So the first chapter was a little short, because it was mostly background information and the two characters meeting, these next chapters will be longer!

Loki crashed into Earth and sat on the ground for a moment. Using dark magic really drained your strength. Loki pulled up his head and looked around him, tall buildings, lots of rubble and wreckage, and he could see the Iron Man's tower from a distance.

Ah, New York. The dark magic Loki had used recognized this as the last spot where he had used magic, thus bringing him back to this location.

Loki thought about his plan as he started to stand up. He needed to lay low until he regained his fell strength. He used his magic to transform his Asgardian clothes into a pair of Midgardian jeans and a simple t-shirt. Loki knew Thor would have Heimdell looking for him, so laying low will be a good idea to attempt avoiding his eye.

His plan was entirely different this time around, and instead of making a scene Loki planned to take things slowly. His brother and all the Earth's heroes would never be the wiser at this twist. He had done his research on the planet Earth, and knew all about the government of the most powerful country on Earth. So Loki would start at the bottom, and planned to work up to the top and to domination.

Loki started to walk down the sidewalk, very slowly for he was exhausted and still injured from his encounter with the green beast. Every step sent pain up his numb legs, and his torso felt twice as heavy. In his unbalanced state, Loki accidently tripped and fell back to the sidewalk.

"Damn," the god mumbled as he attempted to return to his feet only to fall back to his knees. Loki deeply considered just laying on the sidewalk until his strength returned, but before he knew it, he felt a light pressure on his arms. He was taken aback by the young Midgardian girl who was now helping him into an alleyway.

As she sat him down he stared at her to try to figure out her motives. Why was this girl helping the man who had just destroyed the city? Or was she taking him into the alley to kill him? Even this mortal girl most likely could succeed due to Loki's lack of strength. But no, she had not brought him deep enough into the alley to inconspicuously kill him.

So what was it? He noticed the girl was also analyzing him, but she had no fear in her eyes. Maybe she wasn't aware it was him who had destroyed the city, maybe his disguise was working. It must be working because she proceeded to take out a sandwich and give him half of it.

What was this? Loki thought as he tentatively took the half in her outstretched hand. He had observed how tired and starved this young girl was and yet she still shared her food with a stranger. However, he was also starving and weak, so he took the sandwich to his mouth and ate.

He wasn't sure if he should speak to her, he wasn't sure what to say that would sound "normal" in his undercover disguise. Lucky for him, the girl spoke first, "Who are you?"

Interesting for the girl to ask not his name – as he was aware that was the Midgardian way of meeting some – but she asked who he was. It was like she already knew his name, but wanted to know his intentions and his characteristics instead. Loki had to ponder this for a moment, how could he possibly answer her question, so he avoided her question and spoke his name in response.

"Loki".


Jackie knew there was something about this man, so when he revealed his identity, she didn't miss a beat. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Well then I guess my disguise isn't as flawless as I thought," Loki said after swallowing a bit of sandwich, then looked down to examine his clothes and mumbled, "I wonder what I need to fix to improve it…"

"It seems you have bigger problems to deal with than that," Jackie replied with a slight snap in her voice, "like the NYPD and all those secret agents are after you."

"The law enforcements won't be able to find me, and you won't tell them where I am." Jackie looked slightly shocked, and before she could speak again Loki continued, "You won't tell them where I am because you need something. You are weak and broken down yet you have given me your food, why? Because you gave me something and now you expect something in return, that's why. It must be something your puny mortal self could not achieve without help. And I can help you and in return you keep my secret, and keep me hidden."

Jackie leaned back and took another bite before answering. She thought about what Loki had said so far, she swallowed her sandwich and replied, "You think yourself above everyone, that when you give a command it will be carried out, but you can't control everyone, you can't tell them what to do. You were right that I need help, and maybe I was going to ask you for it, because I knew I couldn't do it alone and you had the power to help me. Threatening me won't do anything to influence me, you already killed my family and I have nothing else to lose."

He seemed to think about what she had just said, but when he spoke next he simply said, "Tell me what you need."

So she did. Jackie didn't want to go into detail with Loki so she kept her story short. "My family came to New York City for a vacation. We were out to eat when the aliens attacked and my mother, father, and little brother were all killed. We're not from around here so I need your help to get home, because I don't have enough money to buy a plane ticket and I only have my learners permit."

Jackie didn't know what to expect from Loki at all, probably a rude remark about a pity party or something. What she wasn't expecting at all was Loki's follow up question, "What's your name?"


Loki walked beside Jackie as they went down the street. He had regained enough strength to walk, but most magic would have to wait longer. Loki thought about what she had said in the alley. Her story was not extraordinary, her life was not important to him, yet for some reason Loki felt the need to help her.

So she led the way down the streets to a parking ramp. Jackie had told him that their family lives in the state of South Carolina, but had currently been residing in one of the rooms at the hotel located next to the parking ramp, and she took him to the car that she said belonged to their family.

Using the keypad, Jackie unlocked the car doors and sat in the driver seat. As Loki was ducking his head down to sit in the passenger seat Jaclyn explained how after her family drove up to New York, they kept the car parked in the parking ramp for most of their trip.

"The traffic in the city was too bad to drive the car around, so during our stay we left it here and usually walked or took the subway."

Loki had also noticed how naïve the girl was, after her initial anger at him, Jackie now seemed to trust Loki whole-heartedly. She looked calm while she started the car, and had no fear in her eyes whenever she looked at him.

She seemed not to care about Loki's reasoning for his attempt at ruling, but during the car ride, Jackie asked Loki about his childhood and his life on Asgard. Although Loki answered sourly regarding his so-called family, he felt it strange that he could easily tell her about it. They effortlessly made conversation as they drove the interstate.

Loki talked to Jackie about why she didn't leave sooner. "I don't know, I guess I'm just used to following the rules. It's the way my parents raised me. And one rule is you have to have an adult in the front seat when you have your learners permit." Jackie had a sad look in her eyes as a realization hit her, "I guess that's going to change now, always following the rules. Everything's going to be different."

He realized he had no idea what her plan was once she got home, "What are you going to do, once you get home but don't have your parents to care for you?"

Jackie took a deep breath, "I actually haven't thought about that part, because until now all I've been worried about was simply getting home. I guess I'll have to go into foster care or something. I didn't have anyone besides my parents to take care of me before."

Loki thought about this young, naïve girl, and how she was being pushed into adulthood too early. She wasn't ready for the demands and stress of it, or for the chaos of a foster home. There was no way he could let her go through the pains of adoption like he did.

He started timidly, "I could always, erm, stay with you Jaclyn. Only until you were settled, make sure you could handle things by yourself. I was adopted myself, and I don't want you to have to go through that. Sometimes it ends bad, with attempts at world domination and all." A small chuckle escaped Jackie's lips at that last part, and her laugh put a smile on Loki's face.

When night fell they took an exit in Virginia to a rest stop, where they parked and reclined their seats to go to sleep. The remainder of the trip will be finished the next day. Before they went to sleep Jackie glanced over to Loki and said, "I'd like you to stay," Loki looked back at her with a slightly confused look and she continued, "Just for a while, I mean. Just until I get settled."

Loki smiled in his uncomfortable resting position, and wondered what it was about this young girl that made him think less about his own needs, and think maybe there was more to Earth than just ruling it.