Here I am again! It's a short one... again (sorry...) but still

ENJOY! :)

Chapter 23

Days past, they turned into weeks. Each one more boring that the last...
Every day Loki looked down on the practising warriors, each time wishing he shouldn't have to lie to himself, but there was just no denying it: the new recruits sucked!

It wasn't all their fault, though… Lord Steldor was old and couldn't demonstrate any of the moves he taught his pupils. And besides that, his tactics were ancient and outdated.

Arya was doing her very best, but the young men were too proud to take orders from a girl. No matter how hard she tried, Arya always ended up completely ignored.

Loki sighed. He was hungry… They were running out of food. These last days, he had done nothing more than trying to calm down the other royal advisors and representatives of the other realms. Thor also got more and more suspicious and he hadn't seen Frigga once!

On the third day after his return, Loki had summoned Heimdall. Of course he couldn't exactly punish the guardian, but that didn't keep him from threatening him…

Unfortunately, Heimdall hadn't been that impressed. He kept apologizing for leaving the Bifröst, even though he had nothing to do with that, but he didn't seem that worried about his betrayal. When Loki confronted him with it, the guardian just said he had done what was best for Asgard.

The young king had to admit that he had changed and learned during his stay on Midgard. Maybe Heimdall was right… Maybe he had been doing things the wrong way…

And that brought Loki to a new problem…

-xxx-

The sound of cautious footsteps broke the silence. Loki turned around to face a slightly startled Jane who had just entered the throne room.

Loki immediately relaxed. For a second, he had been certain Lord Argus, who happened to be the most annoying advisor at the moment, had returned to point out again that "Asgard was in danger!"

Jane stood at the door, not quite sure if she could come in or not. Loki forced a kind smile on his face and gestured Jane enter. At least she was better company than all those naysayers…

Jane smiled hesitatingly and walked in.

"Hi…" she started nervously.

Loki, who had been standing on the balcony walked inside again and changed his appearance in his normal clothing. No staff, no cape… Jane seemed to relax a little bit.

"Is there something my dear brother can't solve for you?" Loki asked smiling.

Jane laughed.

"Yeah… I mean no… not really… well… maybe a little…" she stuttered. Jane shook her head.

"I doesn't matter…" she continued. "I was actually here because I wanted to go back to Earth…Thor told me you closed down the Bifröst…"

Loki frowned.
"Why do you want to go back? It's not exactly safe there…"

"I don't want to stay, I just want to get some stuff… because… we're moving to Asgard…"

Loki tried hard to hide the smile which formed on his lips. To be honest, he had been hoping they would stay… not for Thor of for Jane, but for Frigga…

"Well…" Loki started while turning around. "I actually shouldn't…"

The young king walked over to the balcony and looked at the Bifröst in the distance.

"Heimdall…" he suddenly said, as if the guardian was standing next to him. "Is it safe to travel to Midgard right now?"

It stayed silent for a couple of seconds, until the Bifröst started turning.

Loki nodded. "All right… I guess I'll let you go this one time…"

Jane smiled. "Thank you, Lo…"

But the young king turned around and interrupted.

"On one condition…"

Jane turned silent again and watched Loki getting closer again. The young king looked at her in a serious way, which didn't really suit him….

"I want you to bring me all seven Harry Potter books!"

Jane let go of her breath and laughed. She though Loki was going to ask her something impossible.

"All right… I think I can manage that…" she said.

Loki smiled.
"And some of that brown soda stuff…"

"Coca Cola?"

Loki nodded and turned around again, but halfway he thought of something else. He faced Jane again.

"And leaf that dreadful, talking sponge!" he said, almost sounding desperate. Jane had to do her best not to laugh.

"That won't be a problem…" she answered with a smile on her lips.

"Deal… you can leave whenever you want, but it has to be today and you better ask someone to join you…"

Jane nodded. "I'll ask Thor…" she answered, but Loki shook his head.

"No, no… I need Thor here for the moment. Someone has to listen to Lord Argus' complaints while I am pretending to listen…"

Jane smirked. "All right… but who comes with me then?"

Loki though about that for a moment.

"Arya… take Arya with you… I think she needs a break from those irritating recruits… A little field trip couldn't do her any harm, but try to stay out of trouble…"

Jane nodded. In fact she wasn't exactly looking forward to spending her day with Arya. Even though she didn't want to, Jane couldn't help to feel a little jealous about the girl who spend more time with her husband than she could herself. Jane understood of course, but still…

-xxx-

"Good morning, Jane Foster…" Heimdall said with a smile when the two women entered the Bifröst. Jane first, wearing her own clothes again and Arya, who was still dressed in her Asgardian clothes. At her hip hung a shining sword, but the most impressive weapon was the black bow on her back. It was not very big, but also not small. Next to it hung a quiver filled with black arrows with silver points and silver feathers. Across the years, Arya had carved beautiful drawings in the black wood of the bow, which made it look absolutely unique and elegant.

"Good morning…" Jane answered, while making her way to the front of the Bifröst. There she realised she didn't know how to travel with the rainbow bridge. Arya noticed and stood next to the nervous woman.

"Need a hand?" she asked kindly. Jane smiled shortly.

"All you have to do is let the rainbow grab you and keep still… The Bifröst does the rest…"

Jane swallowed and nodded.

Arya smiled.
"Maybe I should go first…"

Without saying anything else, Arya stepped forward. Jane watched the rainbow grabbing her and sucking her away.

