The Warrior and the Trickster

Chapter Four:

Sleipnir had taken to running over the Irish Sea once the rains had stopped. While the horse didn't mind running on ocean water he didn't care for storms. Loki didn't question the his son's temperament. He felt everyone was entitled to their own quirks.

"So, what happened when you came here last?" Sif asked.

"I met Thor's friends," Loki answered. He didn't care for his run in with the Avengers as they had foiled his plans of world domination. The humans of this time were resourceful. If it hadn't been for their interference he'd be ruling the people of Midgard. Though, it had been a great deal of fun bantering with the witty Tony Stark and the lovely Natasha Romanova.

"Why did you want to rule earth anyway?"

"The humans slaughter one another daily. I thought I could lend them my guidance." He really didn't want to rehash his failed attempt to rule Midgard. However, who knew how long he and Sif would be on their mission. It was nice to actually talk to someone that wasn't trying to kill him or imprison him. He knew that as long as he and Sif were allied on their quest she wouldn't let anyone touch him. It was empowering to know he had a loyal ally for once in his life.

"I am not one to judge, Loki. I have visited various realms and led battle against countless foes. I am sure they view me as a terrorist by some parties and a hero by others," Sif said. "Why earth? There are so many other realms."

"Because Thor has decided that he loves earth." Loki could feel Sif shift behind him on Sleipnir. His brother was still a topic of discomfort for her it would seem.

"I can respect that," Sif said. "I am still confused as to how they were able to capture you. You are far too clever."

Loki smirked. It sounded like Sif respected his wit. "I wanted to see for myself what the protectors of Earth - the Avengers had to at their disposal." Mostly, he had wanted to see The Hulk for himself. Unfortunately, he ended up seeing The Hulk up close and personal. He still had an ache in his spine whenever he encountered the bitter cold of winter.

"And is that why you allowed yourself to be imprisoned on Asgard?"

Ah, Loki appreciated Sif's train of thought. There was a reason she won all the battles she led. She was rather clever herself. "I had nothing better to do at the time," he answered evasively.

"Was it you or Odin that had Volstagg and myself deliver the Infinity Item to the Collector?"

"What did you think of Taneleer Tivan?" Loki asked redirecting the question. It had been him that had ordered the ether delivered to one of the surviving Elders of the Universe.

"He was a strange creature. It was you then," she stated. "Is the ether safe with him?"

"The Collector has devoted his immortal existence to protecting the universe from items of immense power than cannot be undone. There are far more worlds than just the nine realms you are familiar with. As the ether cannot be destroyed it did seem best to place it within his protection." Of course, the old quack collected living specimens of every world he also had encountered. "He is the one that warned Asgard of the imminent attack of Surtur." He referred to an attempted invasion a few centuries past.

"Then he is worthy of our trust," Sif said decisively. "If it had not been for his forewarning Surtur and his fire demons surely would have destroyed Asgard. His forces of Muspelheim were so very great."

Loki remembered that Sif had been gravely injured in that fierce battle. Many Asgardian lives had been lost. "You were wounded," he said.

"A piercing wound barely missed my heart," Sif confirmed. "It was the poison that was the problem."

Loki also remembered that Thor had gone to Hela in the underworld and fought for Sif's life. Her devotion to the god of Thunder had been unwavering since that moment - at least until recently. "We draw nearer to our destination," Loki announced. He could see the outline of a land mass that he presumed was the English coastline.

"I look forward to leaving this wretched land," Sif said. Her words were ironic considering her affinity to the world of Midgard a thousand years ago - a woman scorned truly was a fearsome thing. He couldn't blame her though. Her grip around Loki's waist tightened. He couldn't say that he minded even if the embrace made it harder for him to breath. What did one need with air anyway?

"This place isn't so bad."

"Not as nice as Asgard or Alfheim, but I suppose better than most of the realms," Sif conceded. "Once upon a time, I loved this realm above all others. I understood the people here."

Asgard wasn't exactly in pristine condition after the dark elves had invaded and released the prisoners in a riot, but Loki wasn't about to mention that seeing as he had a hand in the defensive shield being lowered. In a round-about way one might say he was at fault for his mother's death. However, that one would be wrong. Loki blamed Thor bringing Jane Foster into their world with the ether running through her body. He did appreciate the punch that the petite human packed though. He remembered it fondly and rubbed his abused jaw absently at the memory.

However, his money would be on Sif if there was to be a fight between the two. Preferably one involving mud and skimpy clothing. "The Norsemen did really love you," Loki said. "You are still mentioned in their mythology with affection."

"Oh?"

"They even have a tale about my shorning off your golden hair."

"And how did they explain your being close enough to me to do so?"

Loki shrugged as Sleipnir stepped ashore and slowed his pace. "Some poems claim we were lovers and that I did it while you were sleeping."

"We were but children when it happened," Sif argued.

"I'm just repeating what the poems say," Loki said. He couldn't say that he minded the poem himself aside from mistaking his motive. He didn't cut Lady Sif's hair because he was jealous of her relationship with Thor, he did it because he was lonely. He wanted that which made him different - his dark hair - to be that which made him the same as his childhood friend. Of course, if his adopted parents had told him he was adopted and was actually a Frost Giant by birth then he wouldn't have bothered trying to fit in with the other Asgardians.

