I am not dead.

There is absolutely, positively, utterly, totally, completely, and entirely NO excuse for what I have done to my readers. I feel awful, even though that doesn't cut it. You have my deepest, sincerest and most heartfelt apologies.

I could bore you with the details of why it took me so freaking long to finally get this chapter out—such as health problems and traveling cross-country and dropping out of school and whatnot—but everybody would probably rather hear the story, yes? It's short, but it's a the first thump of a heartbeat after way too long underground.

So, without further ado. SHADES OF RED, back with a bang!


"I hate everything about you

Why do I love you?"

Three Days Grace


Thor Odinson stood caked with snow and soot, with Jane Foster—by all appearances dead—in his arms.

"Heimdall," he gasped. "Told me I would find you here."

The huge Asgardian stumbled to one knee, the limp woman's head bouncing against his chest. His great Norse hammer dropped to the snow with a thud.

Natasha stared at them, too stunned to move, for a full three seconds before she recovered. Nevermind useless questions—how did you get here? Does Fury know where I am? Is S.H.I.E.L.D. coming? —her training had prepared her better than that.

"Is she dead?" was the first thing out of her mouth.

Thor shook his head, face contorted.

"Her heart beats," he answered raggedly. "But she is cold as ice."

Natasha stood out of the way of the door, glancing back into the darkness of the cabin to lock eyes with Loki. He stood still as a statue in the shadows, face inscrutable.

"Put the hot water on," she ordered. "Stock the heater in the bedroom, and leave the fire gate open."

Loki stared at her.

"Now."

She didn't know what made him obey, but she didn't question it when he turned round to do as she'd commanded. Natasha turned back to Thor.

"Come inside and get her under wraps. Quickly."

With some effort, Thor heaved himself up off the ground and stumbled through the front door. Natasha made way for him to the back bedroom, shoving the covers aside while Thor laid Jane with uncharacteristic gentleness onto the bed. Natasha moved in front of him then, pulling the covers up to the woman's chin and tucking them around her. Her fingers brushed Jane's collarbone, and a shock ran through her. Her skin felt like frosted metal outside on a winter night.

"Master…" Jane murmured.

Natasha looked up at Thor. He shook his head, hands moving to cover Jane's shoulder's through the thick wool blanket.

"She's been muttering since she collapsed," he explained. "I can't make sense of a word. But she won't stop."

Natasha looked back at the pale figure beneath the covers. The young woman's lips continued to move, shaping soundless words, while her head rolled back and forth on the pillow.

"Stay with her," she said, stepping back.

Thor reached out and caught her wrist. His eyes had fastened on the pendant at her throat.

"My brother," he whispered. "You're the key to our return. Only his magic can save her."

Natasha pulled her arm from his grip—no easy feat.

"Return?" she echoed. "I'm nobody's key."

She turned on her heel and left him hunched over the bed.

Loki stood in the kitchen, arms folded while he stared down at a steaming pot of water. It hadn't yet begun to boil, but the scowl on his face dared it to take any longer.

"Thank you," Natasha said, not needing to elaborate.

"For what?" His voice was dark, soft. "The woman's going to die, despite our meager aid."

"You know what's wrong with her, then?"

Loki said nothing, just continued staring at the steaming pot. Natasha watched until a few bubbles began to break the surface tension.

"That's good enough."

She moved past Loki to the cupboard in front of him, pulled out a thick ceramic water jug, and unscrewed the cap.

"Pour it inside," she instructed. "Don't burn me."

Loki looked at her through narrowed eyes, and she gazed right back. Daring him to object, she held out the jug. For the second time that evening, he surprised her. The steady stream of hot water trickled through the bottle neck, not a drop spilling onto her hand. She waited until the sound of rippling water faded to a higher pitch, and then nodded to him to set the pot down. She capped the jug, and then turned toward the bedroom.

An iron grip on her arm stopped her.

"She will die, Romanoff. Don't waste your energy."

She turned to meet the startling intensity of Loki's blue eyes. Romanoff, he'd said. Her stomach twisted.

"Why do you care?"

He let go of her like she'd shocked him. Natasha turned back toward the bedroom.

When she entered, she saw Thor on his knees beside Jane, one arm draped protectively across her bundled form, his free hand stroking back the hair from her face. The fierce devotedness in his eyes caused a strange tightness in the back of her throat. Natasha swallowed it away and moved forward.

"Here. Put this next to her, close to her body as you can."

Thor took the jug from her with a grateful nod. Stroking Jane's forehead one more time, he removed his hands to slip the heat beneath the covers. Natasha perched herself on the edge of the bed.

"What happened?" she asked.

"There is something inside her. Something dark."

His deep voice cracked. Natasha lifted a brow. She'd fought monsters alongside this man, seen him hold his own against a snarling fleet commanded by his own brother. Nothing had rattled him like this. She sat in silence, waiting for him to continue. Thor didn't look up from Jane's face.

"I found her in a warehouse, surrounded by Midgardian authorities and flashing lights. No one could touch her. Whenever they tried, this… this thing inside of her wreaked havoc. She destroyed the entire building, hurt her dear friend Darcy in the process. Not even Erik Selvig could get near."

"How are you able to touch her, then?"

A flicker of fear—mixed with disgust—passed over Thor's face.

"Whatever indwells her, it has sentience; the ability to scheme. It recognizes something it needs to fulfill its plan. It requires my assistance to get to its destination."

"Which is?"

"Asgard."

Natasha frowned. "If you're its only way to get to Asgard, you can stop it."

"That is the worst part of it. I can't."

Her frown deepened, but Thor only dropped his head into his heads with a dull moan.

"Our healers are the only hope she has of survival. Yet my father has closed the Bifrost to me. He recognizes the creature within her as a threat, and will not allow her passage through the realms. He believes if the parasite can be contained on Midgard, the danger will die with her."

"Sounds pretty cold."

Thor reached forward and placed his large hand over Jane's forehead. His blue eyes grew fierce.

"I will not let her fade away like this. I will destroy whatever it is that is sucking the life from her. She will not…"

His voice trailed away. Natasha watched him in silence for a while, and then at last spoke the question truly on her mind.

"Why did you come here?"

Thor's haunted blue eyes turned to her. She tried not to flinch back from the naked vulnerability behind them, so out of place on such a fearsome warrior.

"My brother's magic is the only way we can return to Asgard. If my father will not help us, perhaps my mother will."

"Your father stripped Loki of his magic," Natasha snapped. "He can't use it, even if he wanted to help you."

"He can use it when he's with you."

Natasha stared at him. She didn't miss the way his eyes slid down to the medallion at her throat. Closing her fist on it, she lurched to her feet.

"What do you know of this?" she demanded.

"I know not of where you fit in my father's plans for my brother. But I know this: you'll want to see my mother as badly as I do. Only she can reverse the spell you've gotten yourself entangled in."

Natasha's fingers clenched around the pendant. It felt warm against her palm, almost burning. Frigga knew the most ancient of magic, Loki had said. If anyone could undo the curse she'd fallen into, it was the Asgardian queen.

"Even if he could do it," she said. "What makes you think he'll agree? He hates you."

Thor did not flinch at the statement. He merely pulled himself to his feet, with one last look at Jane, and headed for the door.

But not before snagging her elbow and pulling her in tow.

"Because I'll have you along to do the convincing."