Brothers of Fortune

by caughtinthecrosshairs

Jane's fortune is told that she will have the love of two brothers. When an unknown enemy leaves Jane with an uncertain future, Thor strikes a deal with his wayward brother Loki in an attempt to save her life. Plans go awry when Loki gives Jane a gift with unintended consequences. As Jane struggles to survive, she clings to the two brothers she begins to fear she can't live without

21. Full Measures

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has favorited, followed, and reviewed this story! You guys are seriously amazing! A special thank you to SoccerChick2011, Chiafun, markyc58, Roberta Lozano, luminastra, Jennifer hockenberry, dreambear43, emilia . lozano . el, tkhiroshi, KTSpree13, JB, msalina007, TonaLog1978, Junia Grey, and Jurojin for your wonderful reviews! They bring me so much happiness, and inspire me to write faster!

I apologize for the delay in posting this, but its hella long, and parts of it just didn't feel right on my first draft. Thanks to KTSpree13 for being an awesome friend and beta-ing (is that a word?) for me on some of the more difficult Thor/Loki scenes.

I should also mention that there are three deaths in this chapter, so grab your tissues, your party hats, or maybe both, and hold on for the ride!

I won't bore you, so on with the new chapter! Read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 21: Full Measures

Staring at the sea. Will she come? Is there hope for me, after all is said and done? Anything at any price, all of this for you. All the spoils of a wasted life, all of this for you. And I descend from grace in the arms of undertow. I will take my place in the great below.

-The Great Below

Nine Inch Nails

Asgard

Loki rapped his fist against the door to Thor's quarters with urgency. When the thunder god didn't answer, he knocked louder.

"Wake up you big oaf!" he shouted.

A loud groan came from the other side of the door, followed by the squeak of a mattress, and the noisy, dragging steps of someone who was still half asleep. The door flung open to reveal a disheveled Thor. He wore what looked like sweatpants, and he was shirtless and barefoot. His golden hair was mussed, and his eyes were half closed.

When he saw Loki standing there, his eyes shot open in surprise, sleep suddenly forgotten.

"Norns, Loki!" he grumbled. "Why in the Nine are you here?"

Loki pushed him and crossed over the threshold and into his quarters. His brother's room was decorated in red and silver, just as it had been since they were children. The large four-poster bed was unmade and recently slept him, with no sign of company for the thunder god.

Thor said something in protest to his presence, but the god of mischief wasn't listening. He scanned the room, checking the bathroom and even beneath the bed for signs of company. When he found none, he moved on to the windows.

The large, glass panes were looking out over the courtyard where Asgardian warriors were gathering to begin training for the day. Loki reached for the crimson curtains that were pulled back away from the panes. He closed them, throwing the quarters in semi-darkness.

"Why are you here?" Thor asked him, the anger in his voice evident.

Loki ignored him yet again, and walked across the room, past his brother, and to the door, which still stood open. He closed it, refusing to acknowledge the thunder god until he heard the click of the lock.

"Did you come to gloat?" Thor demanded, gripping the god of mischief's shoulder tightly from behind.

Loki didn't answer.

Thor increased the strength of his grip until it was painful. "Was it not enough to take her from me? Was it not enough to rob me of any hope of a future with her? Must you humiliate me further?"

The thunder god's voice broke with anguish, as Loki shrugged off his grip. "If you are here to gloat, I'm going to beat you until you bleed out on the floor," he threatened.

"Jane is gone," Loki told him, as he turned to face his brother.

Thor crossed his arms over his bare chest, and glared at him. "Yes," he growled. "She went back to Midgard, because she can't stand to look at you. I can't stand to look at you either, so if you would be kind enough to –"

"Shut up, you big oaf!" Loki snarled, shoving at him. Thor stumbled backwards a few steps, taken off guard by his sudden attack. His blue eyes sparked with rage, and he grasped the armor on Loki's shoulder faster than he could react.

Thor hit him, his solid fist connecting with Loki's face. His head snapped back, and pain radiated through his cheekbone and nose. He felt the blood dripping from his nostrils, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. It kept bleeding, and he kept wiping it away.

Thor threw a fist at him again, and this time he caught it in the palm of his hand. He pushed the fist back, fighting to speak before his brother became more violent.

"Jane went to rescue her friends from Red Skull," he interjected, speaking quickly. "He has her now, and I'm going to go get her."

Thor stopped, the fist in his hands going slack. He blinked, confusion evident on his face.

"What?"

"Red Skull has captured Jane," Loki repeated, enunciating each syllable. "I am going to rescue her."

"You can't leave Asgard," Thor shook his head. "What are you –" He stopped short, his eyes on Loki's neck. "Where is your collar?"

The god of mischief held out a piece of parchment, and Thor took it, reading Jane's words in thoughtful silence.

"Jane set you free?" the thunder god asked skeptically as he handed the note back to him. "How –"

"She's brilliant," Loki interrupted. "The how doesn't matter."

He tucked her note back into his pocket, and searched Thor's eyes with his own, begging him to listen.

"She's in trouble, Thor," he said softly. "Heimdall told me. I'm going after her, but Red Skull grows more powerful by the day. I cannot do this alone, and so I ask that you join me. Come with me to Midgard. Help me save Jane."

Thor gaped at him, as though he could not process what he'd just heard, his bright, blue eyes brimming with distrust.

"What is your angle?" the thunder god demanded, anger present in his tone. "What is the purpose of such a lie? Do you wish to lure me away so that you can burn Asgard to the ground in my absence? Perhaps you mean to impersonate me, and turn Father against me? What form of treachery will it be this time, Loki?"

Loki curled his fingers into a fist at his side, and ground his teeth together, trying to control his temper.

"It is not a ruse, brother," he ground out. "Jane is truly in danger."

"And you expect me to believe that?" Thor snorted.

"I do."

"Even if Jane were in trouble," the older prince scoffed. "Which I doubt, what of your arrangement with Mischa? What becomes of that?"

Thor crossed his arms over his chest once again, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips.

"You are betrothed to a queen, Loki," he continued. "Your promise to her is binding." He shook his head and groaned. "You're position is fragile as it is, you can't just run off and rescue Jane Foster on a whim. If you leave, Loki, Mischa could easily consider your betrothal broken!"

"I know," the god of mischief said simply, crossing his arms over his chest to mirror his brother. "And I have decided to go anyway. Now are you with me, or not?"

Thor threw his hands up, shaking his head in confusion. "What you propose is an act of treason against both Asgard and Vanaheim. You would be for the sword to break your promise, you and Jane both!"

"I am not daft, brother, I know," Loki growled. "Spare me your lecture."

Thor frowned once again. "You know the cost, and still you choose to leave. Why? What gain is there for you?"

Loki did not answer. His sentiment for Jane Foster had no gain, save her. He knew it, and so did Thor.

The thunder god observed him quietly for some time, neither of them speaking. The confusion in his bright, blue eyes was replaced by surprise, and then disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak, but just a quickly shut it, his hands forming fists at his side and his frown deepening. Finally, it was Loki who broke the silence.

"I am going with or without you," he told Thor softly, his eyes begging him to understand. "If I am meant to die regardless of the outcome, I ask that you allow my death to not be in vain."

He reached out and placed a hand on Thor's arm. The thunder god winced, but did not pull away.

"Please, brother," he added, the words heavy and foreign on his tongue. "Help me kill the Red Skull, and rescue Jane Foster."

Thor searched his face for falsehood, but Loki knew he would find none. He sighed.

"We will go to the Bifrost quietly, so no one sees you," the thunder god consented. "I will speak to Heimdall. If you speak the truth, then we will leave for Midgard immediately."

"Thank you, brother," Loki breathed, a weight lifted from his chest.

"Do not thank me," Thor growled, shrugging Loki's hand from his arm, and grinding his teeth in anger. "I do not do this for you, brother. I do this for Jane. Do not presume that our alliance is permanent, or that I will shield you from Father and the woman you will scorn once Jane Foster is safe. This changes nothing between us."

Loki nodded and sighed. "Fair enough."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Earth

The sunlight played through the windows, painting them in a soft yellow glow. Loki slept next to her, his pale skin awash in the sunlight, and his raven hair spilled haphazardly across the pillows. His eyes were closed, and his face was peaceful as he slept, unaware of her gaze, or so she thought.

"See something you like?" he mumbled, his eyes still closed.

Jane smiled. "I won't dignify that question with a response," she said coyly. "Your ego is already big enough."

"That's not the only thing on me that's big," he smirked, and the astrophysicist playfully shoved him.

He laughed and stretched, his long limbs sliding out from beneath the sheets. Jane realized that he was naked, and upon inspection noticed that she was as well.

His bright, green eyes met hers, and he gave her a genuine smile. "So tell me, my Jane," he purred, his velvet voice pooling in her lower abdomen and making her wet between her legs. He drew lazy circles on her forearm with his thumb, the feel of his skin on hers electrifying. "What do you want to do today?"

"You," she said boldly, earning a wicked grin from her lover.

"That could certainly be arranged," he purred. "I could arrange it immediately if it would please you."

"It would."

Loki wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. Their bare skin touched, sending pleasant chills down her spine. She kissed him, closing her eyes as he claimed her lips. His hands dug into her hips, pulling her closer in quiet desperation.

Jane climbed on top of him, never breaking the kiss. She could feel him hard against her lower body, and he groaned as she rubbed herself against him.

"Why do you tease me so, temptress?" he growled in pleasure.

"I never said I was teasing you," Jane smirked, as she sank down onto him in one swift motion.

His eyes went wide, and he let out the smallest of gasps in surprise.

Jane planted her hands on his chest, and began to move against him in a smooth motion. His eyes closed, and his hands found their way to her hips once again.

She moved back and forth against him, and then in a circular motion, using his grip on her hips to guide her speed. The tighter he gripped her, the faster she moved. She finally found a rhythm she liked that seemed to please both of them, and she rode him with only the slightest faltering.

She felt pleasure build in her lower abdomen with every move she made, and Loki's grip tightened on her hips. Her breath came in short pants as she moved faster, chasing the high that the pleasure gave her.

Jane's nerve endings caught fire, and she moaned his name. The god of mischief arched up into her, his teeth gritted tightly, and his face morphing into an expression that looked almost comical on him as he finished inside of her.

Jane leaned against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. She lay on top of him, matching her breaths with his until they were in synch. She listened to the strong and steady beat of his heart, lost in thought until he kissed the top of her head.

The astrophysicist met his bright, green eyes with her own, losing herself in their depths.

"You have to wake up, Jane," Loki told her, his lips quirking up into a smile.

"I don't want to," she mumbled, burying her face in his chest once again.

"Wake up, Jane," he said again, louder this time. "Jane…"

"Jane!" a voice broke through her consciousness, a voice that was decidedly not Loki's.

"Jane, wake up!"

Everything came crashing down on her. Loki's rejection, her fight with Red Skull, the infinity stones. Hopelessness washed over her, both for her current situation, and for what could never be.

She wanted to go back to her dreams and find him there. Perhaps if she gave up and died, she could be with him in the afterlife, where there would be no obligations, fear or death, or mortality to keep them apart.

It was tempting, but she couldn't die just yet, not so long as her friends were in the hands of that monster.

She opened her eyes to a very concerned Darcy. Her long, dark curls hung over her face, and she was frowning.

"There you are, boss!" she smiled. "I told Erik you weren't dead, but he didn't believe me."

"I resent your lies, Darcy," she heard Erik say from somewhere behind her. "I believe I was the one that told you she was still alive while you were freaking out."

"Potatoes, patatoes," Darcy rolled her eyes.

Jane slowly became more aware of her surroundings and her body. They were in some kind of metal room, soft pings from outside filling the space. She was on what looked like the bottom bunk of a bunk bed, with Darcy sitting at her feet. She hurt everywhere. Her entire body felt as it was made of rubber.

The astrophysicist tried to sit up, and made it only an inch before she was back down on the bed. Her body began to shake, and she couldn't stop it. She felt a few lone tears slide down her cheek, and she tried to speak, but her mouth felt as though it was packed with cotton.

Darcy reached for her, and took her hand, the concern etched on her face once again.

"They told us you wouldn't be right for a few days," the younger girl told her. That was yesterday. You've been sleeping since they brought you here."

Jane tried to move, or speak, or do anything, but she hurt so badly that any effort brought tears to her eyes.

"Relax," Darcy told her, frowning. "You don't look good at all."

A fuzziness encroached on the corners of her vision, and she felt lightheaded. Her eyes closed of their own accord, and she heard Darcy cursing before she slipped into oblivion.

The second time she woke, she was in some sort of medical bay. Sterile bandages, surgical equipment, and vials of solutions in all colors were stacked on a counter top beside the bed she lay on.

Red Skull stood over her, his eyes boring through her with a feral intensity. His neck was in tact, though her attempts to take his life had left a wicked scar. The red skin was puckered and nearly white against his throat.

He extracted several vials filled with a clear liquid from the front pocket of his uniform. He chose one, placing the rest back in his pocket, and inserted the contents of the vial into a syringe. He lowered the syringe to her neck. She felt the pinch of the needle going in, and tried to wiggle away as he depressed the plunger.

"For your sickness," Red Skull told her as he emptied the last of the syringe's contents into her neck. "It will give you more time."

There was a knife among the surgical supplies by her bedside and she reached for it. Her hand moved, and nearly touched the weapon, but her fingers refused to curl around the tang, the digits shaking when she tried.

The bastard laughed at her, his cackle sending shivers down her spine.

"You are a tenacious one, Doctor Foster," he smirked. "I suppose your body has healed enough for these now."

He extracted a set of metal cuffs that were similar to those Skadi had used on Jotunheim. Rune marks decorated the sides of the cuffs, and when he slapped them on her wrists, the rune marks glowed a light blue. She immediately felt as if all of her senses were dulled as soon as the rune marks lit up.

"I cannot have you using that magic of yours on me or my men." Red Skull remarked casually. "Just so you know, Doctor Foster, I didn't want to do this."

He leaned over her, situating his arms on either side of her body, and bringing his face far too close to hers. "I wanted you to join me, and help me of your own accord. It would have been so much easier that way. Even when you refused, I still never wanted this."

