Spaces In-Between

A/N: I never know whether to put AU in the summary or not; technically speaking, most fanfiction is AU, isn't it? Not meant to be a sprawling, epic tale. Just the story of a girl with a peculiar talent and how her life becomes entangled with the Avengers and the Odinsons. Rating for all eventual language, explicitness, violence, dubious consent/rape, and plain ol' adult themes. If you like some OC, great. If not, this won't be for you.

I had already written this story before and taken it down. I'd like to try again; same basic plot, but completely rewritten and the story cleaned up a bit. I ended up hating certain directions I'd taken and would like to start anew, as I still like the idea. So. let's try again, shall we?

Chapter Two

Tony Stark was a nervous, energetic creature.

For hours he regaled me with tales of himself - his intellect, his achievements, things that irritated him, kinks he wanted to work out in some of his inventions, the history of Jarvis, his hook-ups and relationships. I wasn't sure if he was truly trying to converse with me or use me as a human prop in his endless soliloquies - not to say I didn't enjoy it. He was entertaining and really funny and snarky. I talked a little but was mostly pleased to let him blab. His life was tragic and fascinating, or at least the way he related it was. We'd finished eating a long time ago, and I'd since had a little more painkiller when my hip began screaming.

"So, kid. I could undoubtedly talk for hours more about myself, but I'm really into your mysterious mode of transportation. Can you go anywhere?"

"Yeah. I guess. It works better if I know exactly where I'm going, but like... if I have an idea, I can still end up there." Tony narrowed his eyes and I laughed. "I mean, okay, here's an example: I have been to Central Park a million times. So I can navigate to certain parts of it because I know it by memory. But I've never been to... I don't know... Michigan. So, I could concentrate and guide myself to Michigan, but I'd end up somewhere random in the state. I don't know why it works like that, but it does."

He stroked his goatee and his brow smoothed out. "Interesting," he mumbled. "Can you go outside of Earth?"

"Yeah. I've done it a lot, like... to different realms, and stuff. Different worlds. Some worlds are still Earth, but I guess it's another reality or something. I've been to different places, though, just stuff that is entirely new and weird. Sometimes scary."

"How do you know which is the true Earth? Are you from this one?"

"Yeah. I