January:
Having landed in this dimension after being birthed – no wait, wrong analogy – after being shoved through a soul-burning portal made of blue star energy, she counted herself lucky that Loki had been right there to tend to her dire injuries. He had explained to her that she had burned terribly (physically and wounded as thus) when in contact with the cube Loki called the Tesseract. Her brain dreaded to remember exactly what events took place before, during and immediately after her encounter with the portal; so it locked up whatever happened before and shoved them so far into psychic oblivion that most people would consider it amnesia.
She didn't care; and didn't know, didn't WANT to know what had happened: the vague recollections of her and Loki trying to out-run the horrendously ugly war-making aliens was bad enough; but to mind search to get the big picture was something Loki cautioned her not to do. All she could vaguely remember was the horrible pain of being burned alive. So, as it was, she settled for believing in Loki's second-hand account of what happened: He had bargained for her freedom, by allying himself with the aliens and negotiating her to safety; and sent her to Earth via Tesseract portal. She had been pissed for a week and refused use anything less than shouting at Loki to express her frustration and anger when she found out what he had done to her.
Two months her mind was kept simple, barely being allowed to function at its normal, scatter-brained deep capacity. It had been two months since she woke up in the log cabin with Loki and slowly started her recovery to sanity. The green-eyed god had used his magic to keep her mind fogged; so she wouldn't go mental at discovering the depth of her injuries: her whole left arm was gone; the Tesseract Portal had burned her bad and Loki had to amputate it – there was nothing left to save, the arm gone. Two long months before her crazy savior deemed it safe enough to allow her full capacity of her mind without the threat of crazy-induced suicide. Loki knew her that well. Not well enough; given how she still went off like a crazy rabid dog: the green-eyed god had no right to stupefy her just because he thought her capable of suicide. That was neither here nor there.
The planet's – Loki had said that she and he both managed to escape the Chitauri and landed on Earth – new year had turned and now was in the dead of winter. Winter; so it was freezing out and she had just escaped the confinements of the spacious cabin the first chance she got. She loathed the place, having been kept restrained by Loki as she struggled with both external and internal injuries; so when the first chance she saw to get out; she took it. Of course, charging through the door after fumbling with her winter gear with just one arm wasn't done ninja-like: Loki HAD to have heard her. It didn't matter, she was free!
The cold air on her face and exposed skin felt really good, for about two minutes; before turning uncomfortable. It didn't matter, because she was outside! Outside was a lovely place to be after being inside for so stinking long. Crashing through the pine-needle littered forest floor, she felt her blood rush through her veins; bringing a smile to her lips. Stopping after a long dash – she didn't exactly know how far her soft feet and jelly legs took her – her body bent over as it gasped for air. Her body had been so unused for a while that even her short dashing escape was an overwhelming task. So much for keeping in shape.
Jiru panted as she took in the beauty of the pine forest in which Loki had ensconced her in. It was the only exposure she had since coming to this dimension and, although nature was absolutely breath-taking; she couldn't really stay here forever. Her adamant shards were still out there, along with the larger fragment – her mind couldn't quite place when and where she had lost that; but now her brain was back again, her displaced diamond talisman was something she had to worry about.
"Whatever is wrong, my Lovey? Is even a simple jog too much for you now?" a masculine voice spoke up from her left; causing her to yelp in annoyance.
"SHIT!" Jiru shouted, throwing her back against a pine tree and flinching. Loki; healer, lover, mentor and care-taker, stepped out from behind a tree and grinned at her. Wearing nothing but dark brown leather pants and a form-fitting forest green shirt; Loki was more camouflaged than she was; with her green jeans and navy blue winter coat. The god stood there, looking at her with patience eyes. The man was just insufferable. Her right arm went automatically to the smoothness that was her left side and then dropped, as she refused to get frustrated at her lack of appendage.
"I'm still mad at you, you jerk." Her lagoon green eyes glared daggers at him. "Do you have any idea…"
"Ah, but you deign to speak to me as you break your promise and I quote 'Loki, I am so frigging mad at you I refuse to speak to you for a year.'" Her dark-haired mentor chuckled softly, keeping his hands clasped behind his back.
"Lo-ki! AARRRGHHH!" she growled and stepped away from the tree. "I had to get outside. You cannot keep me locked up in that cabin one minute more!"
