A/N: After the garbage fire that was 2020, I'm really hoping 2021 will be kinder.


Chapter 17: Temporary Reunion

Winter instinctively reached back and grabbed Darcy's wrist to ensure she followed behind him as he made his way out of the diner with Thor. Though if he was paying closer attention, he would have noticed that Darcy had already begun sliding out of her seat to tag along.

The two others were left to scramble out behind them as Thor started to lead them into the street. A car stopped abruptly and honked when it almost came crashing into them, the man driving opened his mouth to yell before a quick look at Winter's scowling face silenced him.

Thor didn't seem to care about moving in the middle of traffic and Winter's only focus was making sure they stuck together. He couldn't see it but Darcy's face held a wide grin as she was ushered along after the dark-haired man.

Cars continued to honk at them and drive around while Thor sauntered forward on a mission. "Where are you going?" The smaller woman, who had at one point run over Thor, came running after them while yelling.

Winter didn't care much for the woman; he didn't feel a connection to her which meant she was irrelevant in the search for his soulmate.

Thor turned with a look of confusion on his face, "Fifty miles west of here." Hadn't she heard the men at the diner? Where could she possibly think they were headed after that conversation?

"Why?"

It took a lot of restraint on Winter's part not to just snarl at this Jane woman to leave them alone. She hadn't been invited; a fact that should have been made clear when they left her at the diner.

However, Thor was much more cordial and began to converse with her while still standing in the street, "To get what belongs to me."

He may not have known what exactly this thing was, but Thor claimed to have answers and that's really all Winter needed to know. He'd never been this close before and every second he wasted standing in this street answering this woman's questions, were seconds he could have been uncovering the secret to the words on his wrist.

He'd been waiting decades, so his patience was a tad bit thin at the moment.

Nobody seemed to sense the rising ire of the brunet man as what he considered the pointless conversation, continued around him.

The small woman rose with indignance, "Oh, so you own a satellite now?" On a roll, she roughly motioned in Darcy's direction, "And who even is that?"

Completely unaffected to being held onto by what was a stranger an hour ago, Darcy smiled brightly, "Oh, this is James. He's with us now."

Darcy did not feel the need to expound on that and it had already been such a weird day that Jane could not honestly find it within herself to care.

Thor carried on despite her very sarcastic tone, "It's not what they say it is."

"Well whatever it is, the government seems to think it's theirs. So what, you just intend to go in there and take it?"

Winter has become very accustomed to taking things that didn't belong to him. He owned one thing on this earth and it was his soulmate. The only thing that had ever really belonged to him if he thought about it. Everything else though?

Not his.

Not his clothes, not his weapons, not the metal arm Hydra shackled him with, and certainly not his mind.

No, if there was anything he didn't own, it was his mind. They made that clear every time they strapped him into that chair and fried his brain.

Perhaps that was why this need, the incessant pulsing through his veins, to find the one person who belonged to him, was so strong. Sannr Ast was his only constant through everything, and he'd do whatever it took to find them.

Winter watched as Thor smiled broadly and very plainly said, "Yes."

His answer pleased his two companions. One because Winter thought it saved so much time to just take something rather than negotiate to retrieve it. Also, seeing as how he was supposed to be a "ghost," interacting with the government wasn't something he was allowed to do.

Darcy found Thor's blunt intentions fascinating. She'd always had a bit of a mischievous streak that she'd spent years trying to dampen, always being told growing up that some of the things she found humorous were cruel in other's eyes. There was a voice in the back of her head that always whispered they saw things at such a singular level, that they would never understand the complexity of her emotions. Somehow, being different had never bothered Darcy, she just learned how to hide it so those around her weren't uncomfortable.

But strangely, she didn't feel the need to do so with these two men.

Knowing Jane had means of transportation, he still remembered being hit with it, Thor offered her a deal, "If you take me there now, I'll tell you everything you wish to know."

Hope shone bright in Jane's eyes as she gazed up at Thor, "Everything?"

"Yes," Thor knew her kind; the ones that thirsted for more, to know more, to be more. The ones who would do anything for answers to the mysteries the universe held. He felt no guilt at using her curiosity for his own gain, "All the answers you seek will be yours once I reclaim Mjolnir."

Before Jane could give her response, Darcy quickly cut in, "Myeu-muh? What's Myeu-muh?"

Despite the vast mispronunciation of the name, Thor couldn't help but smile at her attempt. It wasn't even close to her language and yet her version of the name was still closer than others had come. That and it was strangely funny how she tilted her head in confusion like a small animal.

While his eyes passed over Darcy, he caught a glint in Erik's eyes at the name of his hammer. Thor knew recognition when he saw it, and when he took a second to think about the man's last name, it finally hit him. Thor hummed pleasantly at the knowledge that a tribe of people close to his heart still had descendants roaming about.