Red Skull leaned back and pressed on hand against his neck, over the scar she had given him. "But when you took that dagger to my throat… you gave me no choice, I hope you understand."

Jane moved her fist so that it faced him, and tried to curl her hands once again. This time she succeeded, forming a fist and leaving only her middle finger up in response to her captor's bullshit.

He laughed again, and leaned over her, pressing his lips to her ear.

"You will serve my needs, and you will do it gladly," he growled, the animalistic sound causing her hairs to stand on end. "Do not forget that I control what happens to your friends. I should very much like to see what they taste like, especially Ms. Lewis."

Jane's eyes went wide, and he pulled away. "I can smell him on you," he finished, his feral eyes narrowing to slits. "That must be remedied before you attend to work in your new laboratory tomorrow."

She was about to protest when he stuck her in the arm with another needle, emptying the contents into her before she could fight him off. Her vision blurred and then blackened, before she lost consciousness again.

When she awoke for the third time, Darcy and Erik sat on the bottom bunk of the bed, watching her, concern etched on their faces. They both smiled as soon as they saw her open her eyes.

"Darcy…Erik," she croaked, her voice sounding horrible, even to her own ears.

She tried to sit up, and was pleased to find that she could. Darcy immediately enveloped her in hug so tight that she feared she wouldn't be able to breathe. As soon as Darcy let her go, Erik hugged her, and Jane began to cry.

"Shhh…" her friend and mentor reassured her, his hands rubbing her back gently as he held her close. "It's okay. There's no need to cry."

"I'm so sorry I didn't come for you sooner," she sniffed. "I didn't know."

"You shouldn't have come at all," Erik chastised. "What have I told you about putting yourself in danger?"

"I never seem to listen, do I?"

"No, you never do." Erik smiled. "Now cheer up. Darcy and I are alive and well. There is no need to blame yourself for this."

Jane nodded, and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Are you okay?" Erik asked her gently.

"Yeah. I'm alright."

"Good," Darcy replied from the edge of the mattress. She sat with her legs hanging off the edge and her body facing the door, but her eyes were watching Jane intently. "I wanted to wait until you were feeling better to ask," she began slowly, an anger building in her voice. "But where in the hell have you been? You've been missing for months. I would have called the cops and had every officer in a three hundred mile radius looking for you if Steve hadn't assured me you weren't captured by Hydra or dead in the woods somewhere."

"Oh…" Jane murmured, instantly feeling guilty.

"You're damn right, oh, boss lady," Darcy rolled her eyes. "You go off exploring who knows where with tall, dark, and surly. You're gone for months, and you never once think 'Oh, hey! Maybe I should let Darcy know where I am so she doesn't freak out!'."

"I'm sorry," the astrophysicist said sheepishly. "I just didn't think –"

"Didn't think that Erik and I would be worried?" Darcy interrupted, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Didn't think about us at all?"

"It's not –"

"You're a scientist, and you always have science-y things on your mind," the younger girl continued. "You're disgustingly smart, and there's no room in your brain for anything but science. I know that, and normally I'm perfectly okay with that, but you don't normally disappear for months at a time either!"

Darcy stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, barely looking at her. She blinked furiously, and Jane realized that she was trying not to cry.

"Dammit, Jane," Darcy sighed. "I'm trying to take care of you, but you make it really hard."

Without thinking, Jane pushed herself off of the bottom bunk. Her body was weak, and her head felt as though it would implode with every movement she made. She took a few unsteady steps, and Erik moved to support her by her shoulder as she walked. She took it slowly, one step at a time until she made it where Darcy stood.

She threw her arms around the younger girl, and hugged her tightly. Darcy hesitated for only a moment before she enveloped Jane in a hug, resting her head on the astrophysicist's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Jane told her sincerely. "I didn't think about you or Erik when I left, and I should have found some way to let you know I was alive and safe. Will you forgive me for being such a terrible friend?"

Darcy pulled away from her and gave her a small smile. "I already forgave you. No worries, boss."

The two girls hugged again, and Jane asked her the question that had been on her mind since she had mentioned it. "You said Steve told you I was still alive," she began slowly. "So are he and Bucky okay? I didn't know if they made it out or not before I left."

Darcy gave her a wicked grin. "About that…" she said coyly. "They're alive and well, and I may or may not be in a relationship with both of them."

Jane blinked. "No shit?"

"No fucking shit," Darcy grinned. "You and your Asgardian boy toys can move on over, 'cause I've got my own hot boys club now."

Jane stared, openmouthed. There was no fucking way this was happening.

"But how –"

Darcy pressed her forefinger to Jane's lips in an almost comical fashion. "Shhh… young grasshopper," the younger girl laughed. "Love needs no explanation, and my sexual prowess is too awesome for one man to contain."

"Holy shit…" Jane breathed. She was gone for only short while, and the whole world had turned itself upside down.

She felt herself becoming light headed, and leaned on Darcy for support. The younger girl helped her back to the bunk bed, and sat her down next to Erik, before shooting her a glance that promised trouble.

"Enough about my boys," she smirked. "Tell me where tall, dark, and surly swept you away to. It must have been good for you to forget to call."

"Well…" Jane began, feeling better now that she was sitting.

"Spill," Darcy demanded. "You owe me that."

And so she told her of her travels. It was almost as though she had picked up the story straight from an adventure book. Realms beyond imagination, quests, strange adventures, a handsome prince, and her in the center of it all. She left out Thor's proposal and her night with Loki on Vanaheim. It was too personal, even to share with Darcy. To her credit, the younger girl did not interrupt her, and only when she was finished did she speak.

"Wow…" she whistled. "No wonder you forgot about us. I would have too."

The door to the metal room opened, and a strange man in a Hydra uniform entered. He swept the room with a glance, and his gaze landed on the astrophysicist.

"Doctor Foster," he addressed her crisply. "You're coming with me."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Loki paced the halls of Stark Tower, growing more and more impatient by the second. He and Thor had been on Midgard for several days now, and nothing had become of their efforts. Thor had insisted on involving S.H.I.E.L.D., and when Loki disagreed Thor told him to do it on his own if he was going to be stubborn.

And so the god of mischief found himself among the very same mortals he had fought several years ago, at their mercy to move forward with his plans to rescue Jane.

The soldier with the metal arm sat in the hallway watching him, seeming equally frustrated by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lack of speed. The two of them had sordid pasts and were not part of the Avengers initiative, and therefore they had been regarded with suspicion by many of the agents in Stark Tower. They were not allowed a seat at the table, despite the fact that they both had the most to lose.

"Loki, Bucky," Thor called to them from the conference room of Stark Tower. His face was haggard, and his blond hair lacked its usual shine from several days of deliberation with S.H.I.E.L.D. He looked as tired as Loki felt.

He and the soldier with the metal arm followed the hallway down to the large room that served as a meeting place for the Avengers. There was a large round table that took up most of the room. There were no pictures on the walls, or any personal effects, only a table covered paper, chairs, and a dozen S.H.I.E.L.D. agents gathered around the papers.

Loki recognized a few familiar faces. Tony Stark smiled and waved at him, and the Captain nodded in his direction. The others were of no consequence to him, merely ants to a giant.

Thor waved him over, and spread a map out over the round table, tacking a few specific places down.

"Hydra has divided their forces," the thunder god explained, pointing at one of the tacks. "According to information from a few undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Hydra has a base of operations in Siberia."

"Is your intel accurate?" the man with the metal arm asked, appearing at his side. The man touched the marker, flexing his metal fingers and grinding his teeth as if considering its validity on his own.

"It's accurate, Buck," the Captain assured him.

A small woman, with short, dark hair gave him and the soldier a scathing glare, before gesturing to the map. "The Siberia location is well guarded, and we have reason to believe that it is most likely their main base of operations for the time being. Their second location…"

She trailed off, and Loki found himself growing impatient.

"On with it, woman," he snapped. Thor's palm came down on his shoulder, an unspoken sign to stop what he was doing.

The woman sighed, her fingers tracing the map uncertainly. "We're not entirely certain where their second location is," she admitted. The tracking device agent Romanov wears was over the Atlantic Ocean for some time, but is now registering her position in Siberia. Our agent says that Red Skull is not with her."

"If you are quite done with informing us of this useless drivel, I should be interested to hear of Jane Foster's whereabouts," the god of mischief growled.

Thor's hand gripped his shoulder again, tighter this time. The woman met his eyes with her own, and tried to stare him down. With Fury such an act was mildly impressive. With this woman, it was merely pathetic.

"Jane Foster is not our primary concern," the woman told him flatly.

Loki felt rage boil in his veins. He slammed his fists down on the map, and fixed her with a deadly glare.

"If you value your life, you pathetic mortal, Jane Foster will become your primary concern," he replied, his voice calm and completely devoid of emotion. "Otherwise, I might find it amusing to slit your throat as you sleep."

Thor ripped him away from the table, and shoved him so hard he nearly lost his balance. "Outside, now!" the thunder god demanded.

Loki was forced back out into the hallway, and Thor slammed the door and rounded on him, his blue eyes filled with rage. His hands gripped Loki's shoulders tightly, and he stood less than an arms length away from the god of mischief.

"You are not the only one who loves her!" Thor snarled, taking him by surprise. "You think this is easy for me? I love her just as much as you," Thor accused. "Probably more."

"Then why aren't you helping me!" Loki spat, stalking away from Thor. "If you love her as you say you do, help me save her." Loki wheeled around and glared at the thunder god. "Every moment we sit here playing nice with the mortals is a moment we lose to find Jane."

"You think I don't know that?" the older prince glared. "You think I would intentionally sit around and let her die?"

"You have good intentions," Loki said slowly, some of the anger ebbing from his voice. "But your duty to Asgard and your love of these mortals keeps you from doing what needs to be done."

Thor glared at him, and the god of mischief pushed himself forward, bringing his face so close to Thor's that he could feel his breath.

"What have you done to save her since she became ill?" he whispered fiercely, his bright, green eyes boring into his brother's with a wild intensity. "What have you done, Thor?"

Loki gritted his teeth and poked Thor in the chest, pushing him backwards with force.

"I spoke with Father on her behalf," his older brother snarled. "I left her in your care. I –"

"I did not ask what Odin has done, or what I have done!" Loki bellowed, circling Thor like some great jungle cat. "I want to know what you have done to save Jane," he hissed in his brother's ear.

Thor glared at him, pure hatred in his eyes, and Loki glared back. They challenged each other without saying a word, neither one willing to back down.

"Answer me!" the god of mischief shouted, clenching his fists. "What have you done?"

Thor was silent, only a blink of his eyes and a scowl to show that he had heard him.

"You wonder why she did not choose you," Loki said softly, his voice barely loud enough to be heard beyond the two of them. He unclenched his fists, and gave Thor a sad smile. "Why your declarations of love and affection meant nothing to her…"

Loki reached out a tentative hand towards Thor before dropping it to his side again. "I see it in your eyes, Thor. I read it on your face even now," he continued, his words harsh and mocking. "How could Jane Foster ever love Loki, when she could have me?" he parroted at him. "Isn't it just so, Thor?" he leered. "You think her mad. You believe her bewitched." Loki just smiled, but his eyes shone with madness in the light. "You don't understand."

He leaned in closer, his lips barely hovering over Thor's ear. "You will never understand, because you cannot see past your own delusions."

Thor turned away from Loki and closed his eyes. The gof of mischief backed up a pace, but didn't relent. "Jane is an intelligent woman with wants and needs, and she does not swoon for a hero, even if he be the crown prince of Asgard. You cannot win her, and you cannot make her happy, because the part of you that isn't promised to Asgard will never be enough for her."

Loki pulled away, and Thor blinked, rounding on Loki. Hurt and anger played across his face, and his blue eyes shone with pain. He had hit a nerve, but the younger prince pressed on, hoping to finish before his brother gave in to his anger or became inconsolable in grief.

"Jane is mortal," Loki explained. "The magic she – " He took a deep breath, before continuing. "The magic she possesses will allow her to live longer than other mortals, but her life is short, and with her illness, it will become even shorter."

"She is afraid of what the future holds," he revealed. "She has confided her fears with me, and I have seen it for myself in the time we have been together. She has no time for good intentions and empty words."

Loki's eyes slipped away from Thor's, unable to keep contact. His chest tightened uncomfortably, and he forced himself to take a shaky breath.

"She is going to die, Thor," he barely managed to whisper, his hands digging into his scalp.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and when he dared a glance at Thor, his brother watched him carefully, lips pursed. He looked stronger now, more resolved. The god of mischief didn't know if Thor did this for his sake, or for himself.

"I understand, brother," the thunder god told him softly. "Director Hill is doing all that she can to find Jane."

Thor's hand moved to clasp the back of Loki's neck. "Heimdall could not find her exact location, and neither could you. We must trust S.H.I.E.L.D. and their agents. I promise you that we will not leave Jane in Hydra's clutches."

Thor's free hand came to rest on Loki's other shoulder. "Give me a day, Loki, and if S.H.I.E.L.D. does not have a plan, then we will strike out on our own. You have my word."

"Your words do little to comfort me, brother," Loki scowled.

"They're a better comfort than yours," Thor grinned, patting him on the back. "It will be alright. Trust me, brother, I will not allow harm to come to Jane Foster."

Loki sighed, feeling his wits returning to him. He wrapped an arm around Thor's shoulders and managed a small smile. "I will trust you, Thor," he conceded. "But we must move quickly."

"Aye," Thor agreed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jane felt ridiculous. She had been forced to bathe and dress in one of Hydra's communal washrooms. The man who had retrieved her left her with a short, black dress and heels that he informed her she would be expected to wear.

The dress was beautiful, and obviously expensive. It also left little to the imagination. It was strapless, and showed a lot of cleavage. The fabric was tight, and showed off her curves, and the heels were so tall she was afraid she would trip. The magic inhibiting cuffs she wore almost looked like some sort of strange fashion statement with the ridiculous get up she had on.

The astrophysicist stalled for as long as she could, until the soldier came in and forced her out. He walked her down a long metal hallway, forcing her to move quickly, even though she was still a little lightheaded and couldn't walk in heels.

She stumbled once or twice, and the soldier forced her back on her feet at gunpoint. It felt as though they walked forever, and when they arrived at large, metal door at the very end of the hallway, Jane breathed a sigh of relief.

