter, I'm not going to baby your brother, and I damn sure am not a fairy godmother," I said, and Thor was confused by the reference. "I can't wave a wand and Cinderella him into a good person, after his centuries of being an asshole."

Evander gripped my thigh, and I looked down at him-his eyes were indecipherable. I dragged my gaze back to Thor who was looking at me with almost pleading eyes.

"Please, you must think about this. The only way my father and Fury will allow it is if you cooperate," he said.

But I was already shaking my head. "Why me? And why would I do favors for Asgard, the place that royally fucked me over?"

"Elise I'll do anything for you to say yes. With your strong will, critical nature, and vast knowledge of Midgardian culture, you are the best for this," Thor said quietly, picking his words carefully. Obviously he didn't wanting to outright state that the only person who could control a jerk like Loki, is a jerk like me. The pressure weighed down on me. Three pairs of eyes watched me carefully, as if we were playing an intense game of chess. Everyone waited for me to move my piece across the board and shout checkmate.

I sighed, and looked at the ceiling, hoping the best move would fall from the sky and hit me on the head. Finally, I spoke, and it seemed as if everyone had been holding their breath. "Where is my mother?" I asked.

Thor looked both apologetic and confused. "Where she has always been. She is in the dungeons-"

"Move her," I said simply.

His face translated the innocent confusion of a child, and he frowned. "To where?"

"Somewhere better. Anywhere. I don't want her in the dungeons anymore, we both know she doesn't belong there, Thor. I want her somewhere nicer. Give her a nice cell or room or something with a pretty bed, a desk, and some books. Give her loads of books. She loves to read. And a journal to write in, she loves that too," I said thoughtfully, remembering how she wrote in her journal every day, even after the death of my father. I'd find her at her desk scribbling away, tears rolling down her cheeks, staining the pages, marring the ink. I worked to keep my voice void of emotion, even though my mother was a sensitive subject for me.

"Allfather refuses to give her anything with which she can harm herself."

I shrugged. "If you can't get it done, I'm not helping your jackass brother." And that was the point of my request. Of course Odin would never allow it, and that meant I wouldn't have to take on this lame, fruitless assignment. And, hey, at least I'd have tried to help my mother, right?

Thor sighed and hung his head. Jane placed a comforting hand on his big shoulder. After a long moment he finally said. "I will try," he said. "Meanwhile, give this serious consideration regardless of the results of my efforts."

I stood from the arm of the chair and moved to the door, ready to rush them out. "I will." I said, opening it and gesturing them out. They glanced at one another, before standing and walking out. Right before I closed the door, Jane turned to me, and gave me one long look before I gently shut it in her face.

Long after they'd left, Evander blinked in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape as I finished the entire story of my involvement with New York, and skimmed over my origins. I didn't even mention my mother. He didn't say anything for a long time. At one point I even got up to get a glass of water, before sitting in front of him once again. He hadn't moved an inch. I began to get oddly worried. Was he scared now? Would he not want to see me anymore? What if he thought I was a brutish oaf like Thor? Or a silver-tongued killer like Loki? These questions troubled me, and I wondered when I started caring what Evander thought of me.

Slightly afraid for his health, I moved to sit next to him, and touched his shoulder. Finally he moved, like a statue come to life. He draped his arm across my shoulders and squeezed. "You really truly are my muse. You've inspired my next novel!" he stood and began pacing. "I can practically feel it coming together already."

"You're not-" I struggled for adjectives. "Angry? Upset? Terrified? Agitated?"

He stopped pacing abruptly and looked at me, genuinely confused. "Why would I feel any of those things?"

I shook my head. "I don't know...I just laid a lot on you. And I've been keeping these things secret for a while."

"That's true," he admitted. "It just doesn't change the way I see you at all. Would I have liked to know sooner? Yes. But I'm sure you had reasons for not telling me all this, and I understand." he said, returning to his seat next to me. Immediately, I moved until I was straddling him, and pressed my lips to his, my hands on either side of his face, kissing him deeply, til a thought came into my mind.

"That look you gave me when Thor and I were talking earlier..." I began, thinking back to when he squeezed my thigh and looked into my eyes. He nodded. "Do you actually want me to agree to this?"

He shrugged and looked somewhere past me, somewhere distant and far away. "I don't know," he said slowly, more to himself than me. Then his eyes snapped to mine, gray, intense, and sparkling. With tears? Not possible. Evander never showed any emotion except happiness or excitement. "I don't think it's a bad idea. Like most things in life, it's worth a try. You're a life-changer, Elise. You probably don't even realize that, which is so unfortunate, but you are."

A/N: I'm so excited because Loki is in the next chapter! Briefly, but he's still there! Til next time.