Disclaimer, I own nothing of Marvel. I am just having some fun with a few of its characters. Please read and review.

….

Thor was welcomed to SHEILD headquarters and debriefed on the recent activity surrounding Loki. There have been a few sightings but they were sporadic with little to no connection in location.

Commander Fury showed the few pictures of him and a short clip from a surveillance camera. "The first was in a random business. If I didn't know any better I would think he was trying to buy a cell phone. The clerk said that he never saw anyone other than an old man in his sixties possibly seventies, he came in asked about a particular brand then left."

"Don't think it was random, my brother collects information. Even the smallest of details is of great importance to him." Thor saw the pictures and was torn. He was pleased he was doing well but saddened that his brother was on such a destructive path.

Fury nodded taking that into consideration. "Here's what is interesting; a video of the same old man beating up a young man by the name of Kevin McDonald. That old man has never been seen again nor has Kevin McDonald. His family thinks he ran off. Not the best of family life. Would Loki have caused harm to the young man?"

Thor looked at the video again and again. There were several from different angles. "He's toying with him, testing to see how far it would take to push the young man. He did this with servants when he was younger getting them to strike him or fight him. That in turn placed them in a great deal of trouble as striking any of the royal family was a very serious offence." He looked at how the young man was humiliated and the pleased look on Loki's face though withered and aged through his magic glamour.

"You believe he's still alive?"

"Yes, this Kevin is alive but in danger." Thor knew the young man would be manipulated into doing tasks that would only further entrap him. "If he did take Kevin then he would use a loyalty charm on him. It would prevent Kevin from escaping or giving away Loki's secrets. All of his servants were under this charm."

Fury learned to accept the unique vernacular of Thor's speech. Magic and charms were simply part of the Asgardian world and there was no point in attempting to ask for science based terms for it.

The phone shop was a clue. "Do you know why Loki would be interested in something to do with communications? That shop was one that will host a new technology by Locke technologies. The programming of their phones allows for greater range and the fastest internet connection known for cell phones."

Thor's attention was caught instantly. "Did you say Locke?" He handed the card given to him by Jane's boyfriend. "Aaron Locke gave me this card. I was going to ask you to look at his background to see if Jane was in any danger."

"Her boyfriend has been on our radar for since their first cup of coffee." Fury saw Thor's concern. "Jane was connected to you and we didn't want to explain to you why if she ever went missing. He's clean. Just got promoted in the family business as a marketing specialist, his brother owns the company. Aaron lost his wife three years ago due to his son killing her with a car that he drove illegally. They went to counseling and they've moved on."

It actually upset Thor that Aaron was a decent man, a family man at that. There was nothing to protect her from and therefor no reason for him to interfere in her life. But the brother, who was he? Was he safe?

"And the brother?"

"Harmless from what we saw. He took over the company after his father lost the batter to cancer. The company was almost bankrupt until he invested what little money they had into a new technology. I'll tell you Stark was furious that he didn't get to it first." Fury laughed knowing how temperamental Stark could be when it came to new toys.

Still not happy. Thor nodded keeping his emotions held in but he wasn't going to stop searching for a way to help Jane. There was a slight connection to the company with Loki in some way so he had to keep watch over her.

Fury could tell Thor was searching for a reason to find fault with the Locke brothers but there wasn't anything that was out of order with them. "Where do you believe Loki will hide and how long can he maintain a false image?"

"He enjoys luxuries and comfort though he is able to live in the most inhospitable of places and make it look as if he was in a palace. His location will be strategic. As for his magic he can hide his image for up to three full days. Shorter if he is fighting." Thor was in deep thought then he asked a Fury a question. "How did you find out it was Loki in the shop and on camera?"

Fury showed another video. "Take a look."

It was very short but there was a flash of light when the old man turned a corner. "His green light. Never could disguise that."

"So now we have to find out what he's planning. Do you think he's interested in conquering Earth again?"

