Author's Note: Thank you sooo much for all of the reviews, they're so encouraging, guys. I love them. This chapter's pretty long, and after the next one there'll be some time jumps. Thank you for sticking with the story and all of your reviews again! I look forward to reading more!

"Are you alright?" a concerned Steve asked when Beth appeared at her office door, barely an hour after her and Loki's little game. When she had finally entered her apartment and looked into the mirror, Beth saw how tired she really was. Her eyes were shadowed with dark spots, and her hair was sticking out in all directions.

Great. I just had a full on mental shakedown, of course he's here. Why can't he just see me when I'm normal?

"Oh, yeah, I just had… long night."

"Well you can tell me all about it when- wait, I forgot to ask you first, oh, stupid, sorry…"

"Steve, I'm way too tired to deal-"

"-Would you like to go out with me tonight?"

Beth was completely caught off guard. She stared at him, wondering if it was a joke. It had to be a joke. Yet one look at his hopeful and slightly nervous blue eyes convinced her otherwise.

"I'd really like that."

His face lit up. "No fooling? Okay, swell, I'll pick you up at eight. See you then!"

Wow. I have a date with Captain America. There are thousands of kids in this world who have trading cards and action figures of him. And I'm dating him.

When the door shut to her office, Beth let out a small squeal and jumped into her chair. Beth hadn't had a date since she was nineteen years old… she still remembered everything that night…

Beth was walking down the street with a boy named Will; it was nighttime after classes, and Will had asked her to dinner. After a nice meal at a long-forgotten Italian bistro, they were comfortably making their way back to the campus.

"What was that?" They stopped short and Beth listened again.

Is there someone in that alley?

She was sure she heard some scuffle going on.

"It's probably just people walking home or something, relax, babe." Will smiled his crooked smile at Beth, grabbing her hand reassuringly. She sighed and they kept going.

They were a few steps past the alley when someone grabbed Beth by the neck.

"Hand over everything you got and nobody gets hurt, kids." He smelled like onions and tobacco.

Beth looked out of the corner of her eye and saw another man hold Will by the mouth. She felt as though her heart was going to burst out of her chest. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate; the man holding her let go with a shriek. His hand was quickly shriveling before his eyes like a juiced orange. Soon his shrieks were silenced when he fell to the ground, unconscious. The second man saw his fallen partner and quickly let go of Will; before he could act, he was bent backwards like a grotesque slinky, raised high off of his feet, and thrown back into the alley from where a soft 'thud' told Beth that he must have landed on trash bags or some other soft object. She turned around and smiled modestly at Will.

I hope he won't make a big deal, but I wonder if he'll thank me with a kiss?

He gaped at her, his eyes like a petrified deer in headlights.

Or maybe he won't.

"What the fuck are you!" he shouted. Beth's heart went from bursting to sinking. She looked down at her now yellow-tinged skin. She touched a strand of her hair to see what it looked like.

Shit.

"Listen, it really isn't what it looks like-" She reached out to him pleadingly.

"Don't touch me, you freak!" and with those parting words, he ran. Beth sank to the ground, unable to see with the tears clouding her eyes. Within a few minutes, she was able to calm herself down enough to return to normal and make her way home. The next day, she read about two men found dead in the street a few blocks from her dorm. Her friends had stopped talking to her. Will never called her again.

She had been terrified to get close to anyone since then. Until now. Beth's thoughts turned to Loki. She didn't like him. She didn't trust him. But she did find some comfort in the fact that he must know how she feels. According to his files, Loki had previously tried to rule his home of Asgard by allowing another alien species called Frost Giants into the kingdom. The files also read that he himself was a Frost Giant. She wasn't sure why he didn't look big or blue, or why he lived in Asgard, but he must have felt something. She wondered if that was the reason he was here in the first place. Maybe he just needs someone to understand.

And I also have Steve.

Beth had forgotten. But could she trust him? She knew he was different as well, he was out of his time, literally. Somehow, she thought that the 40s mindset wouldn't help him understand.

But he's so sweet and handsome and caring.

When she was with him, Beth loved every moment of it. But her thoughts were wandering to Loki far too often for her comfort. She didn't like him in that way, not at all. But he confounded her.

Looking into the camera and seeing Loki staring back reminded her of her work. She would need to check up on him soon.

…..

Something seems to be the matter. What's wrong, sunshine, sick of your dim-witted boyfriend?

Loki had been paying attention to the camera. She seemed to be reminiscing about something, something troublesome. Her face was distressed and regretful. To Loki's surprise, his usual amusement had a touch of concern. He didn't care about her of course, she was just necessary. It was clear that he was going to be here for quite a while, his stay needed to be bearable. Loki was more curious now than ever as to Beth's life. How did she make him fall asleep last night? What did she DO to him? He had the strongest urge to get her to trust him somehow; it was clear that she didn't trust anybody. Some trauma, perhaps.