"I have grown fond of my dark hair. I won't thank you for it," Sif quickly added. "But, I enjoy not being the same as the other women of Asgard."

Loki laughed. "No worries on that account." There was no danger in Sif being considered common place among the other Asgardian women. The only woman he had appreciated and admired more had been his adopted mother. It was hard for a woman to compete with a man's mother.

OoO

"I had not thought we would find this place before sundown," Sif confessed. She glanced over at her traveling companion and was still disoriented by his appearance and her own. Loki had altered their appearance and that of Sleipnir so that they appeared a blond human couple walking their large dog. She felt naked without her armor, but she knew it was still there only hidden under an illusion.

"Excuse me, ma'am, sir, but you can't come here," a British police officer said standing in front of them.

"Why not?" Sif asked. "We have business to attend to in this area."

Loki held a leash for the dog form of Sleipnir in one hand and placed his free hand around Sif's shoulders and drew her close. "My apologies officer, but my wife and I had wanted to take a walk around this area. We used to work in these old offices. That's how we met. We didn't realize there would be a problem."

It took a great deal of restraint for Sif not to throw off Loki's hand. His calm answer was more likely to acquire them entrance without attention than her forcing her way through. She felt a slight pressure on her left hand and glanced down to see an emerald ring now on her ring finger. Did he just put that there to further their illusion? It certainly felt real.

"I'm sorry, sir, but this was a sight of a great deal of destruction. It isn't safe structurally. I'm not allowed to let anyone pass," the officer said holding his position resolutely.

"Very well," Loki said dropping the dog leash and then pressing his finger to the officer's forehead. The human looked back at them with a vacant expression in his eyes. "You will allow us entrance and you will keep any of your fellow officers from interfering. Do you understand?"

"I understand," the officer said nodding. He stepped aside and they walked past him.

"That was painless," Sif commented.

"You almost sound impressed."

"I do not impress easy."

"I noticed."

"You want to explain the ring?" Sif asked.

"Not really." Loki continued to lead the way to where a very powerful portal connected all nine realms. It was made stronger by the Convergence and while as the planets would be shifting further out of alignment rendering it useless for now it should still serve its purpose.

"It is impressive," Sif said looking at the portal. All nine worlds were visible overlaying upon one another. "How can the humans ignore such a thing?"

"They aren't," Loki said. He could already detect the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. converging upon their location. "I suggest we hurry." He dropped the illusion of their appearance and hopped upon Sleipnir's back and Sif once more sat behind him. He watched as the various realms shifted in and out of view waiting for Niffleheim to appear.

There was a crack of lightning that lit up the darkening evening sky and a rumble of thunder that shook through the building.

Thor landed on the opposite side of the portal from them with Mjolnir clutched in his fist, the ground shattered under his impact, and his red cape billowing from his momentum.

"We need to leave," Sif said anxiously as the golden-haired Asgardian looked up in shock at them.

"Sif? Loki? What are you doing here?" Thor asked striding toward them. He didn't even question that Loki was alive. It would seem that after faking your death twice your friends and estranged family were no longer impressed.

"Just passing through, don't mind us," Loki said concentrating on the realms. He could just jump through, but he didn't know where all the passages between the realms were located in spite of popular opinion. He hadn't seen Niffleheim yet.

"Sif? Why are you with him?"

"We're on an adventure sanctioned by the king. It's of no concern of yours," Sif said. Her arms tightened around Loki's waist uncomfortably.

It wasn't Niffleheim, but it was another realm Loki was familiar with and it didn't have Thor. "Screw this," Loki said. He chose to pass into Nidavellir before the way was shut. He urged Sleipnir to leap into the portal and transport them.

"No!" Thor's shout followed them through the portal, but he was unable to follow as Loki had timed it such that the portal was in the process of shifting to another realm.

"That was close," Sif said. She took a moment to look around their environment. "This is not the realm of the dead."

"No, sorry. We're in the realm of the dwarves, but I do know my way around here. I can find the direct link from here to Niffleheim."

Sif rested her head against Loki's back. It was a strange sensation that made him feel uncomfortable. People didn't generally touch him willingly. He could feel her take a deep breath before sitting up once more. "There could be more of those rat-like creatures," she said composing herself quickly.

Oh good, they weren't going to talk about how Thor almost foiled their plans. Loki could get used to a companion that could hold her own in battle and didn't bring up the little mishaps that crossed their path along the way. And especially one that didn't question his motives constantly. If only others would realize that he was the Norse god of fire and like fire his whims and directions could change and waver unexpectedly. He was especially glad she didn't press further about the ring.

"The sooner we can free Balder the sooner we can resume our normal lives," Loki said.

"Have you thought of what we might offer Hela in exchange for Balder?"

"We must be willing to offer anything and everything that we might possess. It will be up to the goddess of Death to decide her price," Loki said. "Now, quiet. We do not wish to draw any undue attention to ourselves."

He set his eight-legged horse towards the mountains of the east where he might be able to travel to their destination. Hopefully, they could reach it without any further interruption.


A/N: I'm posting this much earlier than I had planned, but I wanted to get it out to you before the Thanksgiving holiday in case you wanted a break from too much family bonding. Enjoy!

11/27/13