Thor knew Loki being here had more to do with their fight rather than ruler ship. "Not specifically no. He's here because of the competition between he and I. We were both raised to take the throne of Asguard. In the end I was given that title while he was shoved aside. It hadn't been easy for my brother being in my shadow for so long. Before I came here I was too arrogant to see any issues due to brotherly competition.

"When I came back from Midgard I was changed and he hadn't. He felt betrayed by me and decided to take what mattered most to me. Midgard as well as Jane came under my protection. They then became his targets. His emotions are his greatest strength and weakness."

Fury wanted to be upset but things made sense now that he understood that 'family issues' were the cause behind everything to do with Loki. "To say I'm not impressed would be an understatement but now we can understand the motivation."

…..

Loki found Kevin on the internet and having fun with some online games. The young man was taking to this new life to a greater speed than expected. He studied Kevin for a while looking for any devious behavior or plans to find a way to escape. Instead he found Kevin creating a depth to Wilber that he was unable to create outside a few statistics.

"I see you are enjoying yourself."

Kevin looked up not stopping the game he was playing. "Had to create something online that Wilber would be into. Online gaming, facebook, twitter and of course the illegal but easy enough to get around porn sites. I'll take this life any day over my old one."

Yes the social media sites that are popular among Midgardian youth. "Don't spend too much time in this world you've created. None of it truly exists."

Feeling a little confident with the subtle warning and praise Kevin decided to press for information. "I'd like to learn how to fight or at the very least defend myself."

Loki thought about that. He was initially going to use Kevin for a while and dispose of him. So far this miscreant turned out to be quite the quick learner and knew his place. "Why do you want to serve me? From what I thought you Midgardians want independence and freedom to do what you want."

"The greatest lie ever taught. Let's say I was a kid who did as I was told the best I could hope for is a low paying job in a life set by my income working for someone who does the same thing as me for more money. My father worked for a company, was a good guy and then he got hurt. They gave him a few dollars for his trouble and now has no legs, lives on a nothing security check drinking himself to death." Anger laced every word he spoke. "My neighbor sells drugs and has a comfortable life. He breaks the law and gets rewarded. If you are going to serve a villain make sure you get some reward in the end."

The boy the foolish and young. His anger drove his limited logic and presented Loki with an opportunity that wasn't there before. "Cleaver boy. How would you like to ensure that the real villains get their just dues?"

"I'd like that very much."

"Do you know who the real villains are?" Loki knew he's get a generic answer but was surprised by the insight Kevin had.

Kevin thought for a moment to make his point of view clear. "Those that control the money, transportation and communications. Everything in life is connected to those three things."

"You do realize that I am now the owner of the fastest growing communication company in your country. That makes me a Villain and you still want to serve me?"

Kevin smiled with false bravado. "Who said I wanted to be one of the good guys? I want to be on the winning team for once. You're talking to a kid that wanted to knife an old man. I do what you say and I get to live a life better than if I played it straight."

Loki knew that the young man was play acting someone more confident than himself. He would need to break the boy of what was left of his innocence. "And what else would you desire aside from the trinkets and toys?"

The bravado faded with a slight blush to his cheeks. "A nice girl next to me would be good."

Loki was quiet for a moment, not helping with Kevin's embarrassment with his admission. "You'll have more than that if you serve me well but you'll need to study and train to accomplish what I want from you."

"Yeah, sure. Not a broblem." Kevin brightened up. "When do I start?"

"By attending classes tomorrow. You are a student after all." Loki enjoyed the crestfallen look on Kevin's face.

"Um, Ok. I take it it's one of those schools with a uniform right?"

This would be where Kevin would really have to work hard. Kevin wasn't an academic and would need to be taught how to think. Loki wondered if it would be worth the effort to train him to be that level of servant or not. "Your studies will bring you more power than all the tricks at your disposal. From now one you'll study and whether you enjoy it is not my problem."

Kevin could feel from the tone of voice that this was non-negotiable. He nodded nervously and followed Loki out of the room, the game long since abandoned.