The soldier opened the door, and she was genuinely surprised by what she saw. A table was sat for two with wine and fancy entrees like one would find in an expensive steak restaurant. A candle sat on the table, its soft light flickering in the dim cabin. Red Skull sat at one end of the table, his uniform pressed and clean, and the scar she'd given him nearly hidden from view. His eyes locked on hers the second she walked in.

"Doctor Foster," he greeted warmly. "Dine with me."

He was different. She noticed immediately. The feral, animalistic vibe she was used to seeing was still there, but it seemed subdued. He was almost human, except for the sharp glint in his eyes when he looked over her.

The soldier who had escorted her left them, closing the door behind him. The second she heard the click of metal on metal as the door locked, Jane began to panic. She was alone with a psychopath, and had no way to defend herself. She searched her surroundings, looking for anything that she could turn into a weapon. Her eyes immediately landed on the steak knife that sat on Red Skull's plate.

The leader of Hydra tsked, shaking his head at her. "Now, Jane, where are your manners? I've invited you to dine with me. Consider it a temporary truce if you must. Blood will not be spilled at this table. You have my word."

"And what if I have other plans?" Jane growled, never taking her eyes from the knife.

"Then I will stop you," he yawned. "Without your magic, you are merely mortal, nothing more. And once I stop you, I will use this knife to carve up one of your friends while you watch. Is that something you would like to see?"

She glared at him, and he smirked, the feral glint coming back into his eyes.

"Sit," he commanded. "Your food will get cold soon. I've even cut your steak up for you."

Jane did as he asked, and sit across from him at the table. He gave her a smile, the corners of his lips twisting up unnaturally.

As he promised, her food was already cut in bite size pieces. Probably so she wouldn't get any ideas, she thought in amusement.

"Eat," Red Skull demanded. She glared at him, and he sighed. "It's not poisoned," he added. "If I wanted to kill you, I would do it with my bare hands. It's far more enjoyable that way."

Jane gripped the fork in her hand, and stabbed into a piece of the steak. She ate it, glaring at him the entire time. Red Skull ignored her, eating his own steak, which was raw and bloody. Jane winced as he ate, her stomach becoming unsettled with every bite he took.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked you to eat with me," Red Skull began between bites of uncooked steak. "First and foremost, I wanted to show you that I can be civilized and reasonable. I will use force to get what I want if necessary, but I prefer your cooperation in this matter. The truth is Jane Foster, that I respect you."

"You respect me?" she nearly laughed at the absurdity. "You must be joking."

"Not at all," he smirked. "I find your will to be a refreshing change, a challenge even."

"So you want to… what? Wine and dine me, because I tried to kill you? Even though you've essentially sentenced me to death?"

Red Skull reached across the table and took her hand in his. Jane pulled away from him immediately, earning a scowl from her captor.

"I do not want you dead. You were merely a casualty in an unlikely alliance. I am the least of your fears."

"Is that so?" she snorted in disbelief.

"You and I are one and the same, Jane," he told her firmly. "The only difference between us is that I have successfully bonded with the Kree DNA, while you have not. I grow stronger, while you grow weaker, but that does not mean I am free of problems."

Red Skull motioned to his raw steak, as if she should understand just by looking at it.

"I crave the blood," he confided to her. "I don't just like the taste, I need it to keep my mind my own. If I abstain, I can't function. It's as if a urge overtakes me, and it's all I can think about."

He reached for her hand again, and once again she pulled away.

"The Mad Titan will take the urge for blood from me if I give him your Einstein-Rosen Bridge. Complete of course," he added quickly. "I need you to help me, Doctor Foster. Help me, and I will help you. You don't have to die."

Jane felt lightheaded again, and she took a few deep breaths. The name he mentioned seemed familiar to her somehow, but she couldn't place where she'd heard it.

"The Mad Titan?" she asked innocently.

"Thanos," Red Skull answered her. "He is the most powerful being in the universe."

Jane thought of Loki and the scepter Thanos had given to him. She tried to remember him as she'd seen him when he attempted to take New York. The pale sickly skin, and the madness that filled his bright, green eyes and etched itself across his regal face. The Loki who had aided Thanos was not the man she had come to love. Thanos had broken him and controlled him in a way that angered her. And now he wanted to use her.

Oh hell no.

"I want to meet Thanos," Jane decided, speaking before she could even think through her words. "Will you release me from my cuffs, and take me to him? I promise to help you if you do."

It was a lie of course. She fully intended to kill them both or die trying, but he didn't necessarily need to know that.

Red Skull frowned and regarded her suspiciously.

"You don't want to meet him," he said finally. "Especially not without a finished Bridge. That would not end well for you."

"What does he want my Bridge for?" Jane asked. "You owe me that much."

Red Skull drummed his fingers against the table in thought. "I don't know," he admitted. "I made a trade with him, my powers for your Bridge. I didn't ask why."

Jane's mind was working overtime, turning ideas around in her head so that she could align the odds in her favor. When she settled on an idea she thought might work, she ran with it.

"I'll finish the Bridge for you willingly," she said slowly. "But I have conditions."

"Such as?"

"Darcy and Erik walk free."

Red Skull tsked, shaking his head. "After you finish," he growled. "I will let them go, but not a second before."

"Fair enough," the astrophysicist nodded. "And I want to go with you when you deliver the Bridge. I want to meet Thanos."

Red Skull smirked. "You are either very brave or very foolish, Doctor Foster. Either way, I do not recommend a meeting with the Mad Titan. Your other demand, however, I can oblige."

Jane stood from the table, and made her way over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder deliberately, even though it sickened her to touch him. Red Skull glanced at her curiously, and she felt him flinch ever so slightly beneath her touch.

"If you want my full cooperation, Johann," she purred, placing emphasis on his given name. "Then you will agree to take me with you when you deliver my Bridge to Thanos. It's a small concession for my cooperation, and you have nothing to lose by humoring me."

Red Skull seemed to think it over for a moment, before placing a hand out, palm up between them.

"I accept your terms," he grinned, the quirk of his lips reminding her of a predator. "We make landfall tomorrow. Finish the Bridge, and I will let your friends go, and take you to meet Thanos."

Jane placed her hand in his, and they shook to their temporary alliance.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Surely your strategy is better than that?" Tony chided the god of mischief as he took his king off of the board.

Loki grumbled and downed his entire glass of whiskey in one long swig. The Midgardian alcohol did little to dull his senses or the knot of worry that had settled itself in his gut ever since he had learned of Jane's departure.

"Slow down there, Reindeer Games. I only brought one bottle."

"You should have brought at least a dozen," Loki scowled. "This Midgardian liquor is weak. How you mortals become intoxicated is beyond my comprehension."

"Someone's cranky," Tony smirked, as he set up the chess board for another game. "Women will do that to you though. One minute you're a sex god and they're licking whipped cream off of your unmentionables… and the next… well… you end up naked in the lawn with only one shoe, and she's screaming at you to stop shitting on the neighbor's porch. Women… You can't win."

The god of mischief rolled his eyes and moved one of his pawns forward. "Do I even want to know what you're talking about?"

"I was very drunk," Tony defended. "That's all you really need to know."

"I didn't even want to know that," Loki scoffed.

He jumped one of Tony's pawns, and swept it off of the board. "You never told me last we spoke," he began slowly. "But what exactly do you mortals do with women's undergarments once you've commandeered them?"

Tony stared at him, his face slack with shock. "You didn't."

Loki merely grinned.

"You sneaky bastard."

The god of mischief frowned. "My parentage may be scandalous, but I am not a bastard."

"Whoa, Reindeer Games, relax!" Tony threw his hand up in the air. "It's not an insult, it's just a figure of speech."

"Figure of speech?"

Tony tapped his fingers against the chess board, and rubbed his thumb and forefinger over his goatee. "You know…" he said thoughtfully. "Stuff people say all the time, even though it really has no bearing on the situation."

Loki stared blankly.

Tony sighed. "It's sayings that someone made up, and passed on to other people. Over time, so many people used them that it just kind of became normal to use them, even if it made no sense."

He moved so that his arms were positioned on his knees, and he leaned over as if to tell Loki a secret. His dark eyes were honed in on him intensely, and his expressions became exaggerated as he tried to explain.

"For example, there was a period of time where men would own gold and silver instead of the paper money we have now. There were some women who married these men, because they could afford to give them good lives with all of the material comforts they could ever want. They only cared about what they could gain from the marriage. These women became known as 'gold diggers'."

He shifted in his seat, and continued. "Now, the term 'gold digger' is used for women who date, marry, or sleep with men just because they spend money on them and buy them things. There's no actual gold involved, but the term still stuck."

"I see…" the god of mischief responded, beginning to understand. "Do you know many of these strange Midgardian sayings?"

"Just about all of 'em," Tony grinned. "I'm an expert on all things of Midagrd."

"Do you know what the term 'cross my heart and hope to die' means?" Loki asked, leaning towards Tony as though the words were sacred. "It is something Jane said to me when I asked her to keep a few of my secrets between us."

Tony smiled, but this time it was pained, as though he understood how Loki felt. The mere mention of her name brought a dull pang of sadness and desperation, and of course regret. He should have gone to her sooner. Perhaps, if he had…. He didn't know. Nothing was ever set in stone, and the path one chose could not be undone, no matter how badly one wished for it.

"It means that she would rather die than betray your trust," Tony informed him sadly.

Loki took a deep breath and closed his eyes, the pain nearly unbearable. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "What will they do with her?" he asked softly. "Hydra. Do they mean to torture her?"

"I don't know."

Thor interrupted them before either one could speak again. He came to stand next to them, and placed on hand on Loki's shoulder.

"It's time," he announced softly. "Let's go and rescue Jane Foster."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Asgard

Heimdall strode into the throne room, where Odin sat, waiting for him. He approached the throne and knelt at its base, in homage to his ruler.

Odin had aged significantly over the last several years, his sons being the primary cause. His face was weathered and wrinkles were present where they had not been before. Even his eyes looked older, as if he'd seen everything the universe had to offer and found it wanting.

"You called for me, my king," the gatekeeper greeted.

"There is a matter I hoped that you could help me with," Odin began, his one good eye searching him intently. "The matter of my missing sons. I cannot seem to find either of them, and no one knows where they might be. Have you any information on this matter, gatekeeper?"

Heimdall was silent for a moment, turning the problem of the missing princes over in his mind.

"I saw Prince Thor a few days past," he admitted. "He came to me for passage, saying that he had somewhere he needed to be."

The gatekeeper met Odin's eye, and told him all the truth that he needed to know.

"I allowed him passage. Where he went, I do not know. He was searching for Jane Foster, but I was unable to find her location for him. Her illness has made her signature weak."

Odin sighed. "My son is a fool for chasing a mortal. I had hoped that he would come to his senses, but it appears that he has not yet done so."

He caressed his beard with one hand, as if in thought.

"Tell me, Heimdall," he continued. "What of Loki? Have you seen him?"

"I have not," the gatekeeper lied. "He keeps himself hidden from me, and I do not know where he has gone."

"It seems there are several things that have escaped your attention lately," Odin scowled.

"Age makes all of us careless, my king," Heimdall answered cryptically. "And if you're not looking, important matters can slip past you entirely."

The Allfather frowned, pursing his lips tightly, and changed the subject. "I have known Thor to be foolhardy, but it is strange to see such behavior from Loki. He risks both his life and our realm by disappearing. His bride to be is not pleased with his sudden absence."

"Perhaps you do not know him as well as you think."

Odin huffed in frustration. "I know him well enough to know that he serves only himself. Be on watch for signs of my sons, gatekeeper. I should like to know the moment you find them."

"As you wish my king," Heimdall bowed, before standing. He left the throne room in favor of the Bifrost, where he settled in to keep watch over the absent princes.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Earth

They traveled to a place called Massachusetts. Thor had called it a state, but Loki wasn't certain how invisible lines that didn't truly exist could divide the landscape of Midgard. In any case, the town was dull and filled with bars, eating establishments, and fisheries. There was nothing to see except the sleazy town, and water that never ended.

Director Hill had informed them that some of the local fishermen had seen a submarine surface in the bay once or twice, and that men in uniform with a strange symbol had been reported at the local bars on occasion. It was vague, and not very helpful, but it was the only lead they had.

As they stood on the edge of the dock, they spoke with a Midgardian man who seemed to have the intellectual capacity of a rock, Loki began to wonder if this particular lead would get them anywhere.

The man was aged in his fifties, and sported a baseball cap over his balding head, and went by the name of Joe. He wore some sort of waterproof clothing, complete with suspenders and boots. He smoked nearly constantly, lighting a new cigarette every time his current one burned out, and his speech left much to be lacking.

"I seen it just last week," Joe told them with certainty. "I seen it with my own two eyes. It was a damn submarine, and it come right up out the water. It stayed ova here for a day or so, then went off to that government property they got all hushed up."

Loki said nothing, mentally correcting the man's horrendous grammar. Thor on the other hand, encouraged the man to go on.

"Did you see who was on the submarine?" he asked hopefully.

The man gestured to the town, taking a long drag on his cigarette. "They came to the bars, those men that were on that submarine. Queer fellas they was."

He came to the end of his cigarette, and threw it down, immediately lighting another.

"Smoke?" He held out the pack of cigarettes to the brothers in one hand, and an old metal lighter in the other.

Thor and Loki both declined.

The man waved them off and placed the package back in his pocket. "Anyhoo," he continued. "These queer fellas wore some sort a uniform, like they was in the fucking army or somethin'. They drank like they aint drank in months. Nearly drank all the beer poor Hank kept in the cellar at the bar. Them boys tore up the damn town, an' chased all the women they could find. They was only here for a night, and then they was gone. They left some kind a weird fucking crop circle on the rocks over there," he said, pointing at a spot several hundred feet away.

"For the life of me, couldn't figure out what the hell it is, or how they done it, but it wasn't there before that submarine showed up."

"Could you be so kind as to show us the crop circle?" Thor asked, his manners impeccable. The man nodded.

He led them across the dock, and over the rocky shore. Mist from the ocean filled the air, and it was unusually wet and cold from what the god of mischief had seen of Midgard.