I just thought of Beth Yrian as just Beth. What is this girl doing to me? The game was a bad idea.

"Brother, I have missed you!"

Damn it all, please don't be-

"Hello, Thor." Loki said coolly, seeing his adoptive brother in his room, smiling ear to ear.

Well, at least one of us is happy to see his brother. Idiot.

Thor went up to his brother and hugged him tightly; Loki weakly patted him on the back.

"I trust you have been treated fairly?"

"Fairly enough, I suppose. Do you bring news? Will father allow me back?" Loki dared not hope, but he really was sick of these mortals and their stupid ways.

Thor stared sheepishly at him. "Well… erm… no, that is, I have tried to sway him, really brother, I have tried, but you know father. Soon though, I am sure of it."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I have missed you and wanted to see how you were doing!"

"Is Jane too busy?"

"She's at work, but that is beside the point. I will be visiting her shortly. How is that woman treating you? I had suggested her specifically, there is something about her-"

"-You chose her?" Loki wasn't sure whether to thank his brother or punch him. He decided not to do anything.

"Yes! I sensed something within her-"

"I sense it, too. Who was that king? Yrianar? Where were his people from?"

"Who?"

"The funny looking yellow man who came to visit father when we were young." Thor did not notice Loki roll his eyes at his sudden look of recognition.

"Oh, yes! I'm afraid I don't remember… I can ask father and let you know."

"No, it's fine. I prefer to find out myself."

"Find what out? That girl looks nothing like them!"

"Of course not, you dolt."

"What?"

"Nothing, brother."

"Well then. You let me know if there is anything I can do. I must go see- Hello, Agent Chednik!"

Loki turned to the direction his brother was waving to see her walking towards his room; he could also see that she was completely taken aback to see Thor.

"Oh, um, hello, I wasn't expecting, I was just checking-"

"-Checking on me. Thank you, sunshine." Loki put in.

"It's my job, prisoner." She put in, irritated. She clearly wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"My brother tells me everything has been going well! Also, I have heard good things from the others. Thank you for your excellent service, Agent."

The girl turned red at this. Modesty was apparently not one of her smallest traits.

"Please, call me Beth. Natasha and everyone else do, too."

"What a lovely name. I have also heard you and Steven-"

"-how the hell does everything get around so fast!"

"You came here to check on me, Beth Yrian." Loki did not like being ignored.

Why is she acting so cordial with Thor? She was rough with me right from the start- oh, right, prisoner.

"Right, right, sorry, uh, sir-"

"-Thor"

"Thor. I really do have to get back to work; I promise that I'm doing my best."

"Thank you very much. I will be upstairs; I would just like a small word with you when you get the chance."

"Of course. See you!"

As Thor walked away, she got down to her usual business of checking the walls.

"I see you and my brother are hitting it off." Loki remarked, somewhat jealously.

"Well he knows how to be nice to people."

"A quality both of us need to work on, I'd say." He saw her give a small smile. "So what were you thinking about in your office? You looked dreadfully troubled, did I frighten you, child?"

Her head shot up, surprised. "How did you- can you see me?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets."

"Well then nor do I."

He gave a small 'hmph' and sat down. Suddenly, Loki remembered his breakfast as well as the fresh-tasting meat he had on not-stale bread for lunch.

"I know that you're the reason that my food hasn't been completely foul. Thank you for treating me with at least some humane decency."

A smile broke over her features. "You're welcome." She said, pleasantly surprised.

It's not hard to please her, is it?

After fifteen minutes, Loki heard a quiet 'hey'. He looked up from his television to see her, somewhat pressed up against the glass. She was wearing the same troubled look that she had in her office. He walked up close to the glass, looking down into her worried blue eyes. When she wasn't being defiant, she looked rather small.

"Yes, Beth?"

"How did people react when they found out you were a Frost Giant? Do you feel… different?"

Loki stepped back, shocked by her question. Shocked by her nervousness. Shocked by her confidence in him.

"Why are you asking this? Are you different, Beth Yrian? Are people afraid of you? Fascinated?"

She took a step back this time, some measure of defiance returning. "I can't. I can't."

"Well then, my dear, I cannot trust you unless you trust me." He opened his hands to show there was nothing he could do.

She wants all of her problems solved but won't let anyone in. Well, I WAS prying quite hard into her life. Why should I tell her anything? It's hard for me, too.

She sighed, defeated, stubborn, and frustrated. "Fine. You're right. But I have to go. I'll be back later."

"Do let me know how the date goes, Bethy."

"Hey- no- it's none of your- don't call me that!"

Loki smiled his smug smile, sitting on his couch. It was nice to be the God of Mischief. Deep emotions were too tiring.