Epilogue

Lucy waits until her world is asleep before sneaking out of the large apartment with the wide balcony and it's elegant garden.

The decor on the walls hasn't changed much since Bruce and Natasha moved out a few months prior.

A few dried gala lilies still cover the table with an old iPod that's stuck on 'Moon River'. There are books on the counter, books poorly stacked on shelves pertaining to Norn Stones, Magic and Science.

Lucy exits the room with a pull to her curtain and rounds the corner of the palace in one of Natasha's old Asgardian vests, leggings and boots.

A new purple streak can be found in her hair to replace where the blue used to be, falling just above her eye.

After training with the warrior's, Lucy feels much more confident in her stealth mode, determined to follow through on Izabella's request.

"If you love me…" has been ringing in Lucy's ear for months. A lingering mission she wants to fulfill not just for Izabella's sake but also her own.

Upon getting past the guards, she's reaching into her mouth to locate a key.

She gags it up and throws it toward a glass;

"Get up, Greenie. Today's your lucky day."

The dejected demigod creases his brow, "What fight are you seeking my assistance for this time?"

"There's no fight,' Lucy addresses the key and unlocks his prison, 'I'm following through on a promise my friend made you."

He claps his hands together, "At least one of you has a heart! You were always my favorite!"

"…You're terrified of me."

He freezes before finally admitting, "A bit! Yes!"

"You completed your half of the bargain, so like, I'm trusting you here. And if you pull any funny business on our adventure together, I will thrash you around harder than my Uncle B ever did!"

Loki tugs at his wrists, now standing in front of her upon opening his cell door, "Is that a promise?"

"Oh you poor soul. The jokes we're going to make together,' She pats his back, 'It's a threat, Lolo. Where to?"

"Wait just one minute! I work alone!"

"You used to,' she grins despite his protest, 'but I need off this rock and you know the realms better than anyone. Someplace where you can rule and I can be a free woman again. Perhaps a performing artist? That's the goal here so start thinking before we're bombarded by an onslaught of guards on their way to us."

Loki scoffs with a nervous smile, "Oh my. Now just-."

Lucy lifts a crystal dangling next to a green stone sitting on her neck, "Careful…I've been learning how to use this."

Loki drops his hands in defeat, realizing he will never fully be rid of her.

He rests his hands on his hips and contemplates their next move;

"Fine! This way!"

He leads them down an alley, back over the beaten down path and towards the central location where Heimdall is conveniently absent. A clueless substitute stands in his place.

Loki frowns curiously while Lucy checks her dark green painted nails and urges him to move along.

When they get to their transport, he pauses in his urgent lecture on how to work it, hands dropping to his sides.

He's baffled, watching her plug her ear and grin;

"What! Are you doing?!"

"I'm a musical theater buff. You didn't think I could do anything without music, right?"

"Well I-!"

"What were you saying? I can't hear you over Audrey Hepburn."

"Perhaps unclogging an ear would be beneficial?! Is this not a break out?! Where is my brother?!"

"I can't hear you Lolo…"

"I said! Perhaps- oh never mind! Children of Midgard-! I'll drive!"

She nods, kicks back and settles on the ground of their transport, "Sick! I have a DWI anyways."

"What is a DWI? Oh! For goodness sake! Stop the distractions!"

"Whatever you say," Lucy salutes two fingers upward and seemingly toward the sky. She clicks the iPod rhythmically, seemingly haphazardly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Loki takes a pause and grins to himself over the title, completely oblivious to the actual receiver.

. * . * . * . * .

Up in the observation area, there's a return salute from a figure behind the misty clouds currently supervising all things while Thor is away. Someone who is aware of and permitting the entire situation to take place.

She has her feet up on Thor's desk with popcorn in her hand and a hungry fox eager to catch the scraps on the ground.

Brunnhilde grins, holds her matching earpiece after receiving the Morse code and waves back to Lucy, swinging comfortably in a Midgardian chair she's enjoying spinning on.

~Fin~