It was not a crop circle. Loki knew what it was the moment he saw it. He ran ahead of Thor and the fisherman, and when he arrived at the spot, he knelt down and placed a hand on the lines that stood out clearly against the rock.

It was Jane's rune mark. She had been there.

He felt frustration rise up in him as he held onto a piece of her, knowing that he was so close, and yet she still eluded him.

"It's not a crop circle," Thor nearly laughed. "It's –"

"I know. It's hers."

They were silent for a moment, both lost in thought. Only the sounds of the fisherman's footfalls broke through the quiet.

Loki stood, and turned to face their guide. "You said the submarine went to some sort of government property," he began. "Could you take us there?"

Joe blinked. "Er… I suppose…" he rambled. "I don' think you boys wanna go there. That there is property of the government. Aint nobody been there in years. I think that's where they do them illegal experiments on people an' shit. It's kinda spooky."

Loki glared at the simple minded mortal, his patience wearing thin. "I care not for your ghost stories," he growled. "Can you take us there or not?"

Thor intervened, and approached the fisherman calmly. He placed a hand on his shoulder, and gave him a small smile. "Please excuse my brother's poor manners," he apologized. "His people skills are lacking. What he means to ask, is would you be so kind as to take us to this government property?"

Joe was silent for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons, his eyes worried with fear.

Loki extracted a golden coin from his space between spaces, and stepped forwards, offering it to the man. He took the coin, and nodded almost imperceptibly. "Alright," he agreed softly.

The fisherman looked up from the coin, and his eyes grazed over them both skeptically, his frown disapproving. "If you boys are gonna sail with me, you want some clothes that don't make you look like a couple a renaissance fair freaks?"

Loki sighed, but Thor merely nodded.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They made landfall the very next day, as Red Skull had promised. Jane, Darcy, and Erik were escorted at gunpoint from the submarine and out into the open.

Gray skies awaited them, along with the crash of water against a shore covered in dirty sand. Rock surrounded what appeared to be some sort of cove. No entrance to the ocean could be seen anywhere she looked. It appeared as though they were completely cut off from the world.

A tall, stone building loomed ahead, its presence the only thing breaking into the tranquility of the cove. It was old, but not dilapidated, and the movement inside suggested that Hydra had made use of the building.

The armed escorts moved them along until they arrived at the entrance to the stone building. Inside, Jane was wowed by what she saw.

Hydra agents scurried about their business, their movements fast and liquid, like they had walked the same path thousands of times. Technology that would put S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collection to shame decorated the interior of the stone building. Cameras, buttons, and switches adorned the walls, no place unable to be monitored.

Jane, Darcy, and Erik were led through the labyrinth of the stone building. The astrophysicist tried to commit the path they took to memory, so that she could keep her bearings while she was here.

They turned left, then went straight down a long hallway. A right turn about halfway down, brought them to a staircase, and they were forced to climb upward.

At the top of the staircase, they were escorted down short hallway and into a small room that was set up as a living space. There were several cots that sat against the wall, and a small bathroom space with a sink and toilet. It was unimpressive, except for the window.

A small window was cut out of the stone, and barred over. It would not make for a good escape option, but at least she would be able to see outside. The submarine had been a little claustrophobic.

Their escorts left them to their own devices and locked the door, trapping the three of them in the tiny room.

Darcy looked around, checking out their new quarters, and even commenting to Jane that they had soap that smelled awesome in the bathroom. Erik leaned back on one of the cots, closing his eyes, and Jane went to the window.

She watched the agents of Hydra unload supplies from the submarine and bring them into the stationary headquarters. Canned food, bottles of water and beer, toiletries, and other items were unloaded and carried across the shore by bored looking men and women. Red Skull watched them intently, his dark eyes never wavering from his subjects.

Beyond him, the cove was indeed closed in, with no view of the ocean beyond. Wherever they were, it was well hidden, and the chance of anyone coming to rescue them was slim. Loki would not be looking for her, and though Darcy insisted that Steve and Bucky would come for them, she had her doubts. If they wanted to get out of here, they would have to do it themselves.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tony sighed as Pepper yelled at him for the third time that day. She was angry, and the deep blush that colored her cheeks was intoxicating, even if she was threatening to kill him.

"Are you even listening to me?" she demanded, gripping his upper arm with a strength that surprised him.

"Yeah, sure honey, I was listening," Tony mumbled.

"Then what did I say?"

He ran a hand nervously through his goatee. "Uh… something about how you want to hurt me?"

Pepper snorted, and threw her hand down. "Unbelievable…" she nearly sobbed. She crossed her arms over her chest, and walked away from him, unable to even look at him.

"Honey, come on," Tony tried. "I was just kidding."

He walked up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her, placing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "I'm sorry," he said softly into her hair. "What did you say again. I'm listening this time."

"I was saying that you need to sit this one out," Pepper told him flatly. "You've done enough. S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't have to have you for this."

"I'll be fine, honey," he promised. "I'll be back in a few days. You won't even miss me. When I get back we can take a long vacation, just the two of us."

"You've been saying that forever," Pepper countered. "And it's never happened. Too many public appearances to be made."

"I'll cancel that press conference next week," Tony mumbled. "We'll go this time, I promise."

Pepper turned around, meeting his eyes with her own. Tears welled up in them, and she placed a hand gently against his chest.

"It's not about the press conference, Tony," she began slowly. "You've been Iron Man for a very long time now, and every time you go out the stakes get higher. I worry you won't come home one day, and I can't do this without you."

"Do what without me?" Tony asked, confused.

Pepper opened her mouth to speak, when his phone rang. Tony answered it.

"Stark," he greeted. Pepper's hands slid from his chest, and she turned away from him. "I'll be there in five."

He hung up, and turned his attention to Pepper. "What were you going to say?" he prompted.

She refused to look at him. "It's nothing," she lied. "Forget about it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

Tony ran a hand through his goatee in frustration. "We'll talk about whatever it is when I get back, I promise," he told her. "Happy is going to take care of everything while I'm gone, and I'll be back before you know it."

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into his chest. Pepper sighed and leaned against him.

"Why do I love you?" she asked, annoyance in her voice.

"Because I'm drop dead gorgeous, fantastic in bed, and can buy you a yacht," he teased. "Don't be like this, Pepper. I promise I'll be back in a few days, and we can go wherever you want, just the two of us."

"Alright," she sighed. "You owe me."

He turned her around and smiled at her. "I always end up owing you, don't I?"

"That's because you're an asshole."

"But you love me."

"Yes," she smiled. "You're an asshole, but you're mine."

He kissed her, and hoped that it wouldn't be for the last time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jane worked diligently on her Einstein-Rosen Bridge. Her lab in Hydra's cove hideout was much smaller than the one at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters had been, but it was still packed with every tool and building material she could ever hope for. The lab was a large, stone room, and a large metal table sat in the center with her Bridge on top of it.

Darcy and Erik were permitted to join her in the lab, and they assisted her with materials and construction.

She could not finish her Einstein-Rosen Bridge with her magic hindered. She had done the calculations a thousand times, and they all gave her failed results. Had she been working in her lab in New Mexico, or even in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s underground fortress, she would have demanded her cuffs be removed so that she could work properly.

But she had no intentions of finishing the Bridge, at least not truly. To the untrained eye, it would appear complete, and that was all she needed to gain the upper hand.

Jane had to use her knowledge of chemistry and engineering to make an explosive device out of some of the materials she had on hand. It was similar to the EMP device she had made for Loki, only larger and more powerful. She fashioned it into the Bridge, as though it were necessary for the device's function. The explosive was rigged to activate when the Bridge was fired up.

With any luck, she would deliver it to Thanos, and he would die trying to use it. If he didn't die, she would have to kill both him and Red Skull another way. She might or might not be successful, and would most likely be killed if she failed, but either way, she didn't have much to lose.

The astrophysicist attached the explosive device to the Bridge, securing it near the control panel she had assembled in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lab.

"Jane," Erik whispered as he watched her. "That's not –"

"I know," she responded quietly.

Erik merely nodded, beginning to understand.

She had not told either of them about the explosive. The less they knew, the less Hydra could get from them. She felt that it was the safest and best option to keep her plans to herself.

Jane worked for days, making sure that everything was exactly right. She could not test it, so it had to be perfect.

Her days in Hydra's hideout were structured, and always the same. She, Darcy, and Erik slept on the cots in their tiny room. Every morning, one of Hydra's men would retrieve her and take her to the community bathroom to shower and dress. Afterwards, she was escorted to the mess hall, where she was served a breakfast of questionable origins. Once she finished eating, she would be escorted to her lab to work, where Darcy and Erik would join her later. Only when she was too tired to keep her eyes open would they take her back to her room to sleep.

It was an endless cycle of meaningless activity, and if Hydra intended to bore her to death, it was working.

The one good thing that had come of her stay with Hydra was that the injection Red Skull had given her seemed to be working. She felt good, even without her magic, and she experienced no side effects from the Kree DNA.

Red Skull visited her lab frequently during the day, checking up on her progress. He seemed almost manic now, all traces of the humanity he had shown when they dined together gone entirely, leaving only the animal.

He watched her as she worked, the way a predator watches their prey. When he was there, Jane worked on the structure of the Bridge, so that he would not know she was making no progress in actually finishing it.

Nearly a week had passed, when Jane felt good enough about her device to tell Red Skull that it was finished.

The leader of Hydra was in a manic state that day, his mood poor at best, but Jane could not wait any longer. He looked over her work critically, and she held her breath the entire time, hoping that he would not notice what she had done.

"It is finished?" he growled, turning to face her, his dark eyes nearly feral.

"Yes," she lied. She stood up straight and met his eyes, trying to emulate Loki when he wanted others to believe something that was not true.

Red Skull looked over her just as critically as he had looked over her Bridge. When he was convinced she was telling the truth, he nodded. "Excellent," he grinned. "Fire it up. We test it now."

Jane instantly froze, her blood going cold in her veins. "Test it?" she breathed.

Red Skull smirked, his wild eyes narrowing to slits. He stalked towards her, his motions deliberate and aimed to make her fearful.

"You did not think I would deliver it to Thanos without first being certain that it works, did you?" he scoffed. "I value my life too much for that."

He grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger, trying to force her to look up at him. Jane jerked away, and he laughed.

"No," he smirked. "We will test it. Choose one of your friends. We will send Doctor Selvig or Miss Lewis through first."

Jane tried to keep calm, but inside she was panicking. "I don't think that's a good idea," she lied smoothly. "It might not work a second time."

Red Skull stalked around her and leaned down to whisper in her ear, his breath hot against her skin.

"That is a chance I'm willing to take," he growled. "We test it."

"You can't."

"And why not?" he demanded. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Jane sucked in a deep breath and curled her fingers into fists at her side. She closed her eyes and exhaled, trying to keep her voice level and calm.

"It's not really finished," she admitted slowly.

"Now we're getting somewhere," Red Skull laughed, moving away from her. The astrophysicist breathed a sigh of relief when she no longer felt his body heat.

"I've worked with Hydra for seventy years, Doctor Foster," he told her as he walked across the lab, towards the place where Erik and Darcy stood against the wall. "I've seen war, dirty science, and other things that would make your skin crawl. You think I could not tell that you tampered with this Bridge? You think I could not recognize that you were making an explosive device, and pretending to work while I watched?"

He extracted a dagger from his belt, and Jane immediately recognized it as one of hers. He ran his fingers along the edge, leaving a trail of blood behind on the blade.

"Do you truly think me a fool, Jane?" he growled.

"No," she lied again, trying to make him believe her. "I just have a score to settle with Thanos."

It was the truth, for she did have a score to settle with the Mad Titan. Red Skull glared at her, his dark eyes still narrowed to slits and shining with fury.

"I do not care what your grievance with Thanos is," he said flatly. "You lied to me, Jane. You promised me a finished Bridge, and you haven't delivered. Even worse, you have put my life in danger to exact vengeance on the Mad Titan. You will pay dearly for this treachery."

He moved so fast she almost missed it.

Red Skull grasped Erik by the collar of his shirt, and pulled him forward. Erik didn't even have time to regain his balance before the dagger was at his throat. Hydra's leader sliced, cutting him open. Blood spilled over the dagger and onto the stone floor, splattering the lab in crimson.

Red Skull dropped him, and Erik struggled to breathe, his frantic pants coming out in sickening gurgles. Darcy screamed.

Jane ran forward, and caught him before he slumped to the ground. His throat had been cut all the way across, and the blood was spilling from the wound so fast, she didn't know if she could save him.

"Get these cuffs off of me!" she screamed at Red Skull, who watched her plight with a vague disinterest.

She moved Erik, so that his head was in her lap. Her hands were covered in his blood, and her clothes were stained, but she held him.

Tears streamed down her face, and she fixed Red Skull with a furious glare. "Get them off now!" she shrieked. "Let me save him!"

Red Skull watched her for a moment longer, before he kneeled next to her, and inserted a small chip into the cuff. They sprung free easily, and Jane could feel the magic flow through her veins once again.

She focused on Erik, turning her magic into him, thinking only of saving his life.

"Stay with me," she begged him, as she felt muscle tissue knit together beneath her touch. "You have to stay with me, Erik."

He stared at her, desperation in his eyes. He tried to speak, but all she could hear was the harsh gurgle of blood in his throat. Erik reached for her, and placed on hand on her cheek. He smiled at her, even as the light began to leave his eyes.

"Erik!" she sobbed. Tears rolled down her face, as she realized that she couldn't save him. She doubled her efforts, willing him to heal. His flesh knit together, and the wound began to disappear, but he was already gone. Her magic could feel the absence of him the moment he slipped away.

She sobbed and held him, even after he was gone. She held him until her legs grew numb and she had no tears left to shed. Only then, did she look away.

Red Skull stood a few feet away with her dagger pressed against Darcy's throat. The younger girl stared at Erik, her eyes wide with fear and shock.

Jane gritted her teeth in anger as he smirked.

"Build me my Bridge, Doctor Foster," he commanded. "Do it now, or I'll slit her throat too. My threats are not empty, and I am not a fool. It's time you remembered that."

Jane lay Erik down on the stone floor, and used her fingers to close his eyes for the last time. She stood, her body shaking as the adrenaline wore off. Red Skull pressed the knife against Darcy's throat, and a small line of blood formed beneath the blade.

