"Allan."

The plain-looking man was paler then when they had last met and he no longer wore a sleek business suit, instead donning a dark shirt that seemed to be padded with, what Loki assumed was, bullet-proof material, and grey pants. Allan smiled the same completely unconcerned one that he always had.

"You remember me, I'm honored. Mmm…you look exhausted, was it what the scepter did to you? Or perhaps the beating your molecules took from over exposure to cellular travel, you call it teleportation I assume."

Loki drew himself up, attempting to rid himself of any outward signs of weakness, while beginning to gather his energy, preparing to flee.

"That was merely an act. I have more than enough strength to do what I please, including ending your miserable existence."

"No, you don't, or you would have fled already. No matter how well you deceive most, you forget that I have seen you under true pain and true exhaustion. And I would not place myself in your reach were it otherwise."

Allan moved forward, taking the scepter from Amora without a moment's hesitation.

"See, Loki, I know you can make this work to its fullest. But I don't believe it will hurt me if I know. So please, enlighten me."

"It may just respond to me, it might not ever be able to work for you. That thing was not my invention, I am not completely aware of its inner workings."

That was only partially true but it seemed to concern Allan for a few moments. His pause gave Loki an opportunity to finish gathering his energy and begin to recite the incantation in his head. Once Allan did recover, he nodded.

"Perhaps, but that doesn't mean you cannot tell me."

"Actually, I'm afraid that won't quite work. I apologize, Allan, I would love to kill you but-"

Loki was cut off as Allan swung the scepter's point towards him with surprising speed and loosed a burst of energy from it, sending him flying back, colliding painfully with the concrete wall. He was stunned for a moment, unable to catch his breath. Another blast of energy made his vision flash blue before going black, as he lost consciousness.

00000

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, I-"

"Bruce it's alright."

Steve put a reassuring hand on Bruce's shoulder.

"But it was me that did this. Now Tony's out cold for, god knows how long, with broken bones and head injuries to boot, and Loki is missing."

Bruce ran a hand through his hair as he spoke, gazing desolately at Tony, who lay on a hospital bed in the room next to them, doctors moving around him insistently. The team and women watched from a viewing window. They had moved him to the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D. complex as soon as they could.

After a few moments, Steve turned away from Bruce, looking to Pepper, who was watching the doctors' work with a closed expression, although her eyes glistened with worry. Then he looked to Thor, tapping him on the shoulder and motioning for them to speak. Thor nodded and they moved away from the window. Natasha raised a questioning eyebrow at Steve, which he nodded to in response. Once they had moved farther away, Steve spoke in a quiet voice.

"It's been five hours now and there's been no sign of Loki. We know Amora nabbed him and that she had the scepter. If Loki was…alright, he would be back by now, right?"

Thor's expression darkened and it was a moment before he responded.

"I…I do not know. I do not wish it to be so, but I fear it is. Amora most likely brought him to Allan, which worries me. We know what he is capable of and, if he catches my brother off guard, he could do great harm."

"Is there anything we could use to find him? Anything at all?"

"Nothing more than what he have already tried."

Steve grimaced at Thor's words but looked up to see Sif joining them. Her eyes were bright with an idea.

"We have not been able to find them through and Midgardian methods. I think, now that Loki has gone missing, the matter could concern Asgard. If the Bifrost has been repaired, we could request Heimdall's assistance in finding him."

"But Loki is hidden from Heimdall and I'm sure Amora is as well."

"Ah, but is Allan? Or perhaps one of his underlings? Because, if they aren't, Heimdall can see them and lead us to Loki."

Sif smiled as she finished speaking, looking from Thor to Steve. Thor' expression slowly changed from uncertainty to confidence.

"That may work. If the Bifrost is repaired one of us could return to Asgard and alert them of what is happening here."

Steve listened to the two gods speak, their conversation drawing the team's attention. As everyone turned to listen, Steve spoke again.

"We're thinking of a way to find Loki. Thor and Sif want to get Asgard's help."

"More specifically, I can ask Heimdall to search for Allan."

Thor explained, looking around the group. It was Natasha who responded first, crossing her arms and shifting her weight slightly.

"How long would it take? We can't spare you for too long incase Amora or Allan decides to act up."

Sif and Thor exchanged thoughtful looks.

"I estimate that it would take mere moments for Heimdall to summon me to Asgard and find Allan but it depends on the All-Father's wishes. I must inform him of Amora's involvement and Loki's disappearance. Speaking with him may take some time."

The team considered their plan for a few minutes before, one-by-one, nodding. Bruce looked back to Tony before speaking up.

"Is there anyway you could get something to heal Tony?"

