I do not own any scenes or character from Marvel.


Bruce and Thor sat around a table in the lab, inspecting the shards of the artifact.

"Why did your brother have to break it into so many pieces?"

Bruce grumbled, exasperated. To him the markings were gibberish and did nothing to help the process of repairing the tablet, he was starting to get a headache.

"Loki would never purposely destroy a relic of this kind. He must not have realized how fragile it was."

They worked for a while longer, then a low hum filled the air. Bruce looked up and checked his phone, it was silent. He glanced at Thor, who raised an eyebrow.

"Jarvis, what is that?"

There was a moment of silence, filled by the faint hum.

"Dr. Banner, there is a spike in energy output coming from the artifact."

Bruce and Thor stared suspiciously at the tablet. The hum increased and Bruce scooted back cautiously, he didn't want any accidents. Suddenly there was a flash of light and Bruce shielded his eyes. The light faded and he looked up.

"What happened?"

"Look."

Thor peered at the tablet as Bruce approached.

"It…it fixed itself."

"It seems so."

Thor reached out but Bruce grabbed his hand.

"Wait, don't touch it. Jarvis, what are the energy readings around the artifact?"

"The activity has decreased but it is still giving off significant amounts of energy."

Bruce nodded and stood up to find something for containing it.

"Alright, thanks Jarvis. We need to contact S.H.I.E.L.D. right away. Do those runes make any sense now, Thor?"

He found a container and turned back to Thor. The god was bent over the table, careful not to touch the tablet while reading it. Bruce waited while he inspected it.

"The words seem to be strung together in simple stanzas. Here, "cold land, dark" and here, "life trust gone" strange."

Thor frowned thoughtfully and pulled back for Bruce to carefully place the tablet within a clear container. By the time S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived, the rest of the team had joined them. They watched as agents carefully placed the tablet into a different container.

"So what are you going to do with it?"

Steve turned to Director Fury, who watched the proceedings.

"We're moving it to a place where we can constantly measure the energy coming off of it. We can work from there."

Steve nodded, then glanced at the rest of the team. Natasha and Clint were going over the information Jarvis had recorded with some other agents, Bruce stood next to them, helping. Thor walked over to where Steve and Fury stood.

"I have a request. I wish to continue to read the runes on the tablet. If I see them all, it may provide some answers."

After a moment Fury nodded in affirmation.

"Fine, once we have it safely monitored you can come tell us what it says."

S.H.I.E.L.D. left, taking the tablet with them and promising to contact the team when Thor could return. Bruce sat on the couch, still going over the readings. Steve stood next to Thor.

"So, did the runes you saw make any sense at all?"

Thor took a pause before replying.

"It is interesting, they mostly formed three word verses, but most seemed random, such as one near the center. It read, 'family not family', it is simply a strange sentence. Some runes were larger, some were very thin, the 'family not family' one was darker and misshapen almost to the point of illegibility. They followed no discernable pattern in writing, it is odd."

"Interesting, well maybe the other side will clear things up."

Steve suggested, Thor shrugged, glancing out at the city. Steve thought on Thor's words, on the apparent irregularity of the words, of the way they ringed around the circular artifact. Why had the artifact repaired itself, what powers did it posses, where had it sent Tony and Loki? Steve's mind thrummed with unanswered questions.

00000

"Finally, what took you so long?"

Tony scowled as Loki reentered the cave, he had been ridiculously bored, with nothing to do all day, and he was beginning to get hungry. Loki raised an eyebrow at his heated tone.

"Calm yourself, I was not going to abandon you. And here, have some bread, I stole it from the kitchens."

Loki withdrew two loaves of bread from his armor and threw one to Tony. The bread was still warm.

"So, when are we getting out of here?"

Tony asked as he bit into the bread, it was heart and tasted of honey.

"The guards switch their watch periodically, we shall take the place of guards and from there we can enter the vault uninhibited."

Loki sat down and, after a moment, created a bright emerald flame, which rested on the ground like a strange camp fire. Tony sat down opposite.

"When are we going to do this?"

"Early in the morning, so I suggest that you get some amount of rest."

Tony nodded and they ate, without speaking, for a time. Loki stared into the fire, its green light lending him an eerie look.

"What did you do the rest of the day? There's no way getting that information took that long."

Loki glanced up at Tony.

"Why do you assume that?"

