Yes, I changed the summary. Why? I was bored.

Sunlight. God-awful, burning sunlight was streaming through my curtains and trying to pierce my eyelids. I groaned and moved around, gasping quietly when a burst of cold air hit my bare stomach. My eyes snapped open, looking around frantically. Alright, there was the familiar wallpaper, blankets, bed side table. I was obviously in my room...but why was I naked?

A wisp of air on my neck answered the question as an arm snaked over my waist, draping across my middle. I turned slowly, finding myself face to face with a wide-eyed Loki. He was bare-chested, and that's all I really needed to know. Neither of us spoke for a long time, just staring. I tried to remember what had happened last night, at the charity gala. I had walked off of the dance floor with my fiancée after the slow dance, and everything after that was a blur. I remembered falling. A lot. Then, bumping into my door while entangled with Loki-

Oh, Valhalla!

"Did we...?" I let the whispered question hang in the air.

"I...I think so," he replied softly, his eyes still wide with panic.

"Oh," I squeaked out. "Do you...remember anything?" He shook his head and I nodded a little. "We aren't even married yet."

"Yet," he whispered, and a child-like grin split his face in two. "I love that you said 'yet.'" I felt a giggle bubble up in my throat and spew out in a steady stream of laughter. He joined me and took my hands, pulling me closer. We touched foreheads after our laughter subsided.

"Your breath," I whispered, "smells worse than an ice beast." He smiled.

"You would know." I laughed again and he chuckled.

"I have a brilliant idea."

"Oh?" he murmured, leaning forward to nuzzle his nose against my neck. "Please, do tell."

"Let's not get out of bed today. Or ever. Let's just stay here until our slowly aging lives reach an end." His chuckles vibrated across my collarbone yet again, making me shiver. "Oh, how I wish such a feat were possible." He hummed his agreement.

"But, Darcy and Jane might become terribly worried."

"I don't care," I whispered, tilting my head so that my cheek rested on his hair. "Not when you're around." He laughed this time and pulled back to look at me.

"I'm a very bad influence then."

"You are," I replied, absentmindedly tracing my finger along the lean muscle of his upper arm. "Absolutely dreadful." I took hold of the top blanket, climbing out of bed and wrapping it around myself. I then walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. After a quick shower, I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top, pulling my hair into a ponytail. I walked out of the bathroom to find Loki sitting on the bed, already dressed and looking clean. "Bloody sorcerers," I muttered and heard him laugh behind me. I walked into the kitchen and pulled some bread from the cupboard, pulling out the toaster as well. Loki grabbed an apple from the nearby fruit basket, hopping up onto a counter and eating it as he watched me.

"Jesus Christ!" a voice exclaimed and we looked up to see Tony shuffle in. "Who's making all that...the hell?" I exchanged a panicked glance with Loki. "What am I doing in your apartment?"

"I'm curious to know that as well," I replied, Loki nodding slowly. I watched him sit at the kitchen table, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. I smiled and rolled my eyes. "Tony, go sit in the living room and watch some TV. Cartoons, preferably. I'll make you some toast."

Tony mumbled something incoherently, but it sounded along the lines of, "Mkay." We watched him stand and shuffle into the living room, and soon the sound of the TV drifted into the kitchen. I saw Loki giving me a look and chuckled.

"I'm just grateful he's clothed."

"How do you put up with that...that...thing?" I giggled and walked over to him, entwining our fingers.

"By reminding myself that I once shattered his arm with my fist, so I sort of have to be nice to him." Loki's eyebrow arched. "I'll have to tell you that story someday."

"Indeed." I glanced behind Loki at Tony, making sure he wasn't watching, before I grabbed a fistful of Loki's shirt and yanked him down so that I could kiss him for a very brief moment. "Honestly, Issy," he whined, "your continuous teasing will be the death of me one day." I laughed, brushing a dark curl from his eyes.

"Hey guys." We separated, looking at a grinning Tony. "Merry Christmas." My face lit up at the realization, and I gasped happily.

"Oh my goodness, that's right! I'd nearly forgotten!" I laughed.

"Darcy just texted me." Tony rubbed his eyes groggily. "There's going to be a celebration at the encampment in a few hours, so I should go and get changed."

"Of course, I was about to kick you out anyway." Tony gave me a dirty look.

"Oh haha, Lea. You're such a comedian."

"Get going, you don't want to be late."

"It's always good to be fashionably late, my dear." I rolled my eyes, all but shoving him out of the door and slamming it in his face. Scrunching my nose, I turned to find Loki flipping through channels. He stopped on one, and the remote slipped from his grasp. I ran to his side, looking at the news story that had him so shocked. My jaw went slack.

Thor was flying around my TV screen, swinging his hammer at the hydra currently attacking Boston.

"He's here," I whispered, feeling my face light up in glee. "Loki, Thor is in Midgard! We must go to Boston immediately, let him know that you're alive-"

"I can't." I stopped pulling at his arm, turning to look at him. "I can't see Thor."

"What? Why not?" He ignored me, instead sliding his arm so that he was holding my hand.

"Issy," he said, looking me dead in the eye, "do you remember when I asked you to marry me?" I could feel the cool metal of the ring against my skin, and nodded. "Do you remember how I said that you would be queen?" Another nod, and he took a deep breath. "You still can be." My eyebrows furrowed.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, in a couple days, I'm going to be the ruler of Midgard." I pulled my hand from his, staring at him incredulously.

