Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Thor or anything contained therein.

Taking Hold

Chapter Two

The plan to rescue Jane had been simple and everything went accordingly. Much to his friends' displeasure, Thor had no choice but to team up with Loki. Odin had ordered the Bifröst closed to prevent another invasion from Malekith. Loki knew of ways to travel between the realms without Heimdall's attention. Because what Heimdall knew, Odin knew.

Sif had been unusually nervous when approaching the prison, probably because they weren't just going for Jane. Sif had a deep-seated distrust of Loki, worsened by his actions on Earth. So much so, that she had pulled Thor aside and asked that he grab Loki while she go for Jane. While Thor had wanted to check on Jane immediately, he understood that it meant less time in the prison overall. And less time in which to get caught.

Loki, as ever, tried his brother's patience. They were waiting near the entrance for Sif and Jane. There was silence between them but that didn't stop Loki from preoccupying himself with mindless tricks. He had found a rat and every few minutes would change the appearance. After it had taken the miniature form of one of Odin's wolves for the fifth time, Thor snapped.

"Brother, have you nothing better to do?" he said, turning to look at the Jotun beside him.

"Since we must wait for your Midgardian mistress from the back of the prison, I must keep myself occupied somehow," he said, sniffing. Thor suppressed a growl; he had no intent of making Jane his mistress. Rather, he saw her as his companion and the future Queen of Asgard. "Would you rather I practiced my illusions on you?" he asked.

"Perhaps you could make yourself a little less conspicuous," Thor suggested dryly.

"Oh, you mean like this?" he asked as the light shifted around him. Loki was no longer there, but a palace guard instead.

"Better company at least," Thor muttered.

"But then, wouldn't Asgard's prince stand out, sitting next to a lowly guard like me?" Thor glared at his brother, already knowing where his tricks were leading. He rolled his eyes when light shifted around him, and he took the appearance of another. He glanced down briefly, shock registering on his features when he noticed Sif's armor.

"It will hurt no less when I kill you in this form," he said simply, turning towards his brother. Loki sighed, frowning at his ruined fun as they returned to normal. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands as he thought of a way to occupy himself.

"Perhaps you wish to be with one of your companions of Midgard. Given that you seem to like them so much," Loki suggested suddenly, shifting once more. Out of the corner of his eye, Thor saw Captain America sitting beside him now. "I like this, this is much better! The costume's a bit much, a little tight," he griped, looking down at himself before examining the shield. Then he jumped to his feet, grinning. "I'm brimming with confidence, surging with righteousness! Do you want to have a rousing discussion about truth? Patriotism? Honor? As the Midgardians say, god bless America!" Loki said, grinning like the madman he was.

Thor had to suppress a chuckle as Loki shifted back. It was rather amusing to see him impersonate Captain Rogers. He wondered briefly how Loki had seen the Man of Iron's personality. But he would not give his brother any ideas.

"Still nothing," Loki grumbled, dropping back into his seat with his chin in his palms again. More silence fell between them. Neither of them tried to break the silence as Loki cared not for conversations with his "brother" and Thor was more distracted with thoughts of Jane.

Thor refused to believe that her anger earlier was anything but that. He had truly wanted to visit with Jane when he had retrieved Loki from their "New York". But he had a duty to his people and he could not leave Loki lying about while he said hello to her. The way he saw it, it shouldn't matter now that they were together. Thor desperately wanted to believe that it was her own anger with him when she lashed out but he could not deny the look of her that was not entirely human. If it was the Aether doing this to her, then he'd - No, he wouldn't believe that it was the Aether.

He was distracted from his thoughts when he saw the light shifting before him again. It seemed Loki had grown bored and decided to use Thor to relieve that boredom once more.

"Hmm, I can see why you would be so distracted with this Midgardian," Loki said. Thor whipped his head around to look at his brother, surprised to see brown hair flying in his face instead of his golden blonde. In fact, it startled him so much that he leapt to his feet, noticing blue silk around his sandals, not his boots. At once, he was very angry. He was angered even more by Loki's laughter from below him.

"She is quite pretty," Loki laughed. "But given the situation, I suppose that would make you quite pretty as well. Ravishing, even." Without a word, Thor grabbed Loki by the lapels of his coat, hauling him up and slamming him against the wall, one arm at his throat. In his surprise, Loki's magic dissipated, taking the image of Jane Foster away.

"Do not meddle in matters that concern Jane," he threatened. "Because it might be the last thing you do, brother." Unable to speak, Loki swallowed harshly, inclining his head as much as he could. Thor released him, shrugging his black cloak back into place.

"Would you stop calling me 'brother'?" Loki asked, straightening out his clothes. "You know that I am not."

"Even if you are not blood, you are still my brother," Thor maintained, the tone of his voice allowing no argument. Just as Loki sat back down, Thor lurched to his feet.

"Do you no longer deign to sit beside me?" he asked. But then he saw two shadowy forms approaching him and quickly used his magic to disguise himself. He relaxed, however, when he saw that it was Sif and the Midgardian.

