I do not own Marvel, Thor or any of its characters. I only own my original character Arabella and anything else that seems out of place.
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The Bifrost strikes down on the desolate realm of Jotunheim. Loki, looking apprehensive, walks alone across the icy surface of the planet.
Darkness shrouds the ruined temple, save for the shafts of light which knife their way in through the damaged ceiling. Loki enters. Frost Giant guards surround him on all sides.
Laufey sits at his throne, "Kill him."
Loki is not afraid but seemingly pleased with himself, "After all I've done for you? I've come alone and unarmed."
"To what end?"
"To make you another proposition."
Laufey has a realization, "So you're the one who showed us the way into Asgard."
"You're welcome. That was just a bit of fun, really. To ruin my brother's big day. And to protect the realm from his idiotic rule for a while longer."
"My men are dead, and I have no Casket. You are a deceiver."
Laufey lashes out, grabs Loki around the throat, but Loki calmly stands his ground.
"You have no idea what I am."
The blueness spreads across his face, as Laufey and the guards stare in shock.
Loki grins, "Hello, Father."
Laufey releases him. Loki's body turns back to normal. Intrigued, Laufey sizes up his son.
"Ah, the bastard son. I thought Odin had killed you. That's what I would have done. He's as weak as you are."
"No longer weak. I now rule Asgard, until Odin awakens. Perhaps you should not have so carelessly abandoned me."
This gives Laufey pause. "Or perhaps it was the wisest choice I've ever made. I will hear you."
"I will conceal you and a handful of your soldiers, lead you into Odin's chambers, and you can slay him where he lies. I'll keep the throne, and you will have the Casket."
Laufey studies Loki's face. "Why not kill him yourself?"
Loki smirks giving a chuckle, "I suspect that the Asgardians would not take kindly to a King who had murdered his predecessor. Once Odin is dead, I will return the Casket to you and you can return Jotunheim to all its huh…" Loki looks around the dilapidated Palace. "Glory."
"Why would you do this?"
"When all is done, we will have a permanent peace between our two worlds. Then I, the bastard son, will have accomplished what Odin and Thor never could."
"This is a great day for Jotunheim. Asgard is finally ours."
"No. Asgard is mine. The rest of the Nine Realms will be yours, if you do as you're told."
Laufey considers the proposition. "I… Accept."
The God turns to leave, and as he goes, the slightest trace of a smile crosses his face.
Loki emerges out of the Bifrost, as Heimdall stands at the controls glaring at the King.
Loki notices. "What troubles you, Gatekeeper?"
"I turned my gaze upon you in Jotunheim, but could neither see nor hear you. You were shrouded from me, like the Frost Giants that entered this Realm."
"Perhaps your senses have weakened after your many years of service."
"Or perhaps someone has found a way to hide that which he does not wish me to see."
Loki sizes him up, smiles. "You have great power, Heimdall. Tell me, did Odin ever fear you?"
"No."
"And why is that?"
"Because he is my King, and I am sworn to obey him."
"Exactly. He was your King and you're sworn to obey me now. Yes?"
A beat. "Yes."
"Good. Then you will open the Bifrost to no one until I have repaired the damage that my brother has done."
Loki heads out of the Observatory. Heimdall stares after him.
The small trailer is in a state of perpetual disarray, strewn with various books, old pizza boxes, etc. A worried Jane lies on her bed, trying to read. She's startled by the loud rapping on the door. She bolts to the door and opens it to find – Thor. Standing there with the unconscious Selvig slung over his shoulder.
"Erik! Oh my God, is he all right?"
"He's fine. Not injured at all."
As Thor enters, he bangs Selvig's head on the doorway. Selvig groans and Thor laughs, "I'm sorry, my friend."
"What happened?"
"We drank. We fought. He made his ancestors proud."
"Put him on the bed."
Thor moves through the small trailer carrying Selvig, like a bear lugging another bear, smashing into things along the way, until he finally sets Selvig down on Jane's bed. Selvig awakens groggily and looks up at him through bleary eyes.
"I still don't believe you're the God of Thunder. But you ought to be."
Thor grins, as Selvig pats him on the cheek. As Selvig drifts off to sleep, Thor pulls a blanket over him. Jane watches, stunned by their friendship, impressed by Thor's tenderness. Thor turns back to her, looks around.
"Are these your chambers?"
Jane suddenly becomes self-conscious. She starts cleaning up the mess around her. "Well, it's more of a temporary living space, really. I don't usually have visitors in here. Actually, never..."
Thor picks up a sock off the floor. She snatches it from him, puts it away. "Can we go outside?"
"Yes, of course."
Thor steps off a ladder onto the roof of Smith Motors. He offers Jane his hand and helps her up. There's a telescope set up, a couple chairs, a fire pit and some blankets. Jane starts a fire to help keep them warm.
"I come up here sometimes when I can't sleep. Or when I'm trying to reconcile particle data. Or when Darcy's driving me crazy. I come up here a lot, actually, now that I think about it."
Thor looks at the night sky, filled with stars.
"I'm really glad you're safe."
"You've been very kind to me, and I've been far less grateful than you deserve."
"I also hit you with my car a couple times, so I think that kind of evens things out."
"Perhaps I had it coming." He grins, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out her notebook.
"Oh, my God! I don't believe it!" She takes it from him, surprised and grateful.
"It was all I could get back. I'm sorry it's not as much as I promised."
"No, no, this is great! Thank you. This means I don't have to start from scratch now." She sits down and opens the notebook eagerly, then stops, a harsh realization clouding her face.
Thor notices. "What's wrong?"
"SHIELD. Whatever they are, they're gonna do everything in their power to make sure this research never sees the light of day."
"No, Jane. Listen to me. You must not give up. You must do this. You must finish what you've started."
"Why?"
"Because you're right. It's taken so many generations for your people to get to this point. You're nearly there. You just need someone to show you how close you really are."
Thor moves beside her, opens her notebook, turns to the page which bears a sketch of the Bifrost. He takes the pen from the notebook, begins to add to the sketch, leading from one point to another in space.
"Look – your ancestors called it magic. You call it science. I come from a place where they're one and the same thing."
Jane looks on, amazed and intrigued. "What is that?"
"This is how my father explained it to me... Your world is one of the Nine Realms of the Cosmos, linked to each other by the branches of Yggdrasil, the Worlds Tree. Now, you see it every day, without realizing. Images glimpsed through – what did you call it?... (checks her notebook) ...this Hooble Telescope."
"Hubble." Jane says with a laugh.
"Hubble Telescope."
They both share a laugh, before Jane smiles, "Tell me more."
"So, the Nine Realms... Now, there is Midgard, which is Earth. This is Alfheim. Vanaheim. Jotunheim. And Asgard. And that's where I come from."
They look at each other. She nods. They smile. This is going to be a long night.
Jane sleeps beside Thor on the blankets on the rooftop. He stares up at the night sky. She rolls close to him, nuzzles against him in her sleep. He looks down at her, beautiful in the moonlight, and looks out at the town beyond him.
"Thank you Jane."