While Thor was momentarily caught up in his memories, Erik had gently pulled Jane aside by her arm while keeping one eye on the god, "Can I have a word, Jane?"

Even if Darcy had wanted to join them, the firm grip Winter still had on her arm would have been hard to escape. Despite all the horrific things Hydra had done to him over the decades, having enhanced senses from whatever experiment they performed on him, had once again proved effective when he could hear the two mumbling to each other.

"Listen to what he's saying. He's talking about Mjolnir and Thor and Bifrost. It's the stories I grew up with as a child."

Her soft reply would have been lost on him if he wasn't actively listening for it, "I'm only going to drive him there. There's nothing wrong with that."

"He's dangerous Jane."

Winter found it ironic that Erik Selvig was so concerned over Thor while he remained oblivious to the real threat standing among them.

His hands had killed more people than he could remember and his left limb was a virtually indestructible weapon.

But sure; Thor, smiling and easy-going Thor, was the danger here.

As the two meandered back to the group, Jane's shoulders had noticeably drooped. Dejectedly she looked up at Thor, "I'm sorry, but I can't take you."

Thor nodded in good nature, "Then this is where we say goodbye." As per custom, when men would interact with the ladies of their realm, he took her hand and placed a kiss on it. A show of respect for clothing and feeding him. Although their paths had come to an end, he was very grateful for their hospitality.

Jane couldn't hold the giggle back if she tried and her cheeks dusted pink, "Um, thank you?"

She wasn't to know that this was a common practice in Asgard and that their women knew to expect it. Thor knew the effect he had on others, he wasn't blind after all, but he couldn't help but think of Sif and the words on his wrist tingled.

Standing straight once more, he bowed his head slightly, "Jane Foster and Erik Selvig, farewell."

Erik hastily bowed back which made Darcy giggle. Clapping his hands, he turned to Jane, "Alright. Well, back to work." He had just started moving when he noticed one member of his team hadn't followed.

Jane looked at Darcy in blatant confusion, "Darcy? What are you doing? Let's go."

Winter clutched onto her wrist tighter; they weren't taking her with them. He didn't care if he ended up having to neutralize them, Darcy and Thor weren't leaving his side.

Darcy had felt his grip getting tighter and looked between both groups biting her lip, her gaze settled on the woman who took a chance and hired her, "I gotta stay, Jane."

"What?" Jane couldn't believe what she was hearing, "What about your college credits?" How could she just up and decide to stay with these two men they knew nothing about?

Darcy didn't know how to make Jane see what she did, "This is so much bigger than that." How could she describe the way her blood sang in the company of Thor and James, how everything she was called for her to never let them leave her sight? "I don't know how to explain it Jane, but I know if I don't go, I'll regret it forever, I can just feel it."

Jane and Erik stood shell shocked. Words failed them; they never saw this coming. "Darcy please," Erik took a half step in her direction, "be rational."

"Sorry Erik. I'll see you guys later, okay?"

While they didn't want to leave her, what could they do? She was a grown woman who was allowed to make her own choices. They couldn't physically stop her from going with them.

Little did they know that if they tried, there was a man who would easily kill them for it.

"Yeah..." Jane let Erik lead her away slowly, still not one hundred percent comfortable with leaving the young woman, "See you later, Darcy."

Winter finally allowed the unrelenting grip he'd kept on Darcy's wrist to drop. She'd made it clear to her former companions that she would be staying, and that was enough to ease the rigid tension in his posture.

Gesturing around them, pointedly ignoring the cars that continued to move around them, Darcy looked to the two men, "So, now what?"

The second they had walked out of the diner, Winter had been taking stock of his surroundings, it was second nature to analyze everything around him. While they had all been debating with one another, he had noticed an idle truck parked on one of the side streets across from them. The truck was deep enough into the little makeshift alleyway that it would provide them with enough cover from any onlookers.

"Follow me."

Having no other options, and quite frankly curious as to what he was going to do, Thor and Darcy followed him quickly. It wasn't until he stopped at the driver's door of the truck that Darcy knew exactly what he was planning.

"I hate to break it to you man, but we don't exactly have the keys." It was a nice idea, she'd give him that, but hotwiring a car wasn't exactly in her repertoire, and she'd bet all her money that Thor didn't know how either.

"Unnecessary."

Using his concealed metal arm, Winter punched straight through the driver's side window, paying no attention to the glass raining down onto his boots. Opening the door, he leaned underneath the steering column and got to work on the wires. He'd done this enough times from when his extractions didn't go as planned and he'd needed a quick getaway.

Thor watched silently, not really understanding the process but knowing it was probably necessary, and Darcy had a glint in her eyes to match her manic looking grin.

She couldn't help but clap in success when the truck started up, "Can I drive? Oh, please can I?" She clasped her hands underneath her chin and flashed wide eyes up at Winter, "Jane never lets me drive."