"What will it be, Doctor Foster?" he asked her, his lips quirking up into a smirk.

Jane wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "I'll build the Bridge," she told him, her voice wavering in defeat.

"Good girl."

She made her way over to her Einstein-Rosen Bridge. She removed the explosive device with care, and began work on finishing what she had started the day Thor fell from the sky.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Travel by sea was not pleasant. They traveled north-east, the wind picking up across the barren water. Loki had been through the Bifrost more times than he could count, and it hadn't phased him in the least, but this… this was some other kind of evil entirely.

The boat rocked every time it hit a wave, it's age causing the ride to be quite unpleasant. The god of mischief had nearly been thrown over the side twice, just walking across the deck, and had once ended up in a very awkward position with Thor. Suffice to say that men do not speak of such things if they happen, so neither of them mentioned the incident afterwards.

Their mortal guide, Joe, seemed happy to have them aboard. He chattered on about useless stories and bits of information, until Loki felt as though his patience would snap. He fantasized about throwing the man overboard simply so he could have some peace and quiet, but a slight shake of Thor's head kept him from doing anything he would regret.

Their several day trip felt like a thousand years. Joe had offered them a bunk in the hull of his fishing vessel, where they could sleep and take their time away from deck.

It was a small room made almost entirely of wood, a bunk bed secured to the wall. They ate there, the rocking of the ship strangely calming below deck. Thor claimed the top bunk and slept, his snores carrying in the small space, but Loki did not sleep. He sat still on the bottom bunk of their tiny quarters, staring at the wooden wall, and thinking of Jane.

He was so close to rescuing her, and yet he felt as though the distance between them was insurmountable.

He missed her terribly. The way her hazel eyes lit up when he showed her something that she'd never seen. The way she gasped in surprise and allowed his name to tumble from her lips when he kissed her. The feel of her bare skin beneath his as they made love. The smile that she reserved only for him, as though he was the only man she had ever thought of.

He gripped his scalp and pulled at his hair until is became painful. He bit his lip until he tasted blood, and a strangled cry escaped his lips. He felt helpless, and he hated himself for it.

He reached out to her with his magic, not knowing what else to do, and desperate to feel her presence once again.

"If you can feel me, Jane," Loki whispered. "Know that I have not abandoned you. I will find you, I swear it."

He clenched his fists tightly, awaiting something… anything that would let him know she was linked to him and had heard him or felt his presence, but only the soft hum of the mortal vessel answered his call.

The snores above him stopped, but he paid it no mind. A few moments later he heard Thor climb down from his bunk, his footfalls heavy against the wooden steps. The thunder god sat down beside him on the bottom bunk, and joined him in his broken thoughts.

The two of them had barely spoken since they left Stark Tower, and too much had gone unsaid between them. Though they had allied themselves for this endeavor, there was obvious tension between them, and Thor's very presence at his side made him uneasy.

"Director Hill should be sending out the other Avengers to take Hydra's base in Siberia any day now," Thor noted, attempting to make small talk.

Loki listened, but didn't speak, keeping his eyes on the walls of their temporary home.

"Hydra will lose the majority of their force, and once we arrive at this government property, we can take out the rest," he continued, scratching the back of his head. "This could all be over in a matter of days."

Loki said nothing.

"You worry for her," Thor finally noted, sadness creeping into his voice.

Loki turned away from his vigil of the walls, and met his brother's eyes. "I cannot feel her presence," he admitted, scowling. "Ever since we broke our bond…"

Thor nodded. "Jane Foster is strong. If there is a way to survive, she will find it."

"You're forgetting that she's also stubborn," Loki scoffed. "I doubt that she will be a willing prisoner."

Loki sighed, and ran a hand through his raven curls. "She carries my magic. She is my legacy, Thor, and the best of me in so many ways."

"She's much prettier too," Thor smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Perhaps I could trade you for her."

Loki chuckled. "That she is."

He looked over at Thor shrewdly, "And I think if you honestly could have traded me, you would have done so long before now… Fandral perhaps, would have made an excellent brother."

Thor laughed lightly, but didn't comment.

"Jane spoke with me concerning you before she left," Thor shared instead, leaning over and crossing his arms over his knees as he met Loki's eyes.

"She spoke with me about forgiveness," he continued. "She didn't want to be the cause of strife between us."

"Strife," Loki snorted. "Whatever do you speak of, brother?"

Thor gave him a hard glance, his lips set in a stern line. "I do not feel like jesting, Loki. I ask that you listen to me for a moment."

The god of mischief rolled his eyes, but stayed silent.

"Jane is wise beyond her years," the thunder god said slowly. "She understands that her life is short and her days are numbered. She was right to say that when she is gone, the two of us will still be here for several thousand years after."

He rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "She wanted me to forgive you for slighting me. She asked me to try."

"And have you forgiven me for stealing your bride, brother?" Loki snapped, his fingers curling into a fist once again, but there was no real venom in his words.

Thor ran one hand through his hair and sighed.

"No," he responded. "It would seem that Jane is better than I am as well."

Thor lay back on the bed, and crossed his arms over his stomach, staring at the bunk above.

"I cannot forgive you for what you've done," he began softly. "Not yet at least. But I am trying, Loki. Perhaps one day, I will be able to forgive you and things will be right between us again, but not now."

"Why try to forgive me?" Loki scoffed, shifting on the bed to look at Thor. "I thought I was nothing but the son of a Jotun whore to you?"

In the end, he couldn't stand to look at his brother and turned his head away, resting his chin in the palm of his hand.

"I spoke harshly," Thor admitted, sitting up. He took Loki's hand in his, with only the slightest resistance. "I said some things that are not true, and should never have been said."

Thor took in a deep breath and let it out shakily, his words faltering. "We've known each other for a thousand years, Loki. You've seen me angry many times. You know how I am. Words spill from my lips before I even think of them."

The god of mischief smirked, remembering several of these occasions quite vividly.

Thor squeezed his younger brother's hand, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "I am still angry with you, but we are brothers, even if our blood is not the same."

"We grew up together, Loki. We fought side by side. We confided in each other long before Jane Foster was ever born. It is not blood that makes us brothers, it is our love for each other."

A frown pulled at the corners of his lips as he continued. "I know that it has not been easy for you, Loki. You were not treated fairly, and you were lied to. I was not always fair to you, and I am truly sorry for that."

Loki pulled his hand away from Thor's, and the thunder god's frown deepened.

Thor took a deep breath and continued, his voice unsure. "But I swear to you, brother, that I have always loved you. I would never betray your trust, and I would die fighting for you. Please understand that."

"I am angry with you," the thunder god told him, his blue eyes filled with sadness. He leaned back on the bed once again. "Sometimes it is difficult for me to even look at you, because I am angry, but I still love you. You are still, and will always be my brother."

Loki felt his chest tighten uncomfortably with his brother's sentiment. He opened his mouth to give Thor a scathing reply, anything to stop the discomfort he felt inside, but Thor beat him to it.

"You were right, though," the thunder god continued, the corners of his mouth pulling up into a sad smile. "I should have done more for Jane. Perhaps if I had, she would love me instead of you."

"There is nothing to be done for her," Loki said softly, the tightness in his chest nearly unbearable now. He let his fingers wander over the edge of the bunk, while Thor turned his head to look at him. "I searched all the Nine, and still could not cure her. Your results would have proved futile as well."

The younger prince moved to sit against the headboard, and pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them.

"Perhaps that is so," Thor nodded, sitting up on the bed again, and resting his back against the wall. "But I should have tried anyway." He stroked his beard with his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully. "I love her, Loki, even if she does not love me, and I've done a poor job of showing her that."

Loki rolled his eyes. "The great and mighty Thor is not perfect," he smirked. "We must shout it to all the realms, lest they believe otherwise."

Thor chuckled warmly, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. The two princes sat in silence for a moment the tension between them lessening.

"When we find her," Loki finally said, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "I will slaughter the Red Skull for daring to harm her."

Thor shook his head, running a hand through his golden mane. "Director Hill wishes for us to take the Red Skull alive," he admitted sheepishly. "She wants to interrogate him. Something about Hydra agents infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D."

The god of mischief glared at him, his lips curling up into a sneer. "Half measures," he growled. "You let the Red Skull live, and S.H.I.E.L.D. will either let him go, or he will escape. Are you truly so daft as to believe that your precious S.H.I.E.L.D. will be able to hold him, or break him for that matter?"

Thor frowned. "All men can be broken," he countered. "I think you of all people could understand that. I will break the Red Skull myself if I must."

Loki shook his head. "You have not seen the Red Skull as I have, brother," he explained. "You have met him in combat. He will not break, because he is not a man."

Thor frowned, picking at his armor in irritation. "Speak plainly, Loki. I tire of riddles," he chastised. "From what Steve has told me, the Red Skull is enhanced, but he is still nothing more than a man."

"That is not the case anymore," the god of mischief growled. "Thanos has touched him. He is more than mortal now, and with his immortality, he has lost his humanity. There will be no reasoning with him, and no breaking him."

Thor said nothing, his blue eyes searching for the truth of the matter on the younger prince's face.

Loki leaned forward, and gripped Thor's arm tightly beneath his palm, and looking him straight in the eyes. "Full measures must be taken to ensure Jane's safety. If you are not willing to help me, then I will slaughter him myself."

"I don't like it any more than you do, Loki, but perhaps there is a reason for this request."

Loki sneered. "Jane Foster fights for her life, even as we speak. Do you think she cares what Director Hill has instructed you to do, brother? Do you think she would advise you to follow orders even at the risk to her life?"

"I do," Thor shot back, meeting his gaze with an equal intensity. "I think that Jane would gladly die, so long as it was for a greater purpose."

Loki felt anger overtake him, and he bared his teeth to his older brother. His grip on the thunder god tightened considerably, and he fought the urge to strike him for his flippant treatment of Jane.

"I do not care about S.H.I.E.L.D.," he snarled. "I do not care about the greater good. I do not care about anything but her, brother."

He dropped his legs to the side, and leaned in further to drive his point home, needing Thor to understand exactly how he felt.

"I will go to the ends of Yggdrasil to save her. I will slaughter anyone who dares to do her harm, and I will put her life above any orders we've been given. Her life is worth more to me than all of Midgard. The realm can burn to the ground so long as Jane Foster lives."

He conjured a dagger in his hand, and dragged the blade to rest at the base of Thor's throat, an unspoken threat. "If you love her as you say you do, you will help me," Loki demanded.

Thor stared at him in shock, as Loki's eyes reflected the madness and desperation he felt. He had laid himself bear, because he needed Thor to understand.

"Brother," the thunder god warned. "This is madness. You are not thinking clearly."

"His green eyes blazed with hatred, and he gritted his teeth in frustration. "I will protect her," he growled. "And I won't let you stop me."

Thor glanced down at his feet, worrying the hem of his shirt and warring with himself. "Okay," Thor finally said. His lower lip twitched before he looked up at Loki, his gaze steadfast. "If it will keep Jane safe, I will help you. Full measures."

"Good," Loki smirked, removing the dagger from Thor's neck. "We kill the Red Skull."

Loki threw the dagger into the wall, and enjoyed the sound it made as it buried itself to the hilt.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jane sat in her room, staring out the window.

She wished so badly that she had her magic. If she did, she wouldn't feel so helpless. She watched the water crash onto the shore below, and wished she could get outside. If she did, she would swim out into the cove, and let herself drown. Red Skull and Thanos couldn't have her bridge if she was dead.

But then there was Darcy to consider. If Jane took her life, what would happen to her? Perhaps the younger girl would be willing to go with her. They could end themselves, and leave Hydra with nothing. The thought was tempting, but Darcy still had her whole life ahead of her, and Jane doubted that she would be willing to take her own life.

"Jane," Darcy called out tentatively.

The astrophysicist ignored her.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and felt the younger girl at her back. "Listen up, boss. I'm not going to let you starve yourself. You have to eat."

"No."

"Jane, please," Darcy tried again, this time more gently. "Do you think this is what Erik would want? Do you think he would want you to feel guilty and starve yourself?"

Erik. The sound of his name made her flinch. Erik was dead, because of her. Jane had believed herself invincible. She had thought that she could fool the Red Skull, and take both him and Thanos out. She had convinced herself that it would be easy, and that her life would be the only one lost if she failed.

She had been wrong, and Erik had paid the price for her failure.

The tears had long been spent, hers and Darcy's both. The girls had spent the last several evenings in their room in a tight embrace, crying, screaming, and sobbing until neither of them had anything left. She hadn't eaten in days, refusing any food Hydra brought her. At least she could be defiant in this small way.

"Please, Jane," Darcy squeezed her shoulder.

The astrophysicist finally turned around to look at her, noting that Darcy looked as bad as she felt. The younger girl had dark circles under her eyes, and dirt on her face. Her skin looked pale and her dark eyes were dull.

She held out a cafeteria-style plate of food from questionable origins, and Jane found that she couldn't say no.

The two girls ate in silence, until Hydra came for them. They were both escorted at gunpoint to Jane's lab, where Red Skull was already waiting for them.

Darcy was immediately pulled into his chest and a knife was placed at her throat, a not so subtle reminder of exactly what he would do should Jane try anything.

Her cuffs were then removed, and she was told to work.

It had been her routine for the last several days. Jane would work on the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, and Red Skull would hold Darcy at knifepoint, his feral eyes watching her with interest.

The astrophysicist used her magic to work on the Bridge, willing it to open up the fabric of space and time, just as she was able to do when she jumped. Her magic danced in her veins, weaving itself into the Bridge until it glowed a bright green.

She shouldn't finish it, her mind screamed at her. Thanos would use it for evil. Other realms would fall just as Earth almost did. She would be assisting that bastard in the genocide of millions of people.

Across the lab, she saw Darcy press her nose into Red Skull's neck, the discomfort on his face amusing.

"You smell good today," the younger girl told her captor. "Like aftershave, or mouthwash, or something. Yesterday you kind of smelled like sweat. It was really gross. Do you wear Old Spice?"

Darcy rambled on, Red Skull growing more and more on edge, but Jane wasn't listening. She was too busy weighing her options.

If she finished the Bridge, the lives of millions of innocent people would most likely be lost. If she didn't, she and Darcy would die.