…

It wasn't surprising that Darcy made a last minute change of plans leaving Jane and Aaron alone for the evening. In truth Jane was more than pleased to have a night away from her intern and now very close friend.

The restaurant they went to was a beautiful upscale place that was filled with beautiful happy people. The smells that filled the air spoke of a rich taste where nothing was pre-packaged. Jane was glad she dressed in heels and tied her hair up in something that could be considered styled.

"You were going to bring all three of us here?" Jane asked astonished.

"No, I booked two restaurants. I am very happy Darcy decided to go shopping with her friends rather than spend an awkward evening with us." He placed an arm across her back and pulled her closer to him. "That way I get you all to myself."

Jane had to admit that it felt nice to be so wanted and in the center of attention. She really was falling in love with him.

They were brought to their seats and Jane wasn't sure what to order being that the menu was in French. This was fancy. "I'd really like fish but I am not sure where it is on the menu."

"I can order for you if you like. That way you can blame me if it isn't to your liking."

"I can go for that. But the dessert better have chocolate."

Aaron ordered in broken French in a bad attempt to impress. The waiter corrected him three times until he asked what they would like to have. The waiter had a wonderful sense of humor about it and they were all laughing in the end.

"So yeah I can't speak French either. I guess my French lessons from high school didn't pay off."

Jane cracked up laughing. She loved how he acted so casual in the most formal of settings and made her feel that she belonged amongst the other customers who seemed to be part of the background they blended in so well.

"I am so happy Darcy introduced me to you. In all honesty I wasn't sure that I could even do coffee after…well I am glad she did." Aaron looked directly into her eyes while speaking. "In all honesty I told her to go fuck herself."

"I'm sure that only egged her on."

He took a sip of wine and nodded. "Indeed, her response was 'if that's how you act to getting set up you will be fucking yourself for a while'."

Jane could just imagine Darcy saying something like that when upset. "Yes, I can just imagine that."

"Best cup of coffee I had that day we met."

It was the sweetest thing she was told in a very long time. It was actually the worst cup of coffee either of them ever had. It was burned, cold and the creamer was a little off. To add insult to injury the cup had lipstick still on it from a previous customer. When they complained the teenager behind the counter looked at them like they were from Mars and gave them nothing but attitude.

"I have to say that it was a very good day." Jane said as she took a sip of wine. It was so good. Far better than the wine she gets sometimes from a bag. Not even bottled.

Aaron paused not sure if the next thing he was going to say would be the right thing or not. "I must have changed twenty times before going for coffee. You helped me more than I know and taught me that I could love again."

Tears formed in Jane's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said that I…I mean everything I said." He was stuttering now.

"No, I loved what you said. It's just that's the most human thing I think I've done in a very long time. I feel human around you and that's a wonderful thing." After delving into studies and research for so long she only saw numbers and signals in instruments while chasing funding. Then Thor came along and her world changed axis on her in a huge way. From then on her life was one big chase in finding Thor. Everything in her life became about him, a man she couldn't touch or communicate with.

Then Aaron came along. A simple guy that only wanted a cup of coffee with her changed her world back again to something attainable. He was there for her, helped her, supported her and most of all listened to her. She in turn listened to him and they found a connection.

"After all of this Loki business is over I would love to propose to you. I would love to have you be by my side and in my life for better or for worse. But I won't ask that now because there is too much going on and I get that. You still have feelings for Thor and that needs to get worked out. I do love you and I'm willing to wait."

The mention of Thor placed a pit in her stomach. It was true that she had feelings but they didn't hold the weight they did as with Aaron. "There are feelings but only fleeting ones. You're here Aaron, he'll be gone soon and in a flash of his life I'll be gone too. Propose all you want."

"I will but for tonight I just want to enjoy dinner with you."

Once again Aaron knew just what to say to her and she was thankful that he was willing to wait. "I'd like that."

…..