Because you've waited SO LONG for this, I'll put my author's note at the end (also, I don't own anything.) (Though please excuse the beginning, it doesn't sit right with me, but all other attempts at re-writing it failed horribly.)


Thor never liked visiting Asgard's most senior sorcerer, a haggard old woman simply called Elise. It is true that her name had changed over the centuries she had been alive, but it had not changed in a few hundred years. Elise was a bitter woman, but she held much loyalty to the throne, there were even rumours that she was in love with the Allfather, and was one of Odin's wisest advisors, especially in times of war, for she was a skilled tactician. Thor disliked her mainly due to her indifferent attitude toward Midgardians. He had more than once heard her trying to convince Odin not to assist Earth's inhabitants when they sorely needed it.

He knew she would inwardly resent helping Anthony, no matter how outstanding he was compared to most mortals. However, he was certain she would help due to her strong sense of duty toward Asgardian royalty.

He entered her chambers with a soft call of, "Witch?... Elise?"

There was a rustling in a corner of the cluttered workshop and the hag appeared with a smirk on her grizzled old face. She bowed.

"Can I be of service, my lord?"

Thor didn't like the way she addressed him. Respectful, but there was something else underneath it. He wondered how his father put up with this woman.

"Sorcerer, I come to you in hopes that you will be willing to help me find information on a rare type of magic that is affecting a friend of mine," he said, but his tone made it clear that she was expected co-operate. "Dream magic, to be more specific."

The smirk disappeared and was replaced with an unnervingly unreadable expression. "I see."

Thor took a deep breath. "I need information on bonds made between those who share dreams, and I need it fast."

"Not even a please for your faithful old witch?"

The thunder god sighed. "My apologies. I mean no disrespect, but this is a matter of extreme importance. I am only going to be on Asgard for a very limited amount of time."

Elise's face twisted into a grimace. "Of course. You are the human protector, are you not? Foolish, if you ask my, my lord. Humans do not deserve nor appreciate your help."

Thor bristled. "Either way, I shall do my duty to protect them."

"And this information... The dream magic... Is it for a human? And I'm guessing your brother, as he is one of the only ones on Midgard who is powerful enough to make a dream bond."

The woman walked around her workshop as they spoke, flipping through large tomes and dusty scrolls that sat in large piles around the place. They were silent for a moment as she continued her search, and Thor examined a collection of glowing stone pendants and stones on the wall next to him.

The hag suddenly let out a soft exclaim and bustled up to him. "I think I have found what you are looking for, my lord. This book contains, and it is a quite reliable source, information on all different types of magical bonds. Dream bonds are extremely rare, as dream magic is, but when they do happen, they are a type of soul-bond..." The witch looked up with a glint in her eye. "Troubling indeed. Our dear estranged prince and his mortal toy, bonded for life. They say that it is impossible to break a soul-bond, my lord."

"Speak with respect for Loki and his... friend."

The hag laughed. "Ah, I am sorry, my lord. Of course. Now know, soul-bonds are very powerful, though of course your brother knows this. Over time they will feel each other's emotions, sense each other's presence, though this will probably have happened already, if they suspect this. Of course, if they stop using the dream connection, the symptoms will fade, but not completely. And of course, remember; characteristics and abilities may be shared or transferred, and if one dies, the other will, too."


When Loki arrived after his daily round of do-gooding (which Tony teased him mercilessly about) that afternoon, he found Tony in his lab, working on his suit, and in a state of complete concentration- how, Loki did not know, as he was blasting that horrible Midgardian rock music so loudly that he shouldn't have even been able to hear himself think. Thankfully, Jarvis turned the music off and informed Tony of his guest, and soon Loki was in his arms, being kissed passionately.

"Well," he breathed when they pulled apart. "What was that about?"

Tony grinned sheepishly. "I want to ask you something. About yourself. It's important."

Loki quirked an eyebrow. "Go on."

The billionaire took a deep breath. "Don't freak out, but... What's a Frost Giant?"

Loki stepped back. "Oh."

"Please, please, please don't get offended! I just want to know. I mean, I always knew you were one, but I don't exactly know what that is, and I don't want to hear it from someone else or by accident 'cause I know it's a sore spot for you and I love you, so-"

He stopped speaking as Loki's skin turned a rich, dark blue, with darker lines in patterns all over him, and his eyes turned a bright, dangerous red. The room's temperature dropped significantly, and Loki let out a deep breath.

"Frost Giants," he said. "Are Asgard's sworn enemy. We are monsters, evil and cruel, who reside on Jotunheim. All Asgardians hate us, as we hate all Asgardians."

"We?"

"Well, yes," said Loki. "I am one, after all. Though I must admit they are usually larger, uglier. I was a runt- that's why I was left to die the night Odin found me."

Tony shook his head. "You're no monster. You weren't raised that way, so you aren't one of them."

Loki's skin faded into its normal form. He met his lover's eye. "Are you disgusted?"

Tony's expression turned into one of shock, and he shook his head.

"No, no, no!" he said hurriedly. "I think you're beautiful!"

"There's no need to lie, Anthony."

"I'm not! You honestly are!"

Loki stared at him for a moment, the nodded, his eyes softening.

"Thank you. You are the first person to look at my true form and not hate it. Thank you."


When Thor arrived back at the tower that evening, he was met by Steve, who tried (and failed) to get him to admit why he was on Asgard.

"Asgardian business!" the thunder god boomed, patting Steve on the back with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "None of your concern, Captain!"

He then made his way to Loki's rooms, where the trickster let him in and they spent hours holed up in there, talking about matters the group couldn't even begin to comprehend.

"There's probably just something happening on Asgard, guys," Natasha tried to convince Clint and Steve (and herself) as they prepared dinner. "It can't be a big deal, if Thor's not talking about it, so we should let it go."

"What if Loki's dying?" Clint asked a bit too hopefully, and Natasha skilfully threw a carrot at him as if it were a throwing knife.

"Tony would destroy you if he heard you saying that," she told the archer, who shrugged. Steve still looked uncomfortable.

"But what if we could help?" he asked. "Wouldn't Thor trust us?"

Clint rolled his eyes. "We don't even know what's going on, and not everything is a crisis that needs our help."

"Even still," muttered the Captain, looking down.

"I get it, though," Natasha said. "I mean, I don't approve of this secrecy. Secrets in a team group never end well, do they?"


I AM SO SORRY. Feel free to hate me for the wait; I have just been WAY too busy. Since I last updated I went on holidays for a bit in England (and I wish I was still there, because I HATE AUSTRALIAN WEATHER). It was my birthday last Saturday, so yay! I've also had ridiculous amount of school work and assignments, what with it being the last term and all (four more weeks... four more weeks and then I will be free!) This has all added into extreme writer's block and I've only just regained my ability to think!

Anyway, thank you so much for your feedback! And if you see any errors or continuity problems with this chapter, PLEASE let me know, because I haven't had time to thoroughly revisit this story (I'm planning on re-reading it again tonight).

Feedback is much appreciated.