Red Skull shouted something at Darcy about slitting her throat if she said another word. His knife nicked the skin of her neck, a bright line of blood spilling over onto his knife. She immediately quit talking, and Jane made a choice.

She could live with her own death, but she wouldn't get Darcy killed. She couldn't bear to sacrifice the only friend she had, even if all the realms were at stake.

The astrophysicist turned back to her work, placed her hands on the Bridge, and doubled her efforts. She forced her magic into the Bridge, willing it work, and using it to program the machine. It was easy from there. She could feel the Bridge hum beneath her touch, coming to life with the help of her magic.

She stepped back, the Bridge still humming with life. It was completed.

She felt Red Skull behind her before she heard him. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me, Dr. Foster," he purred.

Jane turned to face him, shooting him a glare of pure hatred. He still held Darcy in his arms, a dagger at her throat, but a wicked grin spread across his face. "Let's test it, shall we?"

An agent of Hydra stepped forward and aimed a gun at Darcy. Red Skull shoved her forward, out of his grasp, and towards the Einstein-Rosen Bridge.

The leader of Hydra grinned, his smile so wide it looked painful. "We have a base in Siberia," he informed her casually. "I can give you the coordinates if you need them. Send her there."

"It's a one way trip," Jane protested. "She won't be able to come back, at least not until I find a way to make the Bridge portable."

"She's going," Red Skull replied. "Send her, or she dies."

He rattled off coordinates, which Jane programmed into the Bridge under his watchful eye. She pressed the button that would power it up for the desired destination, and waited.

The hum of the Bridge became more of a shrill scream, and the green tendrils of magic radiated from the machine. Darcy was swallowed in green light, and disappeared with a shriek.

Jane summoned two of her daggers as soon as Darcy was gone, and threw them at Red Skull. He ducked beneath one, and the other buried itself in his chest.

She called back the dagger that had missed, but was caught off guard when Red Skull plowed into her, and knocked her to the stone floor. He hit her, his fist knocking her head back with the force.

She felt the pulse of energy from the infinity stone, as he pressed it against her neck in warning. Being that close to the relic was madding and painful, as if her skin were on fire, and her body pulling itself apart. Jane writhed beneath his hold, trying to get her wits about her and gather her magic, but the stone's power was all encompassing, and she was unable to fight it.

"Put down that stone and fight me, you coward," Jane spat, her voice wavering from the pain.

Red Skull merely pressed the rock harder into her neck, the pain doubling. When he removed the stone, Jane was vaguely aware that she had been cuffed again. She tried to move, but was unable to, and her breath came out in short wheezes.

Red Skull leaned over her, and pressed his face into her hair. He breathed in, and brushed his cheek against hers in a caress.

"So powerful," he murmured against her ear. "A shame you will not join me."

The astrophysicist recoiled from his touch, trying desperately to hit him or get away, whichever came more easily.

She heard a phone ring, and Red Skull pulled away from her. She closed her eyes, and tried to even out her breathing. She could react much better if she was calm.

"Good news," the leader of Hydra remarked. "Darcy Lewis has made it to our base in Siberia. Well done, Dr. Foster."

He removed himself from his position on top of her, and helped her to her feet. She leaned against him, the pain still very real, and hated herself for needing his help to stand.

Red Skull wrapped an arm around her, and cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him.

"Now, Dr. Foster," he purred. "You will see true power."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Why do you think women have better hair than we do?" the thunder god asked as he adjusted the nets on the fisherman's boat.

"It is because women wash their hair, and do not spend time in battle having the blood of their enemies soak into their tresses." Loki responded dully. "That and something called shampoo. Jane has some, and the smell is pleasing." The younger prince sat on the edge of the boat, his long legs dangling over the side, looking out over the horizon for any sign of their destination.

"Sif spends time in battle," Thor countered. "I have seen the blood of our enemies soaked in her hair many times. She also does not use this shampoo."

"Sif is not a woman."

"Oh, but she is, brother," Thor grinned. He walked across the deck of the boat, and came to stand beside him, a wicked grin on his face. "I have seen her bare," he whispered. "It was quite glorious."

The god of mischief was stunned. He stared at his brother over his shoulder, openmouthed. "You have seen Sif naked?"

The thunder god sat down next to Loki, and leaned back on his arms a bit. He smirked, his bright, blue eyes taking on a rakish quality. "I have."

"I swear by the Norns, Thor, do all women's undergarments simply fall off for you?"

Thor grinned. "Aye."

Loki snorted in amusement, and Thor's grin faded into a frown. "Nearly all," he corrected sadly, looking out over the ocean and away from the younger prince.

Loki sighed. "The role of scorned lover does not suit you, brother," he remarked.

Thor turned to glare at him, his gaze forcing Loki to meet his eyes. "Am I not scorned?" he prompted, his tone incredulous. "Have you not done this to me?"

Loki frowned. "Tell me, Thor," he began slowly, his green eyes relentless in their search for the older prince's emotions. "How can you be scorned, when you spoke of seeing Sif bare only moments ago? What lover speaks of a woman who is not his in such a way?"

Thor crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "That is merely the way of men," he defended, as Loki rolled his eyes. "You would dare to suggest that I do not love Jane?"

"Aye."

The thunder god stared in shock for a few moments, before his body reacted quickly. He shoved Loki, causing him to lose his balance, and sent him tumbling over the side of the boat.

The god of mischief landed with a splash, and surfaced almost immediately, his raven hair now plastered to the side of his face, and his clothes completely soaked. The boat slowed to a stop, their guide aware of a lost passenger. Loki pouted from his position in the water, glaring at the older prince as he stood on the edge of the boat.

"You know nothing of my feelings for her!" Thor accused, his face twisting in hurt. "You would mock me by insinuating that I do not love her."

Loki gave a small laugh, that turned into a cough, the sound strangled and wild. "If I know nothing, brother, then enlighten me," he leered, pushing his hair back. "Tell me why you love Jane Foster. Help me understand, how deeply I've hurt you."

Thor glared at him from above, and said nothing.

"Tell me why," Loki prompted, his mocking tone slipping away for a more curious one. He swam closer to the boat, treading water as he searched the older prince for answers. "I want to understand."

"I…" Thor began uncertainly, his anger all but gone. "I love Jane, because she is strong," he replied resolutely. "She is kind and beautiful, and she treats me like I am not a prince, but a man. She's clever. She makes me happy, and with her I can be myself."

Loki raised a brow at his efforts, disdain evident in his green eyes. "That is all?" he scoffed, splashing water up, and soaking Thor along with him. The thunder god growled, wiping salt water from his face with the back of his hand.

"No ardent declarations of love," Loki teased, starting to float on his back now. "No passionate words for the woman you wish to wed?" He looked over at Thor. "The way you describe her, she could be no more than a favorite pet."

Thor snarled, and jumped off the side of the boat, murder in his eyes. He sank beneath the water, splashing Loki with the entrance. When he surfaced, he immediately began swimming, making a beeline for the younger prince.

"Do you mock me, brother?" Thor growled, grabbing at Loki's shirt as he tried to swim away. He reached for his head, and dunked him under the water

The god of mischief shifted beneath Thor's hold, and kicked to the surface. "I wouldn't dare mock you," he sputtered, coughing. "I was merely stating a fact. Your feelings for Jane lack the passion of a lover."

He felt a grin stretch across his face at the confusion on Thor's, and started swimming away from him. "Perhaps I've done you both a favor in winning her heart, brother," he continued. "I've saved you from a marriage without passion, and I've saved Jane from an eternity of boredom."

Thor grit his teeth and chased after him.

"You would say such things to me?" Thor challenged him. "You would add further insult to my injury?"

He lunged for Loki, but the younger prince was faster. He ducked beneath the water and swam behind Thor. When he surfaced, he dunked the thunder god in one swift motion.

Thor broke the surface of the water, sputtering and thrashing about.

"You call me brother," Loki stressed, holding his hands up in peace. "You claim our love for each other is greater than my parentage."

Thor watched him carefully for any signs of trickery, but noticed the shift in the younger god's tone.

"Allow me to be a brother to you, Thor," the god of mischief urged. "Jane Foster is not right for you. The two of you have little in common, and it is only your delusions of a life with her that keep you from letting her go."

Thor moved to grasp Loki again, but he evaded quickly enough, swimming for freedom. "Were I not involved," he shouted. "The end result would still have been the same. It was inevitable." Thor splashed water over Loki's head, slowing him down. "Thor, stop it! I was merely a catalyst in the gradual break of your relationship with Jane."

Thor finally caught the younger prince and dunked him, holding him under this time. Loki struggled hard against Thor, and eventually wiggled free. He kicked his way to the surface and broke through the water, gasping for air.

"I say these things not to spite you, brother," he panted, after he had caught his breath. "But to open your eyes to the truth. Even if my words are a bit cruel, they are well intentioned."

"How can you say that?" Thor snarled, grasping Loki's shirt with one of his hands.

"What is her favorite flavor of pop tart?" Loki asked, kicking Thor's hip and shoving away from him.

Thor growled, reaching for him again. "I fail to see how this is relevant."

"Humor me, brother," Loki grinned, swimming away with ease.

"I don't know."

"Brown sugar cinnamon," Loki answered, before turning and splashing Thor in the face. "What are her worst memories?"

Thor splashed him, and Loki dove beneath the water, swimming under the older prince. He surfaced, splashing Thor from the other side.

"Hydra kidnapping her," the thunder god tried.

"Wrong," Loki smirked. "Her parent's car accident, in which they perished, and the Destroyer."

Thor managed to grab his shoulder, and dunked him under once again. He kicked away, and surfaced, coughing.

"Does she prefer wine or ale?" Loki asked amidst coughs.

"Dammit, Loki, I do not know!" Thor barked.

"Wine," the younger prince answered, striking out and shoving Thor underneath the water, in triumph.

Thor swam upwards, coughing and forcing water from his nose.

"All things you could have learned of her in a very short time," Loki chastised. "And yet you could not answer any of my questions. Tell me, Thor. Could you live with a woman who's first love is the stars? Could you forsake Asgard, and give her all of Yggdrasil if she asked it of you? Could you live with a woman who grew bored with your talk of battle?"

"Jane finds talk of battle to be interesting," Thor countered, splashing Loki. "I spoke of it just a few days ago, and she listened. Her love of the stars is not foreign to me either, brother."

"She was being nice," Loki scoffed. "And she finds your knowledge of Asgard's constellations to be lacking."

"We cannot all write books on astronomy, brother," Thor rolled his eyes. "And I can learn of Jane's preferences. I only need time."

"You've had nearly three years," Loki hissed, his green eyes boring into Thor's. "I've had only a few short months. You do not know Jane Foster, and you certainly do not love her."

Thor scowled, and chased him, his long strokes through the water gaining ground. "And what of you, brother," he snorted. "If my feelings for Jane are so passionless, what are yours? Why do you love her?"

"I never claimed such sentiments," the god of mischief argued, splashing Thor as the older prince forced him under again.

Thor laughed and waited for him to surface. "You don't have to. Your actions claim them for you."

Loki scowled, pushing his raven hair out of his face, and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Come now, Loki," Thor taunted. "Where is this passion you claim that I lack?"

The younger prince sighed. "Jane is beautiful, just as you said," he agreed. "But she is so much more than that."

Thor splashed him. "That is the best you have," he scoffed. "Is she merely a pet to you as well."

Loki swam up to the boat, feeling jittery.

"She is no pet," Loki hissed, pulling himself up and onto the rear of the boat. He looked out at Thor, and his fingers busied themselves on the hem of his shirt. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves.

Thor watched him from the water, his bright blue eyes curious, and seeking answers. Loki fought the urge to give a scathing remark and shut him out, as he had done so many times in the past. It would be easy, and he could bear the hurt it would bring the older prince with little cost to himself.

But he did not. Perhaps it was because he didn't truly want to shut Thor out this time, or maybe because he felt Jane's qualities needed to be put into words by someone who knew her more intimately. Either way, he began to speak without weighing his words.

"Jane is brilliant and willful; a deadly combination that allows her to accomplish anything she can dream up," he began slowly, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips with the very thought of his Jane.

"Her smile is like the light of a sun, and I can scarce breathe when she intends it for me. Her eyes light up when she discovers something new, and her enthusiasm is contagious." Loki combed his fingers through his hair, while Thor approached the boat, the older prince's expression shifting from amusement to confusion.

"She can hold her own in an argument, and her wit is near equal to mine. She is loyal."

Loki gave Thor a pointed stare as he climbed next to Loki on the boat. She knows the worst of me, and still she stays at my side."

"She is kind, brother," he continued. "In Jotunheim the Frost Giants captured me and I was tortured, a serpent set to drip venom on me for all eternity. Jane slayed the serpent and rescued me, at a great possible cost to herself. She showed me mercy when she did not have to."

Loki leaned his elbows on his knees and dropped his chin to his palms. He looked disburdened, thinking of Jane.

"Jane Foster is a stargazer and scholar," he gestured, his eyes lighting up as he thought of their adventures together. "She has cheated death, and been tried in blood and fire. She is a unicorn rider, a Sleepwalker, a serpent slayer, and the realms bend to her will. Though she stares death in the face, she doesn't flinch. Jane Foster is a force to be reckoned with, and there are no other women in all the Nine that could replace her. She is the beginning and the end of all that matters."

He glanced at Thor who was watching him closely, his jaw slack with surprise.

"I long to be reunited with her, brother," he sighed, closing his eyes. "To feel her lips on mine, and inhale her scent. To hear her gasp when I touch her, and for my name to tumble from her lips. I long for these things, and I think on them often. It is what drives me, even now."

"Do you understand now, brother?" Loki prompted, opening his eyes to meet Thor's.

"Sentiment," he groaned. "It seems to speak of its own accord, quite without my permission." He turned a piercing gaze on Thor. "You should be able to speak of Jane in such a way, brother, and until you can, your feelings for her are merely delusions."

Thor stared at him, his mouth nearly agape in shock. His brows furrowed, and he tried to speak, but nothing came out.

The boat started up again, the soft hum of the engine, the only noise between them. Thor turned away from the younger prince, looking out over the ocean. He said nothing, because there was nothing to say.