"Because it's you."

Amusement glinted in Loki's eyes as he smirked.

"You flatter me. But really, nothing interesting happened."

Tony arched an eyebrow but shrugged. If whatever Loki had done was personal, then he didn't have to tell him. They sat there for a while longer, Loki returning to gazing at the fire and absentmindedly massaging his hand.

00000

"Awaken, it is time to go."

Tony jerked awake, Loki stood above him.

"Aah…right, right. I'm getting up, give me a minute."

Loki scowled impatiently as Tony stood up.

"Alright, let's go, I'm ready."

"Not entirely."

Loki twisted his hand and Tony felt a tingling sensation around his body. He looked at his hands, they were no longer his. Loki eyed him critically.

"We're ready now, I will change us into guards when we get closer to the palace."

"And why aren't you changing your appearance?"

Tony muttered as they began to work their way down the cliff.

"Well, I'm not exactly recognizable in this time period, you're only taking that appearance to appear Asgardian. You are too short to be one, so I had to fix that."

Loki spoke casually, Tony scowled. They soon entered the city, moving quickly through the quiet streets. The golden palace rose above their heads like a monolith. Just before they reached the palace Loki pulled Tony into an alcove and changed them both to appear as guards.

"Now do exactly as I say, don't speak if we are stopped. I will do any speaking."

Tony nodded and they entered the palace through a small passage.

"I assume this isn't supposed to be an entrance."

The passage ended with a blank wall, Tony glanced at Loki expectantly. Loki raised a hand and tendrils of magic wormed their way into the wall, after a moment it silently slid open.

"It is secret and only meant for emergencies, technically it should not open from the outside."

Loki slid the hidden door shut behind them, the wall appeared no different than the rest. They took a winding path through the palace. Tony gazing at the high ceilings and intricately carved, golden walls. Torches lit the halls, flickering dimly in the dark.

"Why do you still just use fire, I mean, you're incredibly advanced."

"Your electricity is hardly sustainable, magic is, on the other hand."

Two guards were walking in front of them. Loki moved quickly to catch up with them. In an instant there was a flash of light, the guards dropped to the ground, unconscious. Tony stared at them for a few moments.

"Ignore them, they will be fine."

"When they wake up won't they raise the alarm?"

Loki moved them to a small hallway and they got back on track.

"Yes, but we will be gone by then."

Tony frowned as he thought about it.

"Won't that change the future?"

Loki shook his head quickly, he had thought about this thoroughly.

"The tablet was stolen around this time. So no, it will not."

Tony grimaced as Loki's words sunk in.

"I'm going to stop thinking about this before my mind implodes."

Loki nodded and they continued on. Soon their surroundings began to change and they started descending. The walls were still golden but the passage seemed less worn and the atmosphere was tense. They reached a pair of doors, two other guards stood outside. Loki stepped forward and dipped his head. The guards bowed slightly and relaxed. Loki gave Tony a pointed glance and stood in the place of a guard. They stood there until the guards were gone.

"Good, now it will be simple."

Loki muttered, twisting his hand to dissipate their illusions. He swiftly pushed the ornate doors open and they entered.

"Well this is different."

Tony looked around, the cold light shone in a small hallway with alcoves set into the walls. At its end there was a raised pedestal, on which rested a large, blue artifact. It seemed to hold a place of honor over the other, tucked away, objects.

"What is that?"

Tony glanced at Loki, who was already hurrying down the steps.

"It's not what we are here for, ignore it."

Loki's voice was harsh and Tony noticed that he was intentionally turning his head as to not look at it. Tony followed him down the steps.

"Is the Tessaract in here right now?"

"That does not matter, I found the tablet."

Loki emerged from one of the alcoves, gingerly cradling the circular artifact. He glanced nervously at the far wall. Tony approached quickly. Loki inspected the artifact carefully, flipping it over in his hands.

"Alright, do you know how to-"

The sound of metal against metal interrupted Tony. Loki whipped his head around, light poured from the wall behind the casket, which was disappearing.

"The Destroyer!"

Tony caught a glimpse of a massive humanoid shape, before Loki pulled him into one of the nooks. Loki threw up a shield just before a blast of fire enveloped them. Tony shielded his eyes from the bright light, Loki fell to one knee as his energy dropped drastically. Loki's vision flickered as he searched for someway to activate the artifact without breaking it.

