Now, this is Thor: The Dark World, but Ari takes over for Jane. As with the end of the last chapter, we will have a bit of Captain America: Civil War in here as well, only because we need Bucky and Ari healed earlier. While Ari is dealing with Asgard stuff, Civil War will be happening, along with a few other things. So, try to understand that the timeline is shuffled around in this chapter. Also, we don't see the Earth stuff, and some of it will be different on both ends. This is another two-part chapter.

Differences mentioned in this chapter: All of it.

TW: Mention of rape

Loki and Ariana exited the Bifrost. Loki was about to speak, but Heimdall motioned to Ariana. That was when Loki noticed how pale she was. Using his ability to create, he made a bucket for her as she threw up.

"Not everyone is suited to the Bifrost," said Heimdall. "It is good to see you in person, Lady Stark."

"I think it was the lights," she said. "And moving too fast. But, yes, it's good to see you… I think."

"I'm afraid this will be the most pleasant introduction you will have. The king is not pleased."

Guards surrounded her and Loki on the bridge as they exited with caution. Thor came running.

"I tried to talk father out of it," he said.

"Out of what?" Ariana asked.

"Arresting both of you."

"Let me guess, for Loki's stunt years ago and me coming here?"

"That about sums it up, Lady Stark." He watched as the guards put them both in chains. "I'm sorry."

"You're father's a dick."

They were escorted to the palace. Ariana admired Asgard even as she was being forced through its streets like a criminal. No one could deny it was beautiful.

Once in the throne room, she stared at Odin. He certainly had a presence about him and she worked at keeping her anger under control. Loki was his usual self, goading Odin on. Ariana fought to keep from smiling at some of what he said. But any smile fighting to break free was shattered when Loki was sentenced to the dungeon.

"But Loki has more than made up for his mistakes!" she said. "Any supposed crimes on Earth have been pardoned! Why can't you see what we see? Or is that eyepatch getting in the way?"

"I cannot let his crimes go unpunished," Odin said. "Nor yours."

"Other than being invited here to heal by Loki, what crime have I committed?"

"You entered Asgard when it was strictly prohibited. As such…" Ariana's hands began sparking, causing him to stop. "Most interesting."

Frigga returned and saw what was happening. She went up to Ariana and took her hands. Ariana was shocked, as was Loki. Thor went to his mother, who closed her eyes in seeming pain. Ariana tried to yank her hands away, tears forming. Loki, though shackled, took hold of her arm in comfort. But in her eyes, he saw shame. He placed his forehead to Ariana's. He knew that feeling well and did not wish to see it in his beloved. She was too good to feel such a thing.

Frigga looked at Odin, saying, "Let them go, husband."

"Frigga?"

"Trust my judgment, Odin. Things are not as they once were."

"You know I cannot."

"Father…" Thor began.

"It won't work," said Loki, looking at his brother. "It's not like…"

Ariana removed her hands from Frigga's, who gently let go, so that she could lace her fingers with his. It was awkward since they were handcuffed, but he looked down at her. You matter to me. Always have. I just don't know who I am anymore.

You are Ariana Elena Stark, he said. The only love I have, and ever will have. Search for yourself, and whoever she is, I know she will be perfect.

Frigga looked at Odin, her eyes saying, "I told you so."

Odin stood and said, "I cannot let this go." Ariana and Loki looked at the king. "What I can do is listen to why you broke the law for this woman."

"A group of Midgardians kidnapped her," Loki said. "They hurt her, shattering her mind and using a serum to turn her into a…" He didn't want to say it. "A…"

"We call people like me super soldiers," said Ariana, her voice strong but the tremors running through her told Loki she was scared to share what happened. "There are very few of us, but those under this group called HYDRA have nightmares."

"Why is that?" asked Frigga, putting her hand around Ariana in support.

Ariana let a single tear fall as she looked at Loki's mother, understanding why he cared for Frigga so much. "With certain words, they can turn me back into Snow White, an assassin… a weapon." More tears fell unchecked. "I see the faces of every one of the people they made me…" She swallowed hard. "I had no control, no choice. They set me on so many innocent people. They tortured me for a week. It felt endless." Frigga hugged Ariana as sobs wracked her body, Loki unsure what to do to help chained up as he was. "If it wasn't for Bucky, my brother in that place… I wouldn't… but like him, they wiped my mind. I forgot everyone… everything… and remembering hurt." Ariana and Frigga fell to the ground as the sobs became greater, as if the memory of her torment was worse than experiencing it. "I can't go back to that. I can't. The beatings… the mind wipe… the killing… the… the…"

Loki had tears in his own eyes. Hearing it made him want to break the neck of every man that had hurt her. But he knew it was what she didn't say that caused his mother to rock Ariana like a scared child. Because she was. Loki looked up as Odin came up next to him.

"Who is this brother she speaks of?" his father asked, lowering his voice to spare Ariana. "And her powers? What of them?"

Loki didn't know what he should or shouldn't say. He wanted to keep her safe. But Thor came up to him and said, "Brother, tell him. He has seen how you are with her. It will be alright."

"Ariana is the friend I found on Midgard," Loki said, fighting the lump in his throat. "Only, we fast became more than friends. In less than a day, we both knew each other better than we knew ourselves. We tried to go slow, but we couldn't stay apart for long. We became the very air to each other. She has had her powers for many years, even before I met her, yet they do not harm me. I shared my magic with her so she could keep the thoughts of others out."

"So, this is the mortal you aided," Odin said. "But this brother?"