"...what?" The question was asked quietly, but I knew he heard me.

"This realm...it was made to be ruled. And I intend to take the role that I'm meant for." I could feel my stubborn personality drawing near to the surface, and crossed my arms over my chest. Is he mad? Has he caught some sort of Midgardian disease?

"Oh? And how do you plan on accomplishing this task?"

"By making them fear me." I took a step back, shocked.

"You can't be serious. Are you...going to hurt them?"

"What other way is there?" I felt like crying. Who was this man? Had he and Loki switched places while I was distracted?

"Loki, don't be ridiculous. You don't even have enough magic-"

"On the contrary," he replied, holding up a finger, "my magic replenished itself after our...er...activity."

"So you were using me?" He quirked a brow.

"Would I be asking you to join if I was?" He held out a hand and I stared at it.

"Are you mad? No! I'm not joining you! Think about what you're doing, Loki! There are innocent people out there! Where are your morals?" He stood straighter, pulling on his coat. He wasn't listening to me, that much I could tell.

"Well, if you aren't with me," my eyes widened, "then you are against me." I felt my heart shatter as he turned and started to the door. No, I thought, this has to be some sort of joke. I had to stop him somehow, and a topic suddenly popped into my mind. I stood straighter and clenched my fists.

"Thor won't let you."

That did it. He stopped, his grip visibly tightening on the doorknob. The side of his face became visible as he looked over his shoulder. I didn't bring my eyes from him, didn't show any sign of weakness. If I did...who knows?

"Precisely," he murmured, and it wasn't until after he had gone, after the door had shut with a quiet click, that I realized what he meant. I brought a hand to my mouth, using the counter to keep myself upright. Why was this happening? He hadn't seemed any different three days ago, and now he was after world domination.

I didn't bother to hold back the tears as I dropped to the floor, using my mouth to quiet my sobs. Has this been the true Loki all along? Had he been so...so...evil since we met? Had he ever truly loved me?

I dismissed the last question. He must have, otherwise he wouldn't have asked me to join him. I glanced down at my ring and closed my other fingers around it. It was only after a minute or so of trying to pull it off did I realize that it was a lost cause. All Ӕsir marriages were permanent. Engagements included. This ring wasn't coming off.

I cried out in both frustration and pain, placing my hands over my face. The darkness that came with it was comforting. It wasn't trying to blind me like the light had.

Knock, knock. I looked at the door, quickly pulling myself together as I stood. Moving to the door, I opened to find Tony had returned, still dressed in the same clothes he had departed in.

"I thought you needed to get prepared for the Christmas celebration."

"No time," he replied. "Get packing."

"What? Why?"

"Because we're going to Boston."

xxxxOxxxx

"What is this 'Avengers Initiative'?" I inquired, looking down at the file in front of me. Darcy and Jane had not accompanied us on the jet. Jane only stayed behind after making Fury promise that he would bring Thor back to New Mexico.

"Well," Director Fury replied, "Clint has been watching you since we arrived at the encampment, and I told him to write a report for you. Please, read it." I glanced at Clint, who winked at me, before opening the cover and reading over his messy handwriting. "Out loud, if you please. Just the first few lines." I bit my lip and cleared my throat.

"'After watching Issalea Gold over the course of three weeks and after witnessing her Asgardian strength used on Tony Stark,'" Tony flinched, "'I have concluded that, with the proper training, Issalea would be fit for fighting in The Avengers. She shows a strong sense of loyalty and ingenuity, along with a quick wit that might be useful in certain situations.'" I looked up at Fury, my brows furrowing. "I still do not quite understand."

"The Avengers, or, 'Fury's Super Secret Boy Band,' as I like to call it," Tony cut in before Fury could respond, "is basically a group of superheroes. He's going to recruit Thor once we arrive in Boston." My eyebrow arched and I laughed a little.

"I don't find what is so amusing about this, Miss Gold." I smiled a little, shaking my head.

"My apologies. It's just that, I'm no superhero, Director Fury. I'm not even sure I can be classified as a hero. I've no power whatsoever, since I do not have a title."

"Title?" I nodded.

"Like how Thor is the God of Thunder. Queen Frigga called me a late bloomer. My goddess power has yet to appear. Aren't superheroes supposed to have powers?" Fury chuckled and Tony smiled.

"You watch too many cartoons, Lea."

"Issalea, you do not need a power to be a superhero. Look at Tony. He's got nothing but his Iron Man suit and his smarts. Even so, your strength is your power." I scrunched my nose. "With the proper training, you would be able to fight properly. All that's left is for you to decide. Would you like to be a superhero?" I bit down on my lip again. If I joined this "Avengers" group, then I would be a hero. And Loki is a villain. I might have to fight my fiancée.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt," I replied, quietly shutting the folder. But, maybe Loki and I didn't have to battle. Maybe I could try and talk some sense into him.

"Awesome!" Tony said as Fury pulled out a phone. "But I'm not teaching you to fight." Clint rolled his eyes.

"I can teach you how to shoot a bow. Maybe a little sword fighting." I nodded with a sheepish smile.

"Just no punching." Clint laughed and nodded in agreement.

"No punching."

Alright, the ball's finally rolling. Now the story is really getting started.

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