Hey guys. So this chapter took a bit longer than expected to write, but now that I have a solid direction for where I want the story to go, it will hopefully go quicker. Take notes, Kids: Outlines are important. Enjoy!

Asgard. Home. Hel. Loki supposed that they were essentially the same thing at this point. Regardless, he couldn't think of a single place where he wouldn't rather be than here.

"No way." Darcy breathed, taking in the sights of the landscape before her, "How do you suppose that happened?"

Of course, Loki knew exactly what had happened. He used to use portals such as this one to travel from realm to realm unnoticed. He thought he knew where they all were, but he must have missed this one.

"No clue." He said instead. She didn't need to know the details.

"This is like an episode of Doctor Who or something!" Darcy's emerald eyes lit up, lost amid delusions of grandeur.

"Probably." Loki was only half paying attention. Every muscle in his body was tensed and ready to run and his heart was pumping pure adrenaline. If he was caught here…

"Are you listening to me? Because you seem a bit preoccupied." Darcy folded her arms over her chest. Her eyebrows knit together in concerned, but her words held a trace of ice.

"Everyone here thinks me dead." Loki could feel a pit open in his stomach. He had never said those words out loud, and they hurt just as much as he imagined they would.

"Oh, well that's great then! We can go in there and everyone will be happy again right?" Her eyes were so wide and innocent, Loki wanted so badly to believe her.

"It's a bit more complicated than that." He said through gritted teeth. He could feel Darcy's gaze lingering on him before she ultimately decided to leave it at that. Something soft and warm pressed against his hand. Darcy leaned against his shoulder, squeezing his hand in her own.

"I'm sorry," She whispered, "It's my fault we're here. If I hadn't pushed-"Loki made a gesture of silence.

"Did you hear that?" He said in a low voice. Surely they wouldn't be patrolling all the way up here…

"Hear what?" Darcy looked uneasy. Loki couldn't be sure, but he was almost certain that he had heard footsteps. Quick, think of a reason why we'd be up here.

"Darcy," He whispered, "You need to do exactly as I say, okay?" The brunette stared at him incredulously, a haughty reply clearly burned on her tongue. Loki reached up, caressing her cheek.

"Excuse m-"Darcy gave a small yelp of surprise as their lips crashed together. He allowed his hands to wander down her waist, where his fingers played with her belt loops. Slender fingers tugged at the hair at the base of his neck as his fingers traced patterns on the small of her back. She moaned softly into his mouth. Loki smirked internally; she did enjoy this.

"Well, what do we have here?" His suspicions had been correct, then. He had heard footsteps.

Loki leapt to his feet to face the sturdy man in the entryway of the cave. He felt his insides tense as he stood at attention, the way he had for his Father and high-ranking generals so many times before.

"Commander Gunnarr!" He could feel Darcy staring daggers at him from her position against the wall. He would most likely get an earful about how he had used her as cover later.

"It seems we've interrupted something." The Commander, a large man with wild, umber hair and ruddy cheeks, raised a bushy eyebrow at the two, his gaze lingering on Darcy, "Odin's beard, what you are wearing? Someone get this young lady a proper dress!"

Darcy's blush deepened as the three other soldiers on the patrol poked their heads around the corner to try to catch an eyeful. One sharp look from the Commander had all three scrambling to give Darcy their cloaks. She snatched one and wrapped it around herself, still radiating embarrassment.

"I don't believe we've met, boy." Gunnarr's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Where do you hail from?"

"Vanaheim, sir." Loki said without hesitation. He had, of course, had the forethought to alter his features so as to go unrecognized. It simply wouldn't do for the presumably deceased prince of Asgard to go gallivanting about the palace. His face was leaner and more weathered than it had been, and he now sported a short beard. His once-ebony hair was now strawberry blonde and cropped at the ears. The only feature he kept were his eyes, which blazed silvery blue. "My name is Erland."

"And the Lady?" One of the men, a low ranking lieutenant asked. He was a wisp of a man who would look menacing if not for his patchy beard.

"My apologies, the Lady Sigyn," Loki placed a protective hand on Darcy's shoulder, "Also of Vanaheim. We had assumed that there would not be patrols this far away from the city."

"Well that much is obvious." One of the soldiers snickered. Darcy blushed harder.

"Under normal circumstances, there wouldn't be," The Commander suddenly looked weary, and Loki caught the briefest glimpse of a man jaded to the horrors of war, "But you'll remember that we were invaded just weeks ago."

"By frost giants no less!" The Lieutenant – Halvar, if Loki remembered correctly- spat in disgust. Loki flinched. He did remember; he had been leading it.

"But no doubt that's why the two of you are here," Gunnarr said, the words seemed to bring him strength, "We need all the help we can get! In fact, we were just heading back to the city, we will escort you." It was less of a suggestion and more of an order. Loki bit back words of protest as the patrol made their exeunt from the cave.

"You coming, Erland?" Darcy's voice was chilly. Clearly she had not forgiven him for his earlier performance.

"Yes, of course," Loki shook his head, frustrated, and followed her, "Sigyn."

000

Somewhere far away

"So the would-be prince has returned to Asgard."

"Indeed, my lord. His unforeseen return could be disastrous for your plan. "

"No, but it will need to be altered. We can use this to our advantage."

"But my lord-"

"He is still volatile, which means he can be swayed to our will. Visit his dreams tonight, I will have the gems, yet."

"As soon as the sun sets, my lord."