He gracefully stepped to the side, allowing Darcy to excitedly climb into the driver's seat. He didn't quite understand how something as simple as driving a vehicle could make her so happy, but whatever she wanted.

Darcy cackled wildly and revved the engine, "Alright, boys! Let's go on an adventure."


The drive to their location would take the rest of the daylight hours, something Winter was easily able to calculate based on how many miles they needed to cover and the speed Darcy had set.

There had been some small talk between Darcy and Thor, mainly about how the truck worked and how she learned to drive. Winter had placed himself in the middle spot in the backseat, the best position for him to see from all angles in case something unexpected happened.

The conversation had drifted off into a comfortable silence between them, however Thor knew that he had much to explain to the two of them. Keeping his eyes on the road, he broke the silence, "I'm sure the two of you have many questions, and I will answer them to the best of my ability."

Winter found himself shifting forward in his seat, his sole attention now placed on Thor. Darcy merely glanced at the blond man beside her, "Who are you really?"

"Thor, first heir to the throne of Asgard, son of Odin, the Allfather of the nine realms."

Darcy had to hand it to him, that was an impressive title. But something about it sounded a bit familiar and for the life of her she couldn't place it.

"Your companion, Selvig, I could tell from his name alone that he's a descendent from a group of Midgardians my people were once close to." It was hard for Thor not to get lost in the memories of simpler times. Back before he'd had so much weight placed on his shoulders. Back when he spent his free time appearing before the people who used to pray to them. Back when Midgardians built temples for the Aesir and sung their names in song. If he were honest, sometimes he found himself missing those people.

With the faint echoes of the war hymns beating in his chest, Thor addressed the two of them again, "You know them best as Vikings."

Vikings; a brutal race who worshipped their gods. They were a conquering tribe of trained warriors that Erik had proudly spoken about to Darcy and Jane multiple times. It was as though a light went off in her brain as Darcy looked over at Thor with wide eyes, "Wait, Thor, like as in the Thor from Norse mythology?"

Slightly chuckling, Thor looked to Darcy with amusement, "Not so much of a myth." He shifted in the small seat so that his body was tilting towards her, "My people, we shared our language with them and in return they worshipped us. We aided them in battle; listening to the prayers of those loyal to us."

"Oh my god."

"But as time went on, less and less chose to believe in us." It had been sad to watch the culture slowly die out, to see tradition fade. "Midgardians have proven time and time again, fickle to their beliefs. And really, why help those whose devotion has faded." The Aesir didn't owe earth a thing, after all their loyalty was to Asgard only. "Time progressed and that way of life was considered to be outdated. They passed down tales of us and to your world we became nothing more than stories."

Darcy could hardly believe what she was hearing. I mean things like this didn't happen; Jane could chase rainbows all she wanted but Darcy only signed up for the last bit of college credits, they weren't supposed to meet an actual god. "So, you're telling me that it's all true? All the legends are true?"

"To some degree, yes."

Completely baffled, Darcy could only gape and try to keep the truck on the road in her shock, "Then what the hell are you doing here?"

It was a heavy question that weighed on Thor. He didn't really want to replay the events that led to his exile, but he had promised them answers, and Thor was no liar.

So he told them. He told them about his ceremony and the attack of the few Frost Giants. He spoke about Jotunheim and described its cold and barren landscape with a fierce bitterness. His hands clenched against his pants when he got to the argument between him and his father and the harsh words they flung back and forth. There was a knot in the back of his throat when he mentioned his siblings, so he kept it short, only mentioning their horror as he was ripped from them. If he lingered on the topic of Elysia and Loki he felt as though his heart might break. He had no desire to become accustomed to the distance between them.

He finally ended it with Mjolnir and her significance to him, how finding her was the key to his return home.

Darcy had made many different sounds during Thor's explanation; however, Winter had remained still as stone and silent as the grave. He had sat soaking up every word that fell from Thor's lips, one thought culminating in the back of his head until the end of the story.

"So the words on your wrist..." Winter's entire focus was razor sharp on the back of the god's head, "they are in your language?" Everything depended on this answer. All the cold and pain had to mean something, had to be leading to something. The inky black words had never once faded in all the time he'd been frozen and woken again.

It had never made sense before, and Winter could only find himself grateful for it. But now, Thor's entire existence changed things, put them into perspective. All he needed now was confirmation.

Thor turned in his seat to address the soft-spoken man, "Yes, it is the native tongue of Asgardians, but rather uncommon on Midgard these days."

With barely concealed eagerness, Winter couldn't keep the desperation out of his voice as he leaned forward, "What is it called?"

Thor merely thought the excitement in James' face was due to his fascination about a new culture, he had no way of knowing about the significance his words would have on the man. "Your people call it Old Norse."

Warmth bloomed in Winter's chest as he finally had a name for the language gracing his wrist. Ignoring the other occupants in the truck, he leaned back into his seat and cradled his arm as though it were something precious, as if the person whose soul mirrored his could feel him coming for them.

