Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

A/N: Whoo! The doc manager works again!


Mayhem steps away, dragging the invisible leash behind him. One moment he is standing beside the trickster and the next he is face to face with Gabriel's piece. Loki sets his jaw when the mortal does not flinch from the closeness. This Richard cannot see Mayhem just like the other humans of this world.

Loki leaves the room full of cheering mortals. He blocks out their laughter and closes his eyes when the flashing lights begin to spark from their hands. He cannot bear to see the cruel imitation of his friend move through the crowd.

'He's not Gabriel'

'He's not Gabriel.'

'He's not Gabriel.'

But he is Gabriel.

He is the last thread and the only key.

They are away now and Mayhem strays from the god near the building's entrance. The chaos of this planet is a temptation he can no longer resist. Before he throws himself into the oncoming traffic Loki dissolves the spell that ties them. The trickster watches Mayhem merge with a car to cause an accident before disappearing from Sight completely.

Loki is alone again and he doesn't know where to begin. He knows he cannot call the human by his true name and awaken the sleeping power yet. There are too many witnesses for a confrontation but time is wasting away. He needs a plan to pull the mortal away from everyone. He is deep in thought when a loud squeal near him captures his attention.

"Oh my God!"

He turns to face a group of young women. They huddle together whispering excitedly when they realize he's noticed them. A quirk of his eyebrow causes an uproar.

"It's him!"

"Oh man, I can't believe he's even wearing the armor!"

"Mr. Hiddleston! Mr. Hiddleston! I'm your number one fan!"

"Where's my camera?"

"Liar! I'm his number one fan!"

"I feel faint…"

"I'm not a liar!"

Loki wonders who this "Hiddleston" person might be as two of the young women wrestle one another. 'Disgraceful,' he thinks when they begin to claw and pull hair. As the two mortals are pried apart, Loki feels eyes on him. It makes his skin crawl as more people are drawn to the commotion and notice him. He flicks a spell to distract the crowd and bends the light around him until he is no longer visible.

~~0O0~~

In this world his magic is weak to rise and slow to replenish after constant use. Loki learns this when he enchants a room to be ignored by the mortals in the hotel. He keeps it empty save for him but as the day wears on it becomes tiring. He could dispel the charms keeping his true face hidden to relieve his exhausted body but he holds it firmly in place. He knows it would only cause panic among the humans if they see that monstrosity. However, his Æsir form already brought unwanted attention which has complicated matters with the local media. He groans when a splitting headache rakes through him as he pulls another mask over himself.

~~0O0~~

Loki makes his way through the many floors of the building using one of the elevators. He eyes the many buttons once he enters before pressing them all. It eases his nerves knowing that he may ruin someone's day by occupying the steel box for himself. When the doors open again he isn't surprised that this is where they meet alone.

Loki feels his mouth dry and heart clench when the shadow of his friend enters the elevator laughing into a hand held device. The god almost reaches out to feel the other but stops. He reminds himself, repeating the words over and over like a mantra 'He's not Gabriel. He's not Gabriel.'

Then there is silence when the human ends his conversation. Richard smiles warmly and eyes the trickster, "Hello."

"Greetings."

The shorter male squints lightly, "Have we met? You seem... familiar."

"No, I believe we have not," Loki lies easily to the shorter male.

The man grins and offers his hand "The names Richard."

"I'm Lo-," Loki stops for a second as he shakes the mortal's hand, "Loffe."

"Nice to meet you."

It shouldn't hurt to see the human smile but it does. It shouldn't anger Loki into wanting to rip out the concealed thread but it does. As the liesmith reaches for his magic the mortal speaks again.

"So, you here for business or pleasure?"

"Business."

"Hah, same here."

An awkward silence follows as they wait for the elevator to open. In the silence the god extends a few slivers of magic over the human and feels a web of something wrap itself tighter. Loki focuses on the pulse as he weaves through the layers of the enchantment. He can almost feel the burning Grace lying deep within the mortal soul. A loud ringing startles the trickster that the spells rises up easily to push him out and away.

"Ah, duty calls. It was nice meeting you maybe we'll run into each other again."

Richard answers his phone and steps out of the elevator when it opens. As the metal doors begin to close Loki brushes the tear in the spell and smiles when he sees the man shiver.

~~0O0~~

Somewhere in the far, far distance there is a low hum. It rumbles through the air and glides across the Earth.

Loki can hear it whisper around him, twisting and stretching. The sound dulls his senses but he does not know what it means.

Mayhem, however, recognizes the eerie moan as it gains volume. He can't help but enjoy the way this world feels as it begins to crumble.


TBC

Edited: 10-30-2013