"I could, perhaps, convince the healers to prepare something."

Thor inclined his head and there was a noticeable drop in tension among the group. Steve waited for a few seconds before he spoke.

"So, how to you get in contact with, this, Heimdall?"

The two gods exchanged glances.

The team stood outside the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, on a landing strip. As Thor stepped away from the group, red cape twisting in the breeze, he looked up, shouting over the wind and into the sky.

"Heimdall, if it has been repaired, open the Bifrost!"

For a moment nothing happened. Only the sound of the wind and city could be heard. Then there was a column of light and noise surrounding the spot where Thor stood. All, but Sif and Jane, turned away, shielding their eyes.

The light disappeared as suddenly as it had come, leaving a smoking pattern engraved in the concrete. Jane looked from the sky to the markings.

"What I would give for even one day to study their technology."

00000

"Odinson, I am glad to see you well and in front of me."

"Gatekeeper, to you as well."

"But you are troubled."

As Thor bowed, he gazed around the new observatory. He turned to Heimdall, who watched him stoically, golden eyes piercing. At the Gatekeeper's words, Thor nodded.

"Yes. Many a problem troubles me. But the newest is the one that is worthy of troubling Asgard. It is Amora, the Chituari scepter, and Loki."

"Loki?"

Heimdall turned his eyes away from Thor, silent for a moment.

"I cannot see him, but he is often concealed from me. What has Loki done?"

"Nothing! Quite the opposite, he is missing and, we believe, held by Amora and a clever Midgardian man. This would usually worry me little, Loki is stronger than both of them on most occasions, but they have the Chitauri scepter."

Thor explained as Heimdall continued to stare into the stars. Once he finished speaking there were a few moments of quiet before Heimdall replied.

"I understand. I cannot sense Amora on Midgard; she may be shadowed from my gaze as well, but this man, what is his name?"

"Allan. He possesses magical ability, which may narrow your search."

Again Thor waited as Heimdall looked. It was slightly longer this time before he responded.

"Yes…I see a presence, possibly affected by other hidden ones. It is faint; perhaps a weak or incomplete concealing enchantment, but I do see him."

Thor's expression broke into one of relief and he again bowed to Heimdall.

"I am in your debt. Where do you see him?"

"I shall tell you before you return to Midgard. But I informed the All-Father of this, he wishes to speak with you."

The Gatekeeper motioned towards the golden city, not turning his gaze from the sea of stars. Thor gave one last thanks before leaving the observatory.

As Thor made his way up through the bustling city and towards the golden palace, he was often stopped or greeted by smiling citizens. Each greeted the crown prince whole-heartedly, which he, in turn, returned to them. He smiled to himself for a while after each encounter.

Midgard may be my home, as of now, and my responsibility, but Asgard will always call at my heart. But, even as these people welcome me, I see how Loki may have grown bitterness in his heart from things like this. I suppose he was often in my shadow, I being the first to be seen, to be acknowledged.

"Prince Thor, it is good to see you on Asgard."

One of the palace guards bowed as Thor entered through the golden palace gates. He made his way towards where, one of the other guards had told him, his father was. About halfway there he heard someone call out to him.

"Thor, wait!"

Thor stopped, grinning as he spun around to envelope his mother in a hug. She smiled softly at him as she pulled back.

"I am glad to see you healthy, my son. I am glad to see you home as well."

"You are as radiant as ever, mother. It is good to be home."

"You flatter me; I am nothing but an old woman."

"Nay."

They smiled at each other for a few more moments before Thor's face fell into a more serious expression.

"I…have you been told why I am here?"

"Yes, your father told me. Do not worry over much, Loki is strong, in the end he will be fine. Come now; let us speak with your father."

Frigga placed a reassuring hand on Thor's arm and they continued towards Odin.

The All-Father stared down at Thor, Gungnir in one hand.

"You say that Amora and this mortal have possession of the Chituari scepter that Loki brought to Midgard? The humans did not protect it well enough; you should have returned it to Asgard with the Tesseract, not left it in their hands."

"Yes father, but I will fix this problem."

Thor dipped his head respectively, waiting for Odin to speak again.

"You are certain that Loki is not aiding Amora, as he has done in the past?"

The All-Father's words stung, but Thor repressed a defensive tone.

"He is not, I am sure of it. Loki is not conspiring against us, certainly not after Amora stabbed him and left him for dead."

"If you are certain. It is helpful to hear of these events and I will have Heimdall inform me of any more. You said you wished to return to Midgard, you may return now."

"Yes, All-Father, I shall."