"Come on, anywhere but here."

His fingers passed over a set of runes and they began to glow. The light latched onto his hand and a prickling sensation raced up his arm as the light spread. The Destroyer prepared to assault them again, Loki knew his shield would not hold for a second time. The prickling sensation turned to burning and Loki's vision went white.

"Tony!"

Loki felt someone grab his arm. The noise of The Destroyer increased as it sucked in air for another attack. Loki felt his feet leave the ground.

00000

Loki hit the ground hard, his hand still clutching the artifact. A groan nearby told him that Tony had come with him. He glanced around their surroundings and frowned.

"Where…are we?"

Tony rose to his feet beside Loki, who stayed on the ground.

"We are…in my chambers."

"What?"

Tony glanced around the large room. Books and scrolls littered the room, an ornately framed mirror on the wall had a long crack down its center. The room seemed to be in some state of disarray. Tony looked back at Loki.

"You need a hand?"

"Perhaps, shielding us from The Destroyer was…difficult."

Loki took Tony's hand and was pulled to a standing position. He hesitantly moved towards his balcony and peered out.

"Oh…"

"What is it?"

Tony turned towards the god, who braced himself against the wall.

"The Bifrost is still intact."

Loki turned quickly, taking a step back as he experienced a wave of dizziness due to his movement.

"The Bifrost…that's the bridge that was destroyed, right? So we aren't in the present?"

Tony moved to look out the balcony as well. The view was fantastic, he grinned despite the situation.

"Indeed, we must be sometime in the past, again. Sometime fairly recently, it seems."

Loki ran a hand over his mirror, tracing the crack that ran its length. He glanced down at the artifact in his other hand. It was innocently silent.

"But we have the tablet, so we can just leave now, yeah?"

There was a long pause as Loki flipped the tablet over in his hands.

"I must learn how it works, both time it has been an accident and it has sent us to a random time. We cannot just hope for the best, something catastrophic could happen."

"Oh…how are you going to figure it out?

Loki glanced at the surrounding books.

"I shall disguise myself and go to the royal library. You must be disguised as well, although you will not be much help."

Tony looked indignant.

"I can read!"

"Yes, your language. Most of the papers are not in that. Now let's leave before I enter."

Loki flicked his wrist, their appearances changed. There was a slight flickering of the illusions as they faltered. Tony grimaced tiredly.

"Damn Destroyer. I haven't been this exhausted in some time."

Tony watched apprehensively as the glamours flickered again and Loki's eyes dulled.

"Are you sure you can do this?"

"Yes…yes I must. Just give me a moment. It really does not take that much energy… I am just tired."

Loki leaned heavily against the wall for a few long moments. The flickering slowly ceased and Loki stood up straight.

"Alright, I should be fine."

They quickly slipped out of Loki's room and began working their way down the halls, Tony following Loki's lead.

"I'm taking a different way, I wish to know what time we are in."

Loki muttered as they walked. He veered off and they walked for a while longer. Then they turned to another hall. The edge of a red cape disappeared into a room. Loki threw out his arm and they came to a halt.

"Loki."

A voice from the room, Thor's voice.

"Thor, I knew you would return to us!"

Another voice, one Tony didn't recognize. He glanced at Loki, who had gone still, color drained from his face.

"Why didn't you tell her, how you sent The Destroyer to kill our friends, to kill me."

Thor's voice spoke again, full of anger.

"Well, it must have been enforcing father's last command."

Loki voice sounded from the room, cool, slightly taunting. Tony listened intently.

"You are a talented liar, brother, always have been."

Thor again, Tony glanced once more at Loki, who had closed his eyes.

"It is good to have you back…Now if you'll excuse me, I have to destroy Jotunheim."

There was a loud blast from the room. The Loki beside Tony pulled them behind the corner. After a few long moments, Loki let out a shaking breath.

"Now I know when we are."

Tony gazed at him.

"Are you alright?"

Loki hesitated then nodded, visibly drawing himself together.

"Of course, this will help us in our search. Anyone else will be otherwise occupied."

His voice was full of false confidence and Tony followed him uncertainly as they got moving again.


AN: I got it done earlier than I though, yay! I had to go back and watch that scene from Thor to get the dialogue, it a good excuse to watch the movie again. Tell me what you think, how do you like this chapter?