"You better hurry, Jane Foster…" Heimdall said behind her. "The Bifröst can't stay open forever…"

Jane nodded and with her heart beating out of her chest she stepped forward too. Immediately she felt the enormous power of the Bifröst pulling her away from the ground. Everywhere around her she saw the beautiful colours of the rainbow with behind it the universe and its stars rushing by. And just like that she suddenly felt solid ground beneath her feet. The rainbow disappeared and Jane found herself in the middle of nowhere, New York in the distance. In front of her stood Arya, who only just managed to catch Jane when she suddenly lost control over her legs.

"That is all right…" Arya said with a smile while helping Jane on her feet again. "When I first used the Bifröst on my own, I threw up in my father's face…"

Jane laughed slightly while not trying to think of that possibility… she wasn't feeling very well herself.

"We better start walking…." Jane said while brushing of the sand of her clothes. "I don't think it is wise to ask for a ride…"

Jane threw one look on Arya's outfit. If anyone saw her like that, they'd probably think she was nuts…

Arya nodded and followed Jane towards New York.

After what seemed hours, which was probably the case, the two of them finally reached the city. Arya jumped aside every two seconds when she saw car, or heard voices coming out of televisions. She also seemed rather impressed by a vending machine and kept staring at a street musician with a guitar.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon they arrived at Jane's apartment. Arya almost swooned by the side of the elevator ("a magical music box that flew up and down!"). Jane had to try hard not to start laughing. Honestly, she hadn't quite liked the unwanted attention she'd got from about everyone on the street. But Arya was also very entertaining.

"All right… this is what we're going to do… SHIELD probably already noticed I'm back, but I suppose they're also very busy with shutting up the event in Central Park and they got some Avengers to deal with. We don't have much time! You stay at the door! Keep everyone who wants come in, out! I'll just collect some stuff…"

Arya nodded and placed herself in front of the door. Jane immediately ran in Frigga's room to collect her bag and teddy bear. Afterwards she disappeared to her own room to return with a big backpack in which she dropped Frigga's stuff, a bag with her research, a supply of coke cans and some money. She looked around the apartment to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Somewhere in her heart she felt really sad. This was her home! And now she was leaving it for God knew how long… In silence, Jane stepped outside and closed the door. Afterwards she took her phone and typed a number.

The phone rang until Jarvis suddenly sounded at the other end.

"Miss Foster, how can I help you?"

"Jarvis, I need you to check for SHIELD agents. And I need the closest book shop you can find…"

"No SHIELD agents detected in this area. Closest book shop is two blocks away from your current position."

"Thanks Jarvis…"

"May I remind you that my last prediction about SHIELD wasn't correct… I cannot promise anything, Miss Foster…"

Jane smiled. Jarvis was actually apologizing!

"I'll take that chance, Jarvis! Thank you a lot! I owe you one…"

"Good luck Miss Foster!"

Jane didn't answer anymore. She didn't have time! With a quick move she put her phone in her pocket and rushed down the hall. Arya followed.

"What is this SHIELD you keep talking about, my lady?" she asked while Jane pushed the bottom of the elevator.

"Let's just say they don't like me at the moment… they're after Loki… And did you just call me 'my lady'?"

"Of course, my lady. You are married to prince Thor. That makes you royalty…"

Jane thought about that for a moment. She decided it sounded really weird!

"Why are they after our king?" Arya continued.

Jane turned silent. She couldn't tell Arya… She wouldn't understand...
"I don't know, but they're wrong, in a way… they don't know anything!"

Arya frowned and watched the doors of the elevator open. Two men were standing inside, both looking in a different direction. Arya wanted to enter the magical music box that flew up and down, but Jane stopped her. The scientist's eyes scanned the two man. Something was wrong… they weren't looking at Arya…

Jane slowly reached for the button to close the doors when the two men suddenly drew a gun and aimed for Jane.

"Jane Foster…" one of them started, but he was cut off when a pitch black arrow cut threw his shoulder. The SHIELD agent screamed in agony and dropped the gun. His colleague fired at Arya, but the doors of the elevator closed just in time.

Jane didn't wait for them to open the doors again.

"Stairs!" she called out before rushing towards the banisters.

Jane didn't notice on what floor she was, she just ran! Arya was right behind her. Above them they could hear the footsteps of the two agents rushing down the stairs.

"Jane Foster! We don't want to harm you! You know what we want!" one of them called out.

Jane didn't listen.

Third Floor…

Second Floor….

First Floor….

Ground Floor…

Outside Jane could see five other Agents blocking the doors.

"Arya!" she said, out of breath.

"On it!" a voice sounded behind her, followed by the sound of an arrow put on a bow.

"Duck!" Arya shouted. Jane obeyed and dropped on the ground. Just above her head, the first black arrow flew towards the open doors, leaving a trail of air in its wake. The first agent dropped on the ground screaming, holding on to his wounded knee. The next four arrows followed so quickly that Jane couldn't tell which one hit which agent, but she honestly didn't care! Jane ran as fast as she could. Arya ran right beside her.

"Where are we going!" the Asgardian shouted.

"A bookshop!" Jane shouted in return.

"A bookshop?" Arya asked. "Why?"

Jane sighed while pushing some guys out of her way.

"Because your king is an annoying brat with good taste!"

I hope you liked it!

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