After a long silence of what felt like hours where Thor refused to look at him, Loki finally got tired of waiting. The older prince stared resolutely ahead, his lower lip extended in a pout.

Loki tried to speak, but he didn't know where to begin.

Thankfully, Thor broke the silence for him. He glanced over at Loki, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Sometimes you can be such a little shit, Loki," he laughed, before pushing the younger prince into the water once again.

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Red Skull pounded his fist against the table before him, losing patience with Thanos' daughter.

"Where is he?" the leader of Hydra snarled. "I was to meet with him. In person. He owes me!"

"Thanos owes you nothing," Gamora stated flatly, her brows furrowed in anger. "He has decided to be generous to you, because you have served him well, but he owes you nothing."

She pointed to the Einstein-Rosen Bridge that Jane had completed only hours before. "The Bridge?" she asked.

"Not until I see Thanos," Red Skull demanded.

Gamora shook her head. "You'll see him, when he wants you to. Right now, he needs that Bridge."

Red Skull moved to stand between her and the Bridge, baring his teeth.

"Over my dead body."

"That could easily be arranged," a woman's voice broke into the conversation.

Hela appeared out of thin air between Red Skull and Gamora, a wicked grin on her face. She carried a staff with a glowing blue stone on the end. She stalked towards him, her black eyes dancing with glee.

"I have heard much about you, Red Skull," she purred. "I would very much like to take you for myself."

She twirled the staff in her hands, making a show of the stone that decorated the end. "Thanos, however, has asked that I leave you alive," she pouted. "Aren't you lucky?"

"I would hardly call it luck," Red Skull drawled slowly,

Hela moved on him, driving him back. Red Skull backed up until he was out of space, the Bridge pressing into his back. The goddess of death raised a hand, and caressed his face almost reverently.

Red Skull grasped her hand, intending to break it. Hela merely smirked.

He felt a sharp jab in his chest, and he let go of her hand, his body moving of its own accord. The blue stone touched his chest, its power coursing through him.

"That's a good boy," Hela purred. "I'll take that Bridge now."

Red Skull had no control over himself. He backed away from the Bridge, the stone still pressed into his chest.

The goddess of death touched the Bridge, and it disappeared in a wisp of black smoke. She turned to Red Skull, still holding the staff in one hand, and gave him a wide grin.

"I'll take that purple stone you have too," she commanded.

Red Skull grit his teeth, but was unable to stop his body from moving and complying with her wishes. He extracted the stone from his pocket, and held it out towards her.

Hela took it from him, holding the stone for only a moment before making it disappear in a wisp of black smoke.

"Forward," she commanded.

He moved, walking towards her. She backed away as he moved forward, never letting the staff leave his chest. When she reached Gamora, Hela wrapped an arm around Thanos' daughter, and gave Red Skull one last smirk.

"I'll be seeing you soon," she winked, her voice thick with seduction. The two women disappeared, along with the staff, leaving Red Skull alone.

It took him several minutes to regain control of himself again, and when he did he was furious.

The leader of Hydra threw over the table, smashing it into tiny wooden pieces with his fists. He took the chairs, and smashed them against the wall, wood splintering over the stone floors. He screamed, surprising even himself when his cry turned to a bone-chilling howl.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"And that's how I got kicked out of Walmart," Darcy explained to Hydra's soldiers. "Turns out they don't like it when you wax someone's chest in the cosmetics aisle. I mean, they sell the stuff there, so you would think it would be okay, right? Apparently it's not."

A dozen men in uniform sat around the table, all listening to her intently, as if her stories were the work of a seasoned novelist, which they most definitely weren't. They actually kind of sucked, but whatever.

Darcy desperately missed Jane and her boys. She worried for them with the knowledge that she could do nothing to help, which was absolutely maddening, but Siberia wasn't really so bad. The base was massive, sprawling over at least an acre. Accomodations were reasonable, and she was pretty much free to roam all of the community Skull wasn't there, so her captors were way more laid back, and some even joked with her as though they were friends. She wasn't afraid of these men. They had all been kind to her since she had arrived. She was however, afraid of the Black Widow.

The former Avenger leaned over the railing of a catwalk that encircled the common room. She watched Darcy with a pants-shitting scary intensity. All. The. Time. Like, seriously, the woman didn't even blink, which was a feat in itself.

She watched Darcy even now, her laser eyes boring a hole through the young intern.

From what she'd gathered over the past few days, the Black Widow was not exactly trusted by the men of Hydra. She'd been pulled into their Soldier program against her will, and brainwashed, just like Bucky had been.

Darcy wanted to help her, but she was highly doubtful that she could get through to her. She had only met Natasha once before now, and it was an uneventful meeting. Someone who knew her more intimately would be far better suited for this task.

So she ignored the Black Widow's gaze, and continued telling stories to her new friends. She was halfway through a story about the time she put laxatives in the drink of her high school nemesis, when the scream of jet was heard overhead.

The soldiers of Hydra jumped up, grappling for their weapons. When Darcy looked up, the Black Widow was gone, and Hydra soldiers everywhere in sight were mobilizing for battle.

"Stay here," one of her new friends commanded her, before running off to join the others.

She heard the sound of breaking glass, gunfire, and screams from a different part of the facility. Her friends soon disappeared from the common room, headed towards the fray. She was alone on the outskirts of some sort of battle… and she was unarmed….

Darcy wasn't an astrophysicist, but she wasn't an idiot either.

"Fuck this shit," she mumbled to herself.

She ran, looking for an exit. She tried one door, and then another, finding them both barred.

"Shit!" she shouted.

The sounds of gunfire and screams of pain filled her ears, urging her on. A small window on the opposite side of the common room caught her eye, just the right height and just big enough that she could get through.

Using all of her knowledge of action movies, Darcy ran for the window, and threw her shoulder into it at full speed.

It fucking hurt. She tumbled to the floor, face first, and laid there for a moment. Her shoulder was on fire, and there was no broken glass to show that she'd succeeded.

Fucking window. Fucking action movies.

When she felt as though she could finally move, Darcy stood, and surveyed the damage, rubbing her shoulder lightly.

The window was cracked, but the glass had stayed in place. She was going to need something stronger than her shoulder if she wanted to break it. A glance around the common room provided exactly what she would need to be successful.

Darcy picked up a metal folding chair, and pointed the legs at the window. She ran driving them through the glass. The impact was painful, and the skin on her hands ripped open in her effort to keep her hold on the chair. The glass shattered, and she was immediately met with the bitter cold from outdoors.

The intern threw aside the chair, and climbed out of the window, trying to avoid the broken glass. She had escaped the deadly brawl for now, but the outdoors brought with itself a completely different set of problems.

The cold was bitter, the wind chilling her to the bone. There was nothing but snow as far as the eye could see, and she didn't have a coat of any kind.

She was beyond fucked.

A few vehicles sat unattended about a hundred yards away, all black and unmarked with chains on their tires. Darcy made the miserable walk to the vehicles, hoping that she would get lucky enough to find some keys.

She checked through two SUVs and an old pickup, finding nothing.

"Shit," she cursed again. Her swear jar was going to be overflowing after today it would seem.

Darcy reverted back to her high school days when she and her friends would steal each other's cars and park them in random places across town as a joke. She had once been very good at hotwiring a vehicle, and she drew on those skills now.

She chose the old pickup, because it would make her task easier, and went to work. She cut the wires with her teeth, and spliced them back together as she remembered. The engine roared to a start, and she jumped up, fist bumping her success.

Darcy climbed into the truck, and slammed the door shut. She put it in drive, turned on the heater, and moved out.

Snow fell on the windshield as she drove, lessening her vision. The truck handled fairly well with the chains on the tires, and she drove over the barren, white landscape towards what she hoped would be civilization of some sort.

She drove, never looking back. What little light the landscape reflected faded into night, until all was dark, barren, and silent. Still she drove, never stopping. The truck had held a half tank when she left, and now it rested at an eighth. Darcy began to worry she might not make it to civilization. The idea of freezing to death in the middle of nowhere was not appealing in any fashion.

A thud sounded out on the roof of the truck, and Darcy screamed. More thuds followed, and the roof of the truck was ripped open. Black gloved hands reached for her, and she swerved the truck, trying to throw her attacker.

The truck lost traction, and slid sideways. It flipped, throwing Darcy into the window. The truck rolled twice, sending Darcy tumbling like a ragdoll. Her head slammed into the steering wheel, and her ribs were smashed into the dashboard.

When the truck finally stopped, she was dizzy and her entire body hurt. She tried to move, and was immediately overcome with nausea.

A gloved hand reached through the window of the truck and grasped her shoulder tightly.

Darcy cried out in pain as her attacker pulled her from the truck, dragging her over broken glass and twisted metal. Once she was free of the debris, she was grasped by the neck, and hauled upwards.

The Black Widow glared at her. She looked battered, but she was still very much alive. Darcy struggled under her grip, trying desperately to get air into her lungs.

"You don't," she gasped. "Want to do this."

The Black Widow merely glared, no light of recognition in her eyes.

"Natasha," Darcy coughed. She searched the other woman for any sign of recognition.

Nothing. Only the steely eyes of a trained killer looked back at her.

Darcy gasped for air, her vision swimming in and out of focus. The Black Widow's grip on her throat tightened, and though she struggled Darcy was not as strong.

This is how she would die.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she closed them to keep from crying. Her lungs burned from lack of oxygen, and her gasps were becoming more and more ragged. She was about to give in and let the darkness take her, when the Black Widow dropped her.

Darcy crumbled to the ground, coughing and gasping. Her vision was coming back to her slowly, but the world around her spun and was filled with dark spots.

Strong arms scooped her up, and her face was pressed into the solid form of a man's chest. He smelled of sweat and leather, along with a masculine smell she easily recognized.

Darcy focused, her vision slowly returning to her. Bucky held her tightly, relief evident in his features. She turned to look for Steve, and found him a few feet away.

He held Natasha in his arms, her body limp. A large gash decorated the side of her head, and Steve's shield lay at her feet, blood on the edge.

He was sobbing, stroking her hair and repeating her name over and over again.

"I'm sorry, Nat," Steve sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

Darcy felt guilt and a deep sense of sadness as she watched one of the men she was growing to love mourning the death of his friend. They had been close, and seeing him this way was heartbreaking.

She held onto Bucky, and he sat her down gently on her feet. She was oxygen deprived, and a bit wobbly, but she made her way over to Steve.

He turned away from Natasha and tried to smile at her, but it was weak and there was pain in it.

"I'm sorry," he said again, his voice trembling. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I just… she didn't…."

Darcy touched a hand to his face, and he stopped talking. She wiped the tears from his cheeks, and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Thank you for saving me," she whispered, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

Steve laid Natasha down gently on the snow. He stood, and wrapped his arms around Darcy, pulling her into his chest. She returned the embrace, allowing his tears and hers to mingle together.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jane lay beneath the stars, the night sky reminding her of just how alone she truly was. She inhaled, letting out the air slowly, trying to keep her wits about her.

She felt his presence before she saw him, a calm settling over her.

"I haven't seen you in awhile," she breathed, refusing to look at him. Her heart beat erratically, and her chest was tight with pain.

"I have not slept much," he admitted, his usually smooth voice strained. "And when I do, my sleep is often plagued with nightmares."

Jane felt the tears spill before she could stop them. "What do you think it's like to die, Loki?" she whispered. "Do you think I'll know when my last moment is, or do you think I'll just slip away?"

"Stop it," Loki growled. She felt him roll over on his side to face her. "You don't need to know, because you're not going to die."

Jane rolled over to face him. He looked terrible. Dark circles were under his eyes, and his face was tight with worry. She had never seen him this way before, and it was alarming. He laced his fingers between hers, bringing her knuckles up to his lips, and placing a kiss there. Jane blushed.

"You're mine," Loki told her with certainty, his green eyes fixing on her intently. "And I won't let you."

"You can't always save me."

"I can try, Jane Foster," he smirked. "I believe with time, you will see that my will is just as strong as yours."

Jane smiled, extricating one hand from his grip. She ran her fingers along the side of his face, caressing his cheek and jaw line, committing to memory the curve of the bone beneath. Loki closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, sighing.

"Stay with me?" she asked hopefully.

"Always."

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, and Jane laid her head on his shoulder. They stayed that way for a very long time, neither of them moving as they watched the stars above.

Jane felt him stir after several hours, and felt the press of cool steel against her palm. Loki closed her fingers around the hilt of dagger, allowing his hands to linger on hers for far longer than necessary.

"Keep this with you at all times," he cautioned. "When the time is right, be ready. I will see you soon, my Jane."

Jane was going to ask him what he meant, but he was gone before she could get the words out, leaving her alone in her dreams.

When she woke, Jane was in Hydra's cove base, alone once again, and sleeping on a cot. She felt steel against her side, and was surprised to see that she held a dagger in her hands.

The dream she'd had felt real, and now she knew why. It was. Loki had managed to visit her in her dreams, and give her this gift.

The astrophysicist rolled out of her cot, and hid the dagger beneath her t-shirt and jeans, careful to make sure it wouldn't been seen when she moved. She had just pulled her boots on when the door to her room was thrown open with a force that nearly took it off its hinges.

Red Skull stalked in, his eyes wild, and hunched over like an animal. He growled at her, baring his teeth, his mood between anger and glee, and Jane shivered when his eyes made contact with hers.

"I have a surprise for you, Dr. Foster," he snarled. "It seems that your Asgardian protector has followed you here. I can smell him."

Jane felt her heart leap with hope, a grin stretching over her face.

Red Skull was at her side in an instant, and grasped her roughly by the shoulder. He pulled her into his chest, and pressed a dagger at her throat.

"I am very much looking forward to killing him," he rasped, his lips at her ear. Jane struggled against his grip, but without her magic she wasn't strong enough to break free. "Maybe I'll let you watch as I cut him up and drink his blood. Would you cry for him, Jane?" he laughed. "Would you hold his broken body and weep for him?"

Jane threw an elbow into his chest, and he pulled her hair with a force that nearly ripped it from her head. She cried out in pain, and he wrapped a thick fist around her neck.

He dragged her, his grip tight enough to make her struggle for air, but not so tight that she strangled. Red Skull led her down the stairs and through the base.