With that, Thor stood turning away from his father and exiting the throne room. Frigga stopped him for a moment, giving him another quick hug.

"I suppose this is goodbye once again. Stay safe and keep your little brother safe as well. I wish I could help more, I would storm down there and pull him from Amora's clutches myself but…"

"But you have to keep everyone in order, after all, the palace would fall apart without its queen."

"Hush, now go on."

They exchanged one last smile before Thor began to make his way through the corridors. He stopped by one of the many healing chambers on his way out.

A young healer greeted him respectfully.

"Prince Thor, what service of ours brings you here today?"

Thor smiled back at the healer, motioning towards the shelves of herbs and assorted jars.

"A human friend of mine was injured and I have come to look for something useful in healing him."

The healer nodded, turning back to the shelves of ingredients. She picked a medium-sized vial from the assortment before looking to Thor.

"How severe are your friend's injuries? They will dictate what I must do, as Midgardians are less equipped to handle healing of this nature than us."

"He has many a broken bone and head trauma. Usually Loki would be able to remedy this but he is-"

Thor stopped, remembering how notoriously gossipy many of the healers could be. He didn't want the whole of Asgard knowing something had gone amiss.

"-He is weakened from the same skirmish that injured my friend and convinced me to ask for your help instead."

The healer arched an eyebrow but said nothing, beginning to gather things from the shelves. Thor watched as she worked, muttering, what he assumed to be, spells over the vial as she added ingredients. Once finished, she brought the vial, now filled with a golden liquid that seemed to glow faintly, up for Thor to see.

"There, this should be perfect. Make him drink it; he should be better within an hour or so of ingestion."

"Thank you, it is much appreciated."

Thor inclined his head, taking the vial gingerly, before exiting the chambers.

By the time he reached the observatory again, night had begun to fall in Asgard. Thor nodded to Heimdall, who turned his gaze to the stars once more. After a few moments, he spoke.

"He is in the far north of Midgard. The incomplete spell he used does block me from pinpointing his exact location, but I can sense the coldness about the air. The name of the place that I heard from his thoughts…somewhere in, what Midgardians now call, Iceland. Somewhere in or outside of a city in the far north of Iceland. I wish that I could be of more help, but the spell blocks much of his presence."

"No, Gatekeeper, thank you that is wonderfully helpful. I can now return to Midgard with something to go on in search of Loki."

As Heimdall summoned the Bifrost, Thor tightened his grip on the golden filled vial. The noise and light of the Bifrost built until it engulfed all else, pulling Thor away.

00000

Everyone looked up as Thor entered the room. He held a vial of golden liquid for them to see.

"This is for Tony. He must drink it, then he should begin to heal."

A S.H.I.E.L.D. doctor took the vial from Thor, leaving to enter Tony's room. The team crowded around the window. They watched as the liquid was extracted from the glass vial and poured down Tony's throat. It was only a few moments after that when Tony's vitals spiked into overdrive. Thor turned to the others.

"It is working. He should be back to good health in about an hour. But I must tell you all of my findings."

After Thor told them what Heimdall had seen, they spent the next hour speaking on and off with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Fury, and each other. What interrupted them was a noise from Tony's room. Tony had attempted to sit up, but a doctor was trying to make him lie down. Through the glass, they could hear him complaining.

"I don't want to lie down! I feel-ah!"

As Tony clutched at his ribs, everyone let out sighs of relief, Pepper foremost among them.

It was another fifteen or so minutes before Tony was able to join the group. He entered the room, immediately tackled by Pepper. They shared a quick hug before he looked to the rest of the group eyes settling on Bruce's guilty face.

"Bruce, don't look at me like that, you make me feel bad. It wasn't your fault and I'm not holding anything against you. Don't feel guilty about it. But I want to know what happened after I got knocked out."

It took less time for them to explain the situation to Tony. But when they finished he let out a low whistle.

"Well, everything went to shit, again. But, it couldn't be too hard to sweep Iceland; it's not all that big"

"Yes, but it might take a few days, at least. Still, we know where to look, that's more than we had before."

Natasha spoke up from her side conversation with a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Tony nodded in her direction.

"Then let's get searching. The sooner we find Loki and the scepter the better. Loki can hold up against pretty much everything, but still…we've already seen what Allan can do once. I don't want to know what he might do this time."


AN: Hey it didn't take so long to get this chapter out, yay. Although I may have fried my brain for a day or so because I know what I want to do for the next chapter but I can't make myself write. Oh well. Thanks for your reviews and comments, they're extremely helpful and make me want to write more. What did you think of this chapter, if you want to, leave what you thought. Not sure when the next will be out, a week or so hopefully.