A/N: Okay, so I know this was a much faster update than last time, and I will be trying to keep it this way. I'll write throughout the week and hopefully post one chapter every Sunday. Seem fair? I'll try to stick to it as best as I can!

I brushed myself off and stood up, rotating in a circle, looking for any sort of landmark until my eyes landed on the closing portal I had just rolled through. It shrunk smaller and smaller, almost seeming to strangle the stars inside of it, until it was just gone. And the red sandy ground was left behind it as if it was never there in the first place. I now turned to look at the demi-god I had come through the portal with.

"Do you know where we are? Or how we got here?" I asked him and looked around once again, this time spotting something I missed on the first spin.

Well, I had calculated it to transport us back to your apartment. But unless you live in the middle of the desert. . . He trailed off, looking around him as well.

I smiled. "We're not in the middle of a desert. We're in Big Bend, a national park in Texas. I would say towards the northeast, considering the Rio Grande is back a couple miles that way." I said and looked over my shoulder.

When I turned back – and I swear, if his mouth hadn't have been stitched shut, it would be hanging wide open – I saw all the awe and question in his eyes. I just shrugged, "My dad was a real traveling nut. I guess I might have learned a thing or two after all the trips we've taken."

Well, then, lead the way. He offered and gestured past him to more open desert. I started past him towards our way back to civilization.

And redemption.

"Wait." I stuck my arm out to stop him. We had only been walking for a couple of hours and already encountered our first trace of life. I watched the cars zoom past on the road from behind a thick bush.

What is it?

I turned back to look at him, not believing that I overlooked this earlier. "How in the world are we supposed to get back to New York?"

His eyebrows came together. I thought you had a plan?

"I did. Until I remembered that the plan included you." I saw anger flash across his face momentarily, and realized I had probably not said that in the nicest way. "You're Loki. You blew up half of Manhattan over the course of an hour. You're a wanted fugitive of this world, and another. And on top of all that, you look creepy as hell!" I added, referring to his stitches. The first chance I had, I was taking those out.

Lucky for both of us, I am also a master of magic. He replied and lifted his hand in front of him. He swept it to the side gently and a green light followed, growing to cover his whole body.

I watched with curiosity as his Asgardian armor was replaced with a simple green t-shirt, black pants, and green converse. I followed the magic as it traveled upwards, until it reached Loki's face. It shortened his hair, but that was about it. Other than removing all traces of the stitches, it did not alter his face that drastically.

As I looked over him, I voiced the question weighing on my mind, "How come your face doesn't look all that different?"

This new person in front of me smiled, I can only change my appearance so much without aural spells.

"Right, I must have skipped over that chapter in the how-to magic handbook." I said sarcastically as a smile spread over Loki's face. His mouth opened to laugh, and his chest heaved up and down, but no noise came out. My smile dropped slightly and I tilted my head.

"But if you can open your mouth. . ."

This form is just a shade. Just a cover. Like another layer of clothing, I'm still the same underneath. Stitched and all. He answered, his eyes still sparkling from amusement.

"Okay, well now that we've got your disguise, we can start our way back to New York." I said and stepped out from behind the bush and onto the side of the road, Loki at my side.

I watched the cars for a minute before sticking my arm out and holding my thumb up for everyone to see. I saw Loki give it and inquiring look from next to me.

"It's basically a way to ask for a ride." I explained as a pick-up truck slowed to a stop a couple of feet away. "It's super effective." I said and walked up to the car's driver. An older man, and not the nicest looking appearance-wise. But it's not like I had to worry.

"And where might a pretty little lady like you be headed?" The man questioned from the driver's seat with a sickly sweet smirk plastered on his face. I smiled and sighed, so he was that kind of guy.

"New York." I answered innocently.

He scoffed, "That's quite a way. How exactly did you end up this far from there?"

I rolled my eyes on the inside, but kept a fair smile on my face. "It doesn't matter. Me and my –" I looked back at Loki who had remained quiet, waiting behind me, "– boyfriend need to get back ASAP."

"Boyfriend?" He asked accusingly as if I was not allowed to ever say that word. He looked around me to see who exactly I was talking about.

"Hey, you look kind of familiar." He said, narrowing his eyes, as if trying to see through Loki's disguise. He mumbled something under his breath before looking back up at Loki with wide eyes.

"You're that guy! The one who tried to take over Manha –" I stopped him with a sharp punch to the face, also knocking him out in the process.

"Sorry, dude." I said to his unconscious body as I opened the car door and pulled his body out. "But I have to steal your car now."

Loki walked around to the passenger side and climbed into the truck next to me. I turned the keys and the truck growled to life. I pulled back into the steady stream of traffic and set a mental course for Manhattan.

The car was soon filled with an eery silence caused by Loki's silenced tongue. I knew if it were up to him, he would be rambling about some ancient battle he fought, or how he had pranked someone with his magic. In a sudden attempt to lighten the mood, I reached for the radio and turned it to the first country station I could find.

A cute diddy about turnips and directions came on and I turned it up, singing quietly to myself. I caught Loki's stare from the corner of my eye.

"What, you don't like country?" I asked, momentarily breaking the steady flow of lyrics coming from my lips.

I'm not particularly in love with any of your mortal forms of music. He replied.

"Well, what would you prefer?" I asked, moving my hand to change the station.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest. Silence.

I watched him for a second before spinning the volume down to zero. This was going to be a very long trip.

Just in case you're wondering, all that about traveling is based on my real-life experiences with my actual dad! (Scary, right?) Oh, and cookies to anyone who can name that song! Til next time!

~K2