"Nor do I plan too, Lovey." He smiled a smile which nearly melted her legs. Her sexy god and lover looked completely relaxed, standing in the semi-dark forest, treading nearly silently on the dead forest debris.
"Whatever; you can't catch me!" Jiru scowled and pushed off the tree, and heaved breaths as she strained to run from Loki.
"Oh Lovey, you are such a hopeless dreamer. You cannot escape me." The playful tone of his voice only brought a barely concealed smile to her lips. "However, I shall allow you to try. You have five minutes."
"NO! Don't YOU DARE turn…" her lungs heaved for air as she struggled to speak, laugh and be serious at the same time. "Turn this into a game…"
"Five minutes lovey; if you manage to find the lake before I catch you, you win." Loki's voice echoed loudly behind her as the distance between them increased.
Lake! What the heck, what lake? Loki knew she had been held captive inside the stupid, albeit spacious, remote cabin for the past eight weeks. The only lay of the land her mind held was what she had viewed from the windows; that wasn't much. Her care was lacking as her jelly legs picked a direction and forged ahead. Damn Loki for stirring up mischief and her sense of being chased. Who knew what Loki would do to her if (when) he caught her. It probably would be something to his liking and she'd feign denial and try to stop him. Smiling to herself, the dimensional walker snarled as her eyes kept themselves glued to the ground, trying not to trip as she ran forward.
Minutes later, she was still running; but discerned there was a clearing ahead of her – a wide space lacking of trees and even undergrowth. Was this the lake of which Loki spoke of? Did a twist of cosmic fate spur her legs in the proper direction? Jiru hoped it was, because her lungs, muscles and throat screamed for air – damn Loki for not allowing her to leave the cabin long before now. Her body NEEDED movement and exercise; making her mind numb to the still high-growing frustration of not having her left…
"Lovey." Loki's voice slipped into her ears as she broke out of the forest.
She screamed as a tall dark and utterly handsome form snaked out from behind a tree and scooped her up in his arms. It didn't matter that she did indeed find the lake – the gloriously large shimmering stretch of water sat before her in awe-taking beauty – Loki had waited right until she stepped out from the forest and pounced on her. Jiru just laughed in consternation and relaxed in Loki's arms as he pinned her against a tree and wrapped her legs around his waist.
"You see, Lovey, you cannot escape from me." Looking into his green eyes while her body throbbed in the after effects of being taken by surprise, the dimensional walker chuckled as her pulse raced.
"Loki…you are a jerk! You set me up – waiting until I found the lake and pounced!"
"I see your mind is in better shape than yesterday, my love…"
"Loki…you aren't terribly funny, you know that?" She breathed harshly; looking everywhere but his eyes. "That lake is very beautiful, Loki. Why haven't you let me see it before today?"
"Oh Lovey, you are charming when you play coy." Loki's laughter made her look at his face and brought a smile instinctively to her lips. The taller god leaned forward to capture her moving lips with his, gently licking them. Seconds ticked by as the forest sounds and animals continued to live, despite the two human intrusions
"Loki…stop that…I have to breathe…" Jiru chuckled. "Kissing is gross…it really doesn't do anything for me."
"Then, my dear, you simply have to receive more kisses." The green-eyed god pulled back and gave a bone-shivering smirk. "I find it amusing that kissing your mouth does nothing while kissing other places on your body you find most enjoyable."
"LOKI! PERVERT!" Finally getting her feet back on the ground with some effort, Loki's dimensional walker pushed him away; a smirk plastered on her face. "Don't talk nasty."
"If you wish me not to speak of such things, my love, then allow me to show you through my actions."
"No, it's cold out, I want to go back."
"You are such a terribly liar." Loki called her bluff. "I see it in your eyes, you want desperately to go exploring. Nature calls to you."
"Tch, I cannot lie to Loki, God of Mischief, now can I?"
"You may try, but I will see the truth in your face."
"Fine then, Loki; explore with me, please? It's my first time outside, I'm not fully recovered yet."
"Your wish is my command, Lovey. Allow me to show you the lake first."
"Awesome!"