"Jane, are you alright?" Thor asked, immediately embracing her. Jane seemed a bit hesitant to return the embrace but did so all the same.

"I'm fine," she replied, ducking her head to avoid his eyes. She glanced around the area, eyes landing harshly on Loki. "This is your brother?" she asked, raising one eyebrow. Thor followed her gaze, pausing a moment before answering her.

"Yes, this is Loki." No one had a chance to speak as Jane strode over to him. She looked him over once and then reared back and clocked him square in the jaw. Thor and Sif both suppressed their approving laughter as Loki recovered and shook his head.

"I think I like her," he said, rubbing his jaw. "Surprisingly, that hurt and I'm not one hundred percent certain of what I think."

"That was for New York," Jane declared, stomping away from him and back to Thor's side. "So, we're sneaking out of jail then?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yes, about that," Loki said. "It is so unlike both of you, brother. Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?" he suggested, raising one eyebrow.

"Keep speaking and I just might," Thor said with a look that said Loki would be his weapon of choice. He swallowed thickly and fell silent. Thor glanced at Jane and realized that in their hurry, they had forgotten to grab a cloak for her. Loki could very well disguise himself but Jane was not granted that ability. He noted that she was startled when he draped his own heavy leather cloak around her tiny shoulders, fastening it so that it created a hood. She looked up at him with unreadable dark eyes.

"Okay, Thunder God, let's go," Sif said, clapping him on the arm and making her way towards the exit. He grabbed her arm before she could get too far and pulled her back towards the group. She was about to protest but he silenced her with a finger against his lips. Motioning silently, he urged them back into the shadows, just as a pair of guards walked by. Thor stuck his head out after a moment and noted that it was clear.

"Close call," Loki said. "You could at least furnish me with a weapon in case it happens again. A dagger, or something," he whined. From the corner of his eye, he saw Thor reaching for something at his back. "Finally, some common sense," he said, grinning. But the grin fell from his face when he realized what Thor had grabbed. It certainly wasn't a dagger, for he now found himself handcuffed. He held his wrists up in explanation.

"I thought you liked tricks," Thor declared, smiling before leading them out of the prison.

Thor was still baffled that they managed to sneak out of the prison and then through Asgard without meeting any opposition. It was only as they were meeting Volstagg at the crash site of the small Elven ship that they were caught.

"Stop!" the guards shouted, rushing through the hall. They all paused, looking behind them to see what was happening.

"Go," Thor said, pushing Jane and Loki towards the ship and reaching out his hand for Mjolnir. Just as the mighty hammer flew into his hand, Volstagg unsheathed his sword and leapt in front of him. "What are you doing? I can help," he urged, swinging the hammer in a wide arc.

"You need to go," Volstagg said. "Your Lady needs you and you do not need to be caught." Thor frowned, the arc of his hammer slowing as he debated internally. He was preparing to knock down one of the nearer guards when Volstagg growled.

"Woman, I can do this on my own," he said. Thor looked up to see Sif on Volstagg's other side, sword in hand. She scowled when she saw him.

"Be gone with you. Otherwise, it shall be all for naught," she said, the crease above her brows deepening. Realizing that neither needed him, Thor nodded and boarded the ship. The controls were confusing and after touching a few buttons, Thor resorted to slamming on the panel.

"Well, whatever you're doing, brother, I suggest you do it faster," Loki advised, watching over Thor's shoulder. Thor only growled at him. "You must have missed something," he said when still nothing happened.

"I didn't, I am pressing every button on this thing," Thor replied, doing just that.

"No, don't hit it. Just press it, gently," he suggested smoothly.

"I am pressing it gently, it's not working!" he shouted, striking at the console. After a few strikes, Jane stepped beside him and gently pushed his hands aside. After quickly selecting a few buttons, the ship roared to life and lifted off the ground. She smirked at him and then motioned that he should take the helm. He smirked back at her before flying the ship out of the hall.

"Hmm, I think you missed a column," Loki said thoughtfully, watching the columns fall behind them.

"Did he now?" Jane asked excitedly, peering out the window. "You should go back and hit that one as well. There'd be fewer guards after us." Her tone was so nonchalant that they both turned to look at her.

"Shut up, Loki. Are you feeling well, Jane?" Thor asked.

"She is clearly feeling fine, brother. Now pay attention and take care not to hit that wall," Loki said, pointing in front of them. But Thor simply burst through the wall, uncaring of the damage it would do. "Look, why don't you let me take over? I'm clearly the better pilot." Thor chuckled, reaching over to tap a button.

"Is that right? Tell me, out of the two of us, which one can actually fly?" he asked, raising one eyebrow as he looked at his brother.

"He's got a point," Jane said. Loki looked at her with a hurt expression on his face. He wasn't able to respond, however, as the ship's maneuvering made conversation nearly impossible. But the fact that Thor actually thought he could pilot the ship was amusing and Loki couldn't help but chuckle.

"Whoa, what is that thing?" Jane asked, moving to the front of the cabin as they flew over the city. But whatever it was, Thor crashed into it a moment later. "Hmm, guess I'll never know," she murmured.