Around them, Hydra agents mobilized for battle, everyone in a state of high alert. Red Skull shouted to his men as they moved, giving them instructions and urging them outside.

Jane was dragged out and into the open, the sunlight blinding her after so much time indoors. The cove was silent with the exception of Hydra agents spilling out from the base and standing at attention. Their leader walked among them, his eyes on the rocks that built up around the cove, making it invisible to the outside world. He stopped dragging Jane only when he stood alone on the shore, his men behind him.

"Show yourself, coward!" Red Skull barked, his voice a shrill command. Jane struggled against him, and he pulled her into his chest once again, the steel of the dagger digging into her neck.

For a moment nothing happened, but then a dark figure appeared at the top of the rock, looking down on them. Loki stood tall in his battle armor, the sunlight gleaming off his golden helm. Hope flowed through the astrophysicist at the sight of the man she loved, here to rescue her.

Red Skull thrust her forward, the dagger biting into her in the process.

"Here is your mortal, Asgardian!" he leered. "Come and get her if you're brave enough!"

Loki disappeared from his place atop the rocks, and materialized less than ten feet away from them. He seemed calm and collected, but Jane could see the rage simmering behind his bright, green eyes.

Hydra agents around them aimed their weapons on the god of mischief, and Red Skull grinned, pressing his face into Jane's neck.

Loki ground his teeth together in anger, losing the calm demeanor he had displayed. "Give her to me, now," he demanded, his voice a low threat.

Jane could feel the cuffs on her hands vibrate, and heat up. The metal developed a crack down the center, which grew larger with each passing moment.

"I was hoping for more of a challenge," Red Skull taunted. "Yet you come to me alone, Asgardian. I will tear you apart, and let Jane watch."

A smile tugged at the corners of Loki's mouth, and his hands found the hilt of one of his daggers. "I hate to disappoint you," he drawled slowly, his eyes never leaving his adversary. "But I didn't come alone."

A distant roll of thunder broke the silence of the cove, the sky darkening with the threat of storms.

The Hydra agents looked around anxiously, holding their guns tightly as if their weapons could save them from the wrath of mother nature.

The sky darkened further, the clouds an angry charcoal. Lightning branched from the sky. The cove flickered between light and dark, the storm increasing in intensity.

Jane knew the cause of it even before she saw him. Thor.

The thunder god appeared at the top of the rocks, where Loki had been only moments before. He raised Mjolnir to the sky, blue electricity dancing on the hammer and in his eyes.

Lightning struck the ocean, lighting up the water in the cove like a spectacular show. Red Skull gaped in surprise, and Jane felt the cuffs on her wrists break open.

"Now!" Loki shouted above the thunder.

Jane grasped the dagger he had given her in one hand, and ripped Red Skull's dagger away from him with her magic. She gripped them both tightly, and sliced at him before he could react. The daggers shredded the chest of his uniform, cutting into the flesh.

He released her, and Jane jumped, getting himself a safe distance away from him. Chaos broke out around her. Hydra agents fired on the princes, their weapons doing little in the face of such power. Thor entered the fray, throwing Mjolnir with deadly accuracy, and taking out scores of men at once. Loki moved so fast, Jane could hardly keep up with him. He jumped again and again, flashing in and out of her vision, and slaying man after man with his daggers.

Red Skull ran at Loki, and the two of them became locked in battle. Trading attacks, parrying blows and moving with impressive speed.

Hydra agents charged her, and Jane sent her daggers flying. Her magic guided them, sending them straight through the men's chests, dropping them easily. She would then call them back to be thrown again.

Lightning struck beside her, several men being incinerated on the spot. Jane gave Thor a thumbs up, and took out a man who was attempting to sneak up on the thunder god.

Thor grinned at her, and let loose his lightning once again, taking out more of Hydra's agents.

Jane made her way towards Loki and Red Skull, taking out anyone who got in her way. Loki swung his daggers with a fierce intensity, jumping in and out of his adversary's reach. Red Skull struck back, trying to keep the god of mischief still long enough to harm him.

The leader of Hydra managed to grasp Loki's collar right as he jumped. The two of them materialized together a few feet away, Red Skull clinging to Loki's cloak, and wrapping his hands around the god of mischief's neck.

Jane threw one of her daggers, using her magic to guide it. The blade zipped past Loki, barely two inches from his face, and buried itself in Red Skull's neck.

Red Skull jerked backwards, releasing Loki. The god of mischief ran him through with a dagger, earning an inhuman shriek from the leader of Hydra. He pulled back, ripping Loki's dagger from his chest, and ran, trying to put distance between his two magic wielding adversaries.

From the corner of her eye, Jane saw Thor taking on several dozen men at once. He ripped them apart with his hammer and lightning, but he was taking fire in the process.

She joined the fray, taking out the men with her daggers, as Thor destroyed them with lightning. She turned in time to see Red Skull swimming out towards the submarine, with Loki in hot pursuit.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Loki chased the Red Skull across the shore of the cove and into the water. He was fast, and even with his magic it was difficult to keep up with him.

Thor's storm raged on around him, the dark skies and lightning both providing him cover, and making it difficult to see. The winds gusted through the cove, the water violent and choppy, and the waves nearly pulling him under.

The leader of Hydra took to the water like a fish, never stopping, even when the waves pulled him under. He swam towards the large metal submarine that the fisherman had described to them. He reached the sub, and pulled himself up and into the metal behemoth, slamming the circular door on top behind him.

Loki was right on his heels. He pulled himself up, using his magic to dry his armor and leather clothing, so that the water wouldn't weigh him down. He commanded the top of the submarine to open. The metal screws popped loose, and the door flew open with ease, giving him access to the living space below. He jumped down and into the submarine, following his adversary.

Everything was metal. Walls, floors, ceiling, doors, all metal. The space was tight, and it was like nothing he had ever seen before. Loki followed blindly, his magic not able to sense the Red Skull's location as he had hoped. He could not pick up an energy signature from the creature, and the infinity stone he'd held before was not present on him now. Loki could only feel the remnants of its power on him.

The god of mischief followed the metal passageway throughout the submarine, searching for any sign of the Red Skull. The soft click of metal towards the end of the passageway caught his attention, and he turned towards the source.

Metal creaked, and hot steam poured out of a broken pipe, momentarily blinding him. His legs were kicked out from beneath him, and he lost his balance, falling onto the metal floor.

Red Skull was on him, reaching for his throat. Loki jumped, disappearing right before Hydra's leader touched him, and attacked him from behind. He drove a dagger through his back, and brought him to the ground. Red Skull snarled, and threw him off, using his powerful arms to try and gain control of the fight.

The submarine rocked around them, and water flowed across the floor, beneath their feet.

Hydra's leader tackled the god of mischief, throwing the both of them to the ground and into the water. He hit him over and over, snapping his neck back with the force.

Loki rolled, and commanded his dagger to return to him. The blade ripped through Red Skull's chest, and found its way back to his palm. He stabbed twice, ripping sideways with he blade. Red Skull shrieked in pain, his blood turning the rising water beneath them crimson. Loki grasped his adversary by the throat, and rammed him into the metal walls, roaring in triumph.

He squeezed, ready to snap the Red Skull's neck, but stopped himself. He brought his face only inches away from his adversary's, rage dancing in his green eyes.

"Who wants Jane Foster dead?" he demanded. "Who asked you to kill her?"

Red Skull was silent, his breath coming out in ragged gasps, the fight seeming to leave him. The submarine rocked again, more water rushing beneath them.

"WHO!" Loki snarled, slamming him into the metal once again.

Hydra's leader laughed, the sickening sound turning to cough as he struggled to breathe. "Do you truly want to know, Asgardian?" he rasped. "Knowing will only hurt you."

Loki bared his teeth and squeezed harder. "Tell me now, you son of a whore."

Red Skull laughed again, wheezing in between breaths. He leaned forward, until their faces nearly touched, his lips curving up into a wicked grin. "Odin himself wants her dead," he whispered, as though it were a secret only they could share. He wheezed, and laughed again, the sound manic and wild.

Loki's eyes went wide with the revelation. "You lie," he accused.

"I do not," the Red Skull wheezed.

The leader of Hydra bit down on Loki's arm, his teeth crunching into bone. Loki cried out and dropped him in surprise. Red Skull rammed him in the waist, taking him down. His hands grappled at the god of mischief's throat, meaning to throttle him.

Loki reached into his space between spaces, and grinned when he found what he was looking for. He withdrew the rope he had used on Alfheim to capture the wild unicorns, and slung it so that it wrapped around the Red Skull's arm.

The leader of Hydra scrambled off of him and used all of his strength to pull the winding rope off of his arm.

Loki moved quickly, rising from the metal floor and going on the offensive. He slung the magical rope at Red Skull once again, and it wrapped around his midsection, trapping his arms.

Red Skull flailed about, trying to extricate himself from the rope, but it was a useless endeavor. The elves of the vale were master craftsmen, and their ropes were the strongest in all the Nine.

Loki pulled the rope tight, and Red Skull stumbled. He lost his balance, and fell to the floor, still struggling to get free from his bonds. The leader of Hydra growled and snapped at the rope, snarling until foam dripped from his mouth, his wide eyes those of a trapped, feral animal.

"I could kill you right now," the god of mischief smirked. He gripped the Red Skull's uniform collar, and hauled him off the ground, forcing the creature to meet his eyes. "But I know of someone who wants to kill you even more than I do, and she's angry with me."

He chuckled lightly, a grin pulling at the corners of his lips. "I'm in…. I believe you Midgardians call it 'the doghouse'. I intend to make things right with her. I hope you can understand."

Loki didn't wait for an answer. He hauled the bound Red Skull up and under his arm like a sack of potatoes. He jumped, taking them to the shore with ease.

The scene before him was very different from the one he had seen not too long ago. Thor's storm was dying down, the waves growing calmer, and the sky taking on a lighter shade of gray. Slain men of Hydra covered the shore, and those who had surrendered cowered before Thor and Mjolnir, unarmed.

Jane Foster stood beside Thor, her eyes cutting to him the moment he appeared on the shore. The worry on her features melted away into joy, and she smiled.

Loki walked towards her, Red Skull snarling under his arm. He stopped several feet away from her, and dropped Hydra's bound leader at her feet.

Jane stared at him, her mouth open in surprise. Loki reached into his space between spaces, and extracted a sword made of Uru metal. He extended the sword to her, hilt forward, and dropped to one knee.

The astrophysicist stepped forward and took the weapon from him, her hazel eyes dancing with admiration.

Red Skull flailed at her feet, still trying to break the rope from his body, and failing miserably. The god of mischief snapped him up by the collar, holding him still. He kicked his legs beneath him so that Hydra's leader sat hunched over on his knees.

Thor stepped forward, joining them, his blue eyes watching the scene before him curiously.

Red Skull laughed. "You cannot kill me," he taunted. "You couldn't before, and you can't now. I am too powerful, Dr. Foster. I will live forever."

"We'll see about that," Jane said coldly. She raised the sword above her head, and brought it down in one clean sweep. A thunk sound could be heard as well as the crackle of bone. The sword swung true, taking the Red Skull's head off completely.

Red Skull's body crumpled at her feet, his head rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. His blood stained the sand beneath him, and he twitched uncontrollably for a moment before going still.

Loki grinned. Thor stared, his eyes wide, and his mouth completely ajar. "Jane?" he barely managed to say, his usually confident voice completely failing him. He stumbled over his words, making some incoherent noises, before going quiet, shock evident on his face.

Jane tossed the sword aside, and approached Red Skull's body. She dug through his pockets, extracting a few clear vials, and making them disappear. She then closed the distance between her and Loki in a few steps. He held out his arms to the astrophysicist, ready to embrace her.

She slapped him, causing the entire left side of his face to burn as if it was on fire. He stared at her in shock, his face mimicking Thor's.

"That was for making me wait," she growled. "I waited for you all night, and you never showed up. I cried, and it was your fault."

She reached out, and took hold of his collar, pulling him to her, her mouth set in a stern line.

"And this is for saving my life."

Jane kissed him, and Loki kissed her back. Their lips claiming each other in the ardent desperation of long lost lovers who were finally reunited. He closed his eyes, her smell and taste relieving him of the worry he'd held for her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him, and vowing that this time he would never let her go.

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Vanaheim

Thanos stepped over the bodies of countless Vanir and Asgardian warriors. They had died trying to protect a realm that was now nearly gone. The warriors had fared well against his Chitauri, but they had fallen like flies when his bride had appeared.

Hela took them all, her dark eyes bright with excitement from the sacrifice he had given her.

His daughter, Gamora, kept watch over the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, her disdain evident, even now. He had hoped to ally her to his cause, but she was insistently stubborn, a trait he felt that he himself was responsible for.

He flexed the hand that held the Infinity Gauntlet on it, the six stones now all present. He was itching to try it out, and he knew that he would get his chance soon.

The queen of Vanaheim was still alive, but the realm itself had fallen. Alfheim was under siege by his Chitauri forces, and the warriors of Asgard were spread throughout the Nine. Now was the time.

Thanos made his way to the Bridge, and activated it. The machine powered up, green energy traveling up and down the core.

Gamora stood beside him, looking anywhere but at him. She would come around soon enough. She would see, he just had to be patient.

Hela joined them, a wide grin across her pale face. "Is it time to go home now?" she asked hopefully.

Thanos took her hands in his, and pressed them to his lips. "Yes, my love," he assured her. "The time is now, and I have quite the wedding gift for you."

The Bridge finished powering up, and bright green light flickered before them. Thanos smiled at his bride one last time, and together they stepped into the Bridge, headed for Asgard.

So that's it! Hope you enjoyed it! I would seriously love you forever if you would take the time to leave me a review! I love hearing from all of you, and it totally makes my day!

Also, I have finally joined the magical world of Tumblr! I'm under the same name I am here, breakingbadlikeaboss, so come interact with me! I share cool memes and there's even a drawing I did of Thor and Loki if you'd like to see it. I don't claim to be an artist, so it's not the prettiest, but its there! If you have a tumblr, add me and share stuff with me!

Next up: Loki and Jane explore Midgard, Steve makes a choice, Thanos and Hela crash Asgard, Thor learns of an unpleasant truth, Loki makes a decision, and a whole lot of other shit happens, so stayed tuned for the next installment!