XXX
February: Coulson
Standing silently in the empty apartment, Phillip Andrew Coulson allowed his senses to just absorb the facts and take in the fleeting smell of the one woman who once lived here. Now it was so very difficult to find her scent with Thor living – temporarily – in the same place. It had been Fury's suggestion and Coulson, along with Stark, protested. But no, Fury had to put Thor somewhere. Thankfully that only lasted two months, and Thor was kindly – smartly – moved to the Stark Tower, which the media called the Avengers Tower.
Now the Thunder God had vacated the penthouse suite and Coulson finally found the time to take a break from the shit-fall the Chitauri invasion had brought. Yes, S.H.I.E.L.D. was still diligently searching for Loki and the young woman – Coulson couldn't even think of her name he was that close to the breaking point. Yes, it was taking too long for the Asgardian God of Lies to show himself, but Coulson knew – HE KNEW – it was just a matter of waiting. Loki would make a mistake, or the young woman would find a way to escape; then S.H.I.E.L.D. would have Loki and the whole ordeal would be case closed. He would have HER back.
But for today, Coulson just let his senses bring him to her, in a second-hand kind of way. Looking at her furniture, the agent vaguely remembered Stark had replaced it all; since Loki had broken into the place and magicked everything in shades of green. The kitchen appliances, the bed sheets and pillows, the bathroom, her clothes, the chairs, the table and even the carpet had been changed to emerald hues. The billionaire had found out after the Tesseract War and ordered people to completely revamp the place, making it look as before; off-white carpet, pale blue furniture and wall paint and stainless steel in the kitchen. Everything was the same before Loki got to it; only not; everything had been replaced – looking the same but never exactly as before.
Sighing to himself, and allowing his body to seat itself on the couch, Phil gazed idly around the room spotting minor differences. Her Iron Man posters were gone, and the book shelves were barren of anything with Tony Stark or Iron Man printing. Loki had taken all her Avengers memorabilia and burned them. They had yet to be replaced, and Coulson frowned slightly, knowing this living space just wasn't the same without her personal touches. Phil had been here before, after Loki had broken into the place; but there was no time to use for idle contemplation. Now, Coulson slightly regretted not packing more of her personal treasures, like her favorite shirts or…something.
Sighing and bringing his hands to his face, Phil groaned as the thoughts in his head whirled and became a roiling tempest. He had never been this addicted to a woman before. She was all-consuming and ruled his idle thoughts. Yes, Phil had dated a few times before, and always felt professional detachment during; nothing like the full-on emotional tide which the young woman made him feel every time she laughed and tried to get under his skin with snarky jokes. Miss Star had taken his normal, controlled life – taken it and turned it on its head, put glitter on it, then shook it to bits and made it into a sparkling, tangled mass of light and laughter and sarcasm. Phil did not regret it even though he still was trying to figure out how the hell a singular extra-dimensional young woman could do such a thing. Not just to him but seven other exceptional highly unique people as well: Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Bruce Banner, Anthony Stark, Nick Fury, Steve Rogers…and Loki. She had forged a relationship with all of them and then vanished.
Coulson smiled thinly as he thought back to the first time he met her; on the top floor of Stark Towers. She had fainted due to stress, Coulson still blamed Stark for that, and had been lying angelically on the couch. The color of her hair was the least surprising thing about her. Now, it was all he could remember about her, his thoughts were so jumbled.
Flinching as his phone rang, to the tune of One Republic's 'Chasing Stars', Coulson jumped off the couch and answered.
"Director Fury?"
"Agent Coulson. I hate to say this, but we need you in." Fury's voice was regretful, knowing full well he himself had placed Phil on temporary leave of absence. "Doctor Steven Strange would like to discuss some obscure subject about red rope or something."
"Ah." Coulson smiled lopsidedly and immediately felt his body roll into work-mode. So Strange had exhausted most traditional methods of astral searching. "I'll be right in, Fury, where do you want me?"
"Helicarrier."
"Very well…you are aware today is the fourteenth…" Coulson surprised himself with mentioning that: February 14th.
"I know what today is; Agent Coulson. So does Strange…he was waiting for today…I'm not going into logistics why, just come in."
"Yes sir." The connection turned off as Fury hung up. Coulson smiled as he quietly left the penthouse apartment, thinking about her; praying to whatever gods that she was alive and…somewhere where they could find her.