"Not a word," Thor said to Loki. "And that was a gun turret."

"You have guns?" Jane asked, turning her head to look at him with astonishment. "So why does everyone still use swords and shields?"

"Because we think ourselves to be advanced but truly we are not," he replied. "As I told your son of Coul when I was in New York, we battle like bilgesnipe – trampling everything in our path. It is no wonder we have not moved past the swords and shields. I fear for the Nine Realms on the day that we do. Besides, we are quite fond of our swords and shields."

"Now they're following us," Loki alerted, looking around them. Thor glared at him, already aware of that piece of information.

"This is news how?" Jane asked sarcastically, watching as lasers fired past them.

"And now they're firing at us," Loki said, purposefully trying to annoy someone.

"Yes, thank you for commentary, Loki. It's not at all distracting!" Thor shouted, leveling out the ship after another flip to avoid their pursuers. By now, they were rapidly approaching a tunnel.

"Thor, are we going to make this?" Jane asked, a slight hint of panic in her voice.

"Do you not trust me, Jane Foster?" he asked, trying to hide his smirk as they entered the tunnel. He tilted the ship a second too late. The wing destroyed one of the towering statues while the sounds of more than one crashing ship followed them.

"Well done," Loki said. "You've just decapitated your grandfather."

"One more word, Loki," Thor threatened.

"That should be interesting," Jane said delightfully. "I dare ya." Loki just cocked his head, trying to understand her. She seemed so mischievous; it was surprising that Thor had fallen for her.

"Brace yourselves," Thor warned. They had barely enough time to do just that before the ship crashed through the other side of the tunnel.

"You know, this is wonderful, a tremendous idea!" Loki griped as the ship flew over the ocean. "Let's steal the biggest, most obvious ship in the universe and escape in that! Flying around the city, smashing everything in sight so that everyone can see us! It's brilliant, Thor, it's truly brilliant. And if you had let me fly, I wouldn't have destroyed the whole city," Loki added, trying to cross his arms and failing. They had passed over the Bifröst by now and were sailing smoothly over the rolling ocean just outside of Asgard. Thor began to set the autopilot while Loki kept talking. "They are still following us and firing. If you had let me fly, I would have lost them by – " But Thor had pushed him through the open wall of the cabin.

"Are you insane?" Jane asked as he swept her into his arms. There was no need for her to mess this up. It was crucial that they leave the ship and if she dug in her heels, as the Midgardians said, his timing would be ruined.

"Only because you drive me to such ends," he quipped, smirking down at her. He strode toward the open wall and she began to panic.

"Thor, what are you doing?" she asked, nails digging painfully into the scale armor he wore. She couldn't stop the scream she emitted as he leapt from the cabin and dropped through the air. A second later, they were in an Asgardian air ship with a laughing Fandral at the helm.

"I see your time in the dungeons has made you no less graceful, Loki," Fandral said.

"Have some faith in me, Jane Foster. Lest you wound me," he said, smirking as she dropped out of his arms. She scowled, shoving against his chest hard enough that he actually stumbled back a step. An unreadable expression crossed the men's faces as Jane sat down at the front of the ship and watched the water moving beneath them. Fandral seemed concerned, but nowhere near as concerned as Thor felt. If she was capable of moving him, then there was no longer a doubt in his mind that the Aether was affecting her. He just hoped that he could fix this before anything else happened.

"You lied to me," Loki noted. "I'm impressed."

"The sooner we can get to Svartalfheim, the better," Thor muttered, ignoring Loki as he turned to sit beside Fandral.

"Why are we going to the home world of the Dark Elves?" Jane asked, turning to look at him.

"To prevent another attack on Asgard," Thor said simply. But the look in Jane's eyes said that she understood the whole reason of why they were leaving Asgard.

"I don't believe we've said anything about Svartalfheim," Loki said quietly so that only Fandral and Thor could hear. "We've had no reason to visit that realm since Bor vanquished the Dark Elves."

"So how does she know that it's their home world?" Fandral asked, just as quiet.

"Enough," Thor growled. "It is bad enough that she is infected with the Aether. Do not add to my troubles."

"Thor, we can't take care of something if we do not know about it," Fandral argued. He opened his mouth to continue but Thor cut him off.

"I will hear no more of it," he said, words resounding with the voice of a king. Fandral fell silent but Loki had a harder time listening.

"Brother," Loki said, stressing the word in hopes of catching Thor's attention. "Fandral has a point. If we do not know the extent of the illness the Aether is causing, then she cannot be cured."

"Loki, do not try my patience or I will have no quarrel with throwing you back in jail myself," Thor replied. There was no more arguing to be done, however, as an Asgardian air ship began firing from behind.

"Ah, I believe that's my cue," Fandral said, handing the controls to Loki. Thor dipped his head in farewell as Fandral leapt from the back of the air ship. Loki glanced over the edge to see that Fandral had landed in the other air ship and had effectively taken out their pursuers. Fandral waved quickly before turning back for Asgard.

"Now where is this portal?" Thor asked as Loki directed the ship higher into the air.

So much fun in escaping. R&R to let me know what you think!