"Bucky is a super soldier like herself, but much older. He was created first. He has a metal arm and protects her as any brother would. They were made to believe they were true siblings by HYDRA but she was adopted by him in their fortress when they had their minds back, and they have kept that relationship. Just as her adopted family came to love her, she loves Bucky. They are family." Loki looked down. "Since her return to the Avengers, I feared she would leave. I nearly lost her twice now due to mind control. I wanted her always where I could see. She had moved on after my 'death' and that only added to the tension, but they broke up. I didn't stop, nor did I give her space as she needed."

"So, what do you want from me, my son?"

Loki looked at Odin, shocked by being called his son again. "I thought bringing her here, our healers would be able to break the hold the words have on her mind. Free her. Then…"

"Let the poor girl heal," Frigga said, Ariana's sobs quieting as exhaustion took over. "Odin, she saved our son in ways we could not. She has suffered much in a short life. Let her learn of her own strength here."

"Very well," Odin said. "As thanks for what she has brought to Loki's life, we will heal her. But, Loki…"

"Still to the dungeon, then?"

"You will be her healer."

Loki was too shocked to speak for a moment. "What?"

"You did as I asked and brought the mortal you befriended here. There was no crime. As for trying to take the throne, that was pardoned when you fought alongside Thor to save the Midgardian city." Odin motioned to the guards. "Remove the chains on them."

Once freed, Loki went straight to Ariana and pulled her into his arms. Frigga went to Odin and Thor as Loki carried her to his chambers.

"Just like us," said Odin. "I see us in them."

"Yes, she gave him back his humanity," said Frigga.

"She gave him more than that," said Thor. "She gave him love and acceptance. I fear we lacked in that as he and I grew up."

"She is a bright soul."

"She fears this HYDRA has destroyed who she is, as his death was."

"Could she not feel him?"

"If she did, she mistook it for something else. She threatened me for him while you slept."

Frigga blushed as Odin chuckled and said, "I believe your mother had a moment like that with me as well."

Thor smiled. "She also said she would tear apart the nine realms to end me. It seems humans still remember the tales of old, but as old stories." Thor looked down, the smile fading. "She still does not care for me, despite him being alive and well."

"Give her time, my son, and she will look at you as a sibling as well. She has powers similar to yours. Teach her. I must go prepare."

"Prepare? Prepare for what?"

Frigga smiled. "A welcome for the Princes and Loki's consort, of course."

Thor smiled back. "Should I go tell Loki?"

"No, it will not be for another couple of days. Let them enjoy this night."

Meanwhile, Loki placed Ariana on his bed for her to rest. She seemed peaceful for a time and he sat holding her hand, just happy to watch her. But it wasn't long before she began to toss and turn. He couldn't bear to see her this way but had no idea how to help.

"Ariana?" he asked.

"Stop…" she mumbled. "I don't… no… it hurts…" Sweat covered her forehead. She clung to him. Tears fell. "Make it stop… please…" She bolted upright. "Stop!"

"Shhh," Loki soothed, pulling her shaking body into his arms. "It's alright. It's a nightmare."

"I called for you," she confessed. "Every day, until my voice broke, I yelled for you. They tormented me with that, of them getting you. But I couldn't stop it. When Bucky and I remembered, he would tell me, 'One day, sis, you'll get to go back to him.' That got me through everything, knowing that no matter what, you'd find me. But I feel more lost than ever. They turned me into a…"

He knew her next words and had to stop her. "They did nothing of the sort. What they did was put you to sleep and created someone that wore your face for their own purpose. But all of us, your family and friends at the compound and now on Asgard, we know that was never you."

"I still feel her, Lo. She's still in my head. I hear her whisper, like she's a real person. Everytime I go to sleep, it's like she takes a part of me away. I'm scared. Since officially becoming a SHIELD agent, I never got scared. I could finally take care of myself. I could protect everyone I love. Now, it's being taken from me piece by piece. HYDRA shaped my life since the beginning, and Snow White is taking what little I have left."

"No, she isn't. I know it feels that way, but she will never be able to take away the essence of who you are."

"And who is that? Because I don't know anymore."

He made her look into his eyes. "A strong woman. One who is loving," he kissed her softly, "smart, beautiful," he kissed down her neck, "powerful," he looked into her eyes, "and mine."

They met for a passionate kiss. Any thought of nightmares or trauma was washed from her mind with his kiss. His hands moved over her, her hands tugging at his clothes. Both needing to be skin to skin. Finally, they resorted to ripping when they couldn't remove the clothing fast enough. Though it pained him to see the new scars on her, he could not deny the courage she had to face each day with the monsters that ran HYDRA. He kissed down her body, lavishing each mark in warship.

When he reached her core, she stiffened and her hand went to his hair. He feasted leisurely, giving her time to see the truth. As pleasure coursed through her, she relaxed. If he got to a point that her fear took over, he would go back to gentle kisses to sooth her. It didn't matter to him that he was aching and full. It was all her, to show her what she meant to him.

The pressure inside of her built. That was what helped her accept him like she needed. The HYDRA agents didn't care for her discomfort, they did as they pleased. But Loki, her king, put her needs first. He loved her, as if no time separated them. He knew her, inside and out. But now, she had to have him inside of her.

As if sensing her need, just as he always could, he kissed back up her body, kissing her as he slowly entered her dripping core. She gasped in pleasure. She looked at him before kissing him again. Be began moving, slow at first but picking up speed with each thrust. He kept one hand on her plump breast, keeping her mind on what he was doing to her body, of the ecstasy coursing through both of them.

They spent the rest of the night like that, sleeping for a few hours before making love. When they did rest for a decent amount of time, for the first time since her rescue, Ariana didn't have a nightmare. She was content and happy and safe.