And he would. He wouldn't stop until she was wrapped in his arms and then he'd never have to be alone again.


Darcy made sure to park far out of sight, per Winter's instructions, and the three slowly crept over to a hill that overlooked an impromptu government set-up; right in the center of the entire thing, enclosed in what seems to be glass, was Mjolnir.

The constant restlessness that had been blazing under Thor's skin settled slightly as he finally laid eyes on his hammer. It was the first sight of something from home and he was eager to have it back within his grasp.

Winter reached into one of the pockets of his tactical vest, which rested beneath the coat he wore, and pulled out a pair of binoculars.

Darcy side-eyed him, "Geez you came prepared. What else you got in there?"

Three knives, two guns, and a small hand-held grenade. But Winter doubted the knowledge would soothe his companions, "You don't want to know."

Darcy's eyebrows rose to her hairline, "Well shit, now I'm intrigued."

Before Darcy could try and convince Winter to undoubtedly let her search him, Thor stood and pulled off the jacket the three scientists had provided him with. Like the gentleman his mother raised him to be, he placed the garment around Darcy's shoulders, "You are going to need this."

Before she could question his actions, thunder started rumbling off in the distance. "Right," she drug the word out as she looked to the sky, "God of the Rains and all that."

"God of Thunder, but close." Adopting a much firmer stance, he pointed at them, "Now the two of you will stay here. Once I have Mjolnir I will come back to meet you, and from there I can contact Heimdall." The last thing Thor wanted was to have to worry about the two of them getting caught.

Despite halfheartedly paying attention to the conversation happening around him, Winter had kept a close eye on the movements of the guards paroling the perimeter, taking note of how long they were in each area and when they would switch, all while calculating a window of time for Thor to slip in unnoticed.

While it would be so much easier for him to break in, he knew from the ride over that supposedly Thor would be the only one actually able to get the hammer out.

Winter loathed the idea of sending Thor in there defenseless, but he and Darcy had no clue who he really was; the weapon he was. They had no knowledge of the damage he had caused or the lives he had taken.

A brutal murderer.

A feral tool.

A savage monster masquerading as a man.

The fist of Hydra.

He'd seen fear before. In the eyes of targets who realized exactly what he was there to do. In the skittish movements the scientists around his handler would make in his mere presence. He could hear the whispers as plain as day; how they thought of him as nothing more than a rabid dog on a leash.

Winter had no desire for Thor or Darcy to see him the same way.

So he swallowed the urge to take the easiest course of action, which would no doubt leave a trail of bodies, and outlined the best route for Thor to take. He ignored their shock and made sure the god was listening closely.

Darcy felt like she had teleported into a James Bond movie, and she snorted a bit when the similarity in names registered. She stared at him a bit incredulously, "Dude what are you, army trained?"

He offered her the slightest one shouldered shrug ever, "Something like that."

Deciding she'd unpack all that later, she turned to Thor, "Well that'll get you in, but how exactly are you planning on getting out?"

"I'm going to fly out."

Darcy's mouth dropped open and her lips curled in startled delight, "I'll shit bricks if you do. Swear to god if I see you fly out of there, I will literally shit bricks."

Thor found himself taken aback by the terminology and not for the first time thought about how different Midgardian speech had become since his last visit. The Vikings, although more primitive than the current generation, were much easier to understand.

And with that, Thor began moving towards the camp.


He followed the path and executed the timing that James had suggested, and just like he'd said, no one had noticed his entrance.

He moved closer and could hear the hum of Mjolnir, who was reaching out to her owner, as thunder and lightning filled the sky. Thor looked up and smiled as the rain began pouring down. His father may have stripped him from his powers, but he could never take Thor's primal connection to the elements away; it was in his Aesir blood.

James had warned him that there could be guards once inside that he wasn't able to see from their position atop the hill, but Thor had soothed him with assurance that he had no qualms fighting if it came down to it.

So when he did run into guards who stood in his way as he made it further inside, he simply incapacitated them swiftly, not even really thinking about it. He'd been training to be a warrior practically his whole life. Odin could take his strength, but never the lessons that had been beaten into his skin.

Finally after taking what seemed like endless turns, he laid his eyes on Mjolnir.

Before he could take another step forward, a much larger man stepped in his way. He was a good deal bigger than Thor himself, but he'd fought Frost Giants and this Midgardian had nothing on them. Sighing, because he really didn't have time to be dealing with this, Thor decided to play it smart and take a page out of his sister's book.

Take your opponent down swiftly and efficiently; cut through them as though they aren't even in your path, no fancy tricks.

Mirroring his sister's stance, Thor took a running leap, which took the man off guard, as he brought his back leg forward to kick the man hard across the face. He'd aimed right for the jaw, where the carotid artery lay, which brought the man down instantly as he fell unconscious.

No one could say that Thor didn't have his graceful moments.

He'd learned from the battle at Jotunheim; less talking and more fighting. His tongue was oftentimes the cause of his downfall.

Making his way down to Mjolnir, relief rushed through his body as he reached out and gripped the familiar handle.


Thor was sat upon a metal seat, gaze unfocused with his head bent down.

He couldn't lift it.

He had Mjolnir right in his hands and he couldn't lift it.

He was never going home.

He had roared into the heavens; cursing his father for allowing him such hope only to snatch it away. How could he do this to his own son? How could he cast him away without so much as a clue on how to get back?

Hadn't he proved himself over and over again to his father? He'd fought battles in his name, had gone to every lesson deemed necessary, he'd gotten to know his people personally in a way not even Odin had bothered to do in all his time as King.

What more did his father want from him?

Yes, he could admit when he'd made a mistake, and Jotunheim was certainly at the top of his list. But it wasn't as though his father had never done the same. He'd been young once too, and just like every son in every realm, had surely done something to disappoint his father.

So instead of guiding him in the right direction, why had he thrown him aside?

Did he mean so little to the man?

"You made my men, some of the most highly trained professionals in the world, look like a bunch of minimum-wage mall cops." The words of the short Midgardian positioned in front of him, roused him from his thoughts. He couldn't help but think of how far Midgard had fallen if those were the best warriors they had to offer.

Although he didn't reply, the thought did put a slight smile on his face. Loki had always told him he had the unique ability to find humor even in the worst of situations, and it seemed this time was no different.

The man continued, "In my experience, it takes someone who's received similar training, to do what you did to them. Why don't you tell me where you received your training? Pakistan? Chechnya? Afghanistan?"

Finally making eye contact with the Midgardian, he listened as the man droned on, "No, you strike me more as the soldier of fortune type. Where was it? South Africa?"

The more the man spoke, the more his demanding tone began to grate on Thor's rapidly declining patience. Who did this Midgardian think he was speaking to? Glowering at him, Thor finally spoke, "In my homeland, the children could have bested your men."

"Where do you come from?"

Under normal circumstances Thor wouldn't see the need to conceal his identity. After all what did he have to fear from the weaker species? However, he had just discovered that getting Mjolnir back wouldn't be as simple as he thought. And the fact that these people sought to keep, what was rightfully his, from his grasp only furthered his determination to make things as hard for them as possible.

The Midgardian seemed to sense that Thor wouldn't be giving him answers anytime soon, "One way or another, we always find out what we need to know. We're good at that." A beeping sound coming from his pocket stopped him from continuing.

In return Thor leveled him with a flat stare, one that pierced through the man, only allowing him one glance into eyes that held more knowledge than all his years, "Good luck with that."


Loki and Elysia stood hand in hand in his room. After leaving the garden Loki had brought up his concerns about making sure their brother was updated about what had happened since his exile. Frigga had suggested Loki project their image; knowing full well that if either sibling were to physically step foot on Midgard, they would not be leaving without Thor.

Frigga and Sif were the only ones who knew what they were about to do. Although Sif wanted nothing more than to see that her soulmate was okay with her own eyes, she knew Elysia and Loki would let no harm come to him.

"Remember, we can't stay long. Mother said this can be draining and I'm not sure of how soon the effects may start."

Elysia smiled at her older brother, giddy with relief that she would even be allowed to see Thor, "Any time with him is enough."

Knowing exactly how his sister felt, Loki shared her smile. Before this separation, they had never treasured time with one another so greatly. They never thought they'd see a day where they could be forced apart.

It was a new kind of torture Odin had introduced them to.

"What about..." Elysia trailed off, not knowing how to phrase the secret which now laid heavy on Loki's shoulders.

Loki wasn't stupid, he knew he'd have to look his big brother in the eyes and tell him the horrible truth; that he was the son of the enemy. A child of the Frost Giants Thor had called monsters. A member of the very species Thor sought to eradicate.

But upon finding out himself, the love Loki held for his family didn't lessen. Sif and Elysia had even embraced him after they'd heard the truth. Frigga had never once cowered away from him and she had known the entire time.

Despite his fears, deep in his heart he knew Thor's love for him wasn't so shallow that he'd simply cast him away.

"I'd prefer he only worry about one thing at a time, and we still have to tell him he may be coming home to a throne if father doesn't awaken when this war is over." Loki looked deep into Elysia's eyes and took note of the compassion that laid there.

If there was anyone who knew what it was like to look at your family and wonder if they could love you despite the lack of blood ties, it was her.

"When this war is over and Thor's back home, we'll tell him together," Elysia squeezed his hand tighter, "I promise."

She watched as her brother seemed to grow brighter in her eyes, the light of his soul shining through rather than its normal glow. It was such a beautiful thing, to see the very soul of someone you loved, she only wished she could share the sight with him.

Having said what needed to be said, a comfortable silence befell them as they closed their eyes and let Loki's magic rush over them.


Loki and Elysia silently watched a small and balding Midgardian begin to make his way out of the enclosed room they found themselves in. Both siblings kept their eyes on him, knowing they wouldn't be able to keep themselves hidden if they were to look upon their brother just yet. They had come here for a reason; as much as they may have wanted it, this couldn't be a simple social call. However, the second they did allow themselves a look at their golden-haired brother, any pretense of composure was quickly thrown out the window.

Before Thor could even get a good glimpse at the two bodies that suddenly appeared in the room, arms found their way around his body in a crushing grip. The familiar scent of home and the larkspur flowers that bloomed in his mother's garden, assaulted his senses. Realizing just who was attached to him, Thor reached his arms around them and pulled them even closer, burying his nose in the tangled mix of hair near his face. "You're here! What are you doing here?" His voice came out muffled and his throat felt tight.

Although they hadn't been apart for more than a couple days, the siblings had never been forcefully separated from each other to the point where they questioned whether or not they'd ever be reunited. To the three of them, the past couple days had felt like lifetimes.

Loki was the first to break away, subtly trying to blink away the wetness in his eyes before either of his siblings realized. He didn't venture far; only leaning back to kneel before his older brother, his hands resting upon Thor's bent knees. On the other hand, Elysia refused to leave the strong arms of her eldest brother, turning slightly so she was sat on his lap instead.

A small tear slipped unbidden down Thor's cheek as he moved to grip Loki's shoulder in one hand while his other tangled into his sister's hair to press her closer in an attempt to calm the whimpers leaving her throat. The last sight he'd had of them had been the horrified looks upon their faces as he'd been sucked into the Bifrost. A look that had haunted him from behind his eyelids whenever they shut.

Elysia had imagined their reunion many times; had agonized over what to say, how to ask forgiveness for not fighting to get to him sooner. However, all those plans and all those words fell away the moment she touched him. Flashes of the past washed over her; dousing her in memories where she could only see her brothers through a barricade, a time when she almost forgot what another's touch even felt like.

She had promised herself back then that she'd never know such a feeling again, and yet here she was, once again deprived of her brother's embrace.

A broken sob slipped from her lips as the true consequences of her failure hit her head on. She should have put her foot down and gone straight to Odin before they reached Heimdall. She had this impossible power beneath her fingertips; she should have dragged Thor away from Laufey before it had become a fight.

She should have fought off her mother's magic that blocked her from her brother.

Her Papa should have let Laufey kill Odin that night-

"As if anything could keep us away for long." Loki's voice snapped her from the treasonous thoughts raging in her mind, "We had to see you."

Elysia took a second to gather herself before slightly tilting her head to see Thor's face, "Father's fallen into Odinsleep." She watched as Thor's gaze dropped to hers in shock. The last time their father had fallen into such a sleep had been far before his children's time. She couldn't help but make a snide remark about the man who had caused their current circumstances, "Naturally it was at the most inconvenient of times."

"Wh-what happened?"

Loki and Elysia shared a quick glance at Thor's stuttered question, both wanting nothing more than to speak freely, but there could not have been a worse moment for it. Given their older brother's temper, they could only imagine the choice words he would have for their parents upon the knowledge of their deceit.

"He was forced into an uncomfortable conversation about certain actions of his." Elysia tried her best to convey through her tone that they would discuss it in more detail later.

Thankfully Thor seemed to understand by the way he shifted the conversation, "And mother?"

Loki heaved a sigh at the thought of their mother. Well not his mother anymore, but she was the only mother he'd ever known and the only one he wanted. He may not have looked like Frigga, but he'd like to think he inherited her kind heart. "She's afraid he won't awaken this time."

"A reasonable fear, he's put it off for so long now." If Elysia were speaking honestly, she herself was amazed at his current age. "Try as he might, he's not immortal. For a Vanir, his life is already a considerably long one."

It had been quite a shock to the three children when they discovered Odin was Vanir and not Aesir. For them, their father was bigger than life; they thought the guardian of the nine realms should be nothing less than mighty.

The older they grew the more they realized all those titles Odin held had been passed down from his own father, and inheriting power didn't necessarily make you worthy of it.

Leaning her head against Thor's chin, Elysia hesitated to bring up the matter that brought them to Midgard in the first place, "There's something else we need to talk about."

Thor had an inkling about what they needed to speak about. After all his father had exiled him right as things with Jotunheim had become extremely volatile. He remembered Laufey's sneering face as he promised Odin a war.

In that moment it was all Thor had wanted; another big adventure to show his people that he would be a great King and a formidable warrior that could protect them.

But here he was; stuck on Midgard with no way home while his people and family were under threat. He wished he could go back and listen when Loki tried to usher him away from Laufey.

"War with Jotunheim has become unavoidable, and we must prepare ourselves." Loki, who knew his siblings inside and out, did his best to convey through his eyes that he placed none of the blame on his brother. Everyone knew Laufey had been unhappy since the end of the Great War; how he felt he deserved to control the nine realms.

If they hadn't provoked Laufey on that day, then the King of the Frost Giants would have come up with a reason sooner or later to march against Asgard.

"Okay, then I assume you've come to take me home?"

Silence befell the dark-haired siblings. They knew what needed to be said, but how could they possibly explain that they couldn't just whisk him away?

After a heavy moment, it was Elysia who finally spoke up, "Unless father finally keels over, then we don't have the authority to restore your power." She wanted him to understand, to know they made this decision out of love. "We will not bring you back to a time of war and risk your safety."

However, instead of taking a step back from the situation and trying to see where his siblings were coming from, Thor's mind instantly went to the worst-case scenarios, "You cannot possibly think I'd ever let you two leave me here while you face the Frost Giants!"

Seeing that all familiar look of firm determination in his brother's eyes, Loki stood and began pacing, "What else would you have us do Thor? Willingly bring you home when Laufey is ready to march against us and you're as breakable as a Midgardian?" The more he spoke the more flustered he begun to get, "No, I won't hear it."

"But-"

"No!" Marching back to his stubborn brother, Loki lent down and gently grabbed the back of Thor's neck to tilt his face upwards, "We cannot lose you brother; we would not survive it."

There was a storm raging in Loki's green eyes; a storm of untamed desperation. The thought of the Frost Giants being anywhere near their brother while at his most vulnerable was like a dagger to the chest. He had to take a step back and bite his tongue before he said anything too rash. Elysia closed her eyes as she imagined all the things that could go wrong if they brought him back home.

Thrown by the sheer amount of emotion coming from his little brother, Thor tried to find the words to express his own mounting feelings, "And how do you think I feel knowing you two are about to head into a war while I sit here uselessly? To know Laufey is near you without my protection?"

Couldn't they understand that he could never live with himself if something were to happen to them while he was stuck in exile? Couldn't they see that the very thought of it was tearing him up inside?

As per usual, it fell to Elysia to soothe the turbulent ocean that were her brothers. "Trust in us. You and mother taught us well, we are stronger than you think. But like Loki said, if we were to bring you home and something happened," her nails dug into the skin of his arm, "then there is nothing left. Everything else is obsolete if even one of us leaves this life."

"We'd fight a thousand wars if it meant keeping you safe." Loki kept his gaze on the ground as he spoke, afraid that one look into the bright blue eyes he'd known since birth would free the tears he tried so hard to hold back. "While there is nothing we wouldn't do for you brother, we refuse to risk your life simply because we miss you."

"Loki..." The name slipped from Thor almost subconsciously as he watched his brother with wide eyes.

Finally lifting his gaze, Loki showed his face as the tears finally gave way. His voice was soft yet somehow it was the loudest sound in the room, "I love you brother, so please don't ask this of me."

This speech he expected from Elysia, who was always free with her emotions with them, but to hear this come from Loki? It was not something Thor saw coming. As the oldest, he knew all there was to know about his younger siblings, it was something Loki had come to almost depend upon. There were very few instances where Loki had to explain in detail what he was feeling to his brother; a few small daggers to the side taught Thor to pay better attention over the years.

Although there was no one Loki loved more than Thor and Elysia, he sometimes had a difficult time expressing it.

So for him to readily say just how deep that love ran, proved just how serious this was for him.

As stubborn as he was, the sight of tears on either of his siblings' faces was the one thing that could stop Thor in his tracks. When he thought about what he would do if their roles were reversed the fight seemed to drain out of him as his shoulders slumped and he dropped his head to lean against Elysia's. How could he continue to argue when they were doing exactly what he would do for them?

"I'm not sure of what help I could be anyway." The memory of what had just occurred went soaring through his mind. He could practically still feel the strain in his biceps; a physical reminder of his failure. A failure he was loath to admit to the two people who looked up to him the most. "I tried to lift Mjolnir, but I-I couldn't."

Contrary to Thor's belief, his siblings weren't disappointed in him in the slightest. There was little he could ever do to disappoint them; aside from his lack of common sense regarding his feelings for Sif.

"I suspect none of us could lift it at the moment."

Seeing his sister's words put a bit of spark back into Thor, Loki chimed in as well, "It's father's idea of what's worthy and what isn't, and we all know how impossible his standards can be."

It was something that had occurred to them once Odin had thrown Mjolnir into the Bifrost after Thor; how nothing their father did was simple, so gaining the hammer back wouldn't be either.

Feeling slightly better by the admittance, Thor relished in his siblings' words of encouragement. From a young age his biggest fear was and would always be his worthiness in the lives of others. It was a continuous battle that frequently haunted him.

Would he ever measure up to a father who held no tolerance for failure?

What if one day his siblings realized he needed them more than they needed him?

Could he live up to the expectations the universe had placed upon him when they matched his soul to Sif's?

Did he deserve the faith and trust his best friends put in him?

When the time came to take the throne, could he say he'd earned the right to his people's loyalty?

In the midst of giving Thor time to collect himself, Loki's eyes glazed over as a prodding sensation ran up his spine. Someone, most likely Sif or Frigga seeing as how they were the only two who knew what the siblings were up to at the moment, was trying to get his attention.

Logically he knew that he couldn't hold this projection forever; it took a great deal of magic and energy to create a projection strong enough for others to interact with. And Loki had been holding up two for a good deal of time. Their mother was probably on the other end reminding him that he wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer, so if goodbyes were going to be said, then it was now or never.

Elysia had seen the far off look hit Loki and by the defeated stare he leveled her way after a few seconds, she knew exactly why.

She didn't want to leave him.

How was she supposed to let go of him once again?

Suddenly burying her face into Thor's neck, Elysia shook her head slightly, "I don't want to go." She held tight and in the back of her mind prayed to whoever was listening, that she could pass this power, this golden light, into her brother.

She'd take his place. She'd take his exile in a heartbeat. She'd stay here, feel her strength leak from her bones, and spend the rest of her days walking this Midgardian soil if only so Thor didn't have to. She willed the Allfathers of old residing in the halls of Valhalla to hear her plea.

Protect him.

Walk beside him.

Deliver him back up into our arms when all is safe.

Behind those pleas was a much darker promise; if harm befalls him, then you'll watch as I raze these worlds.

Unaware of the menacing thoughts twirling their way through his sister's mind, Thor gently tilted her head away to kiss her forehead, ignoring the soft glow of her irises, knowing by now that such a thing would happen when she was overwhelmed by her emotions. Cradling her face, Thor ensured she made eye contact, "No matter where we are, I will never completely leave you. You cannot get rid of me that easily sister."

He let go of her face to bring her palm in front of them, running his finger along the small silvery scar that also ran along his and Loki's palms, "Till the end, remember?"

Elysia mustered up a watery smile, appreciating his efforts to encourage her. Even though he was the one being left behind in an unfamiliar home, he was trying to soothe her when it should have been the other way around.

But that was Thor; the brightest light in their family, a truly unreplaceable treasure.

With great reluctance, Elysia forced herself to rise from her brother's lap, knowing Loki deserved to say his own goodbyes.

Loki wasted no time in yanking Thor into his arms, being careful not to crush this Midgardian form of his brother. "Geta krǫptugr bróðir," he whispered into Thor's ear.

The use of their native tongue settled into Thor's bones like the warm fur blanket Frigga would drape around his shoulders as a youngling during the cold seasons. Clutching him back as hard as he could in this body, Thor whispered back, "Ávalt."

If the three of them were to close their eyes, they could almost imagine they were back home. Asgard wasn't so much of a place but rather a people. Asgard was the blood in their veins and the spirit of their souls. Asgard was wherever they were together.

So for a few moments, this dull grey room could be Asgard.

A harsher jolt up the spine was Loki's final warning as the two brothers were forced to release one another. There was a bittersweet air; at least this interaction would not end with one of them being violently ripped away by their father.

Odin couldn't touch them here.

Looping her arm around Loki for stability, Elysia reached up and placed her hand on Thor's cheek, "If you need anything at all, call for Heimdall and he'll inform us." She figured just because they couldn't bring him home didn't mean they weren't allowed to care for him.

Placing a warm hand atop hers, Thor smiled gently at his sweet sister, promising his breaking heart that this goodbye would not be permeant.

Loki's eyes softened upon seeing them, as they always did, "Would you like a little help out of this room before we go?"

"A distraction would be most welcome."

Both brothers shared a devious smirk as the door to the room opened wide with a simple wave of Loki's hand and the two abruptly faded from sight as the illusion was dropped.

Although seeing his siblings leave had gutted him, a new fierce determination ignited in his heart. He needed to find a way to get Mjolnir; his family was in danger and he'd be damned if he sat around and did nothing about it.

The second he took a step outside the room, the building around him shook as the sounds of various explosions went off around him. The frantic sounds of running and yelling filled his ears.

Thor couldn't help but chuckle and smile wide; thanking the Allfathers for making his brother the God of Mischief.


Translation:

Geta krǫptugr bróðir: Be strong brother.

Ávalt: Always

A/N: So if you've noticed, I'm constantly switching between the names Winter and James here. This is because Darcy and Thor only know him as James (and so will anyone else he introduces himself to for a while), but in his head he's still Winter. So, his name will bounce between the two based on whose perspective we're looking at. Eventually as the story goes on and he starts to remember more, he'll stop referring to himself as Winter. However, until then, please bear with me in regards to the two names, sorry if it's confusing.

Also, hope I'm doing Darcy's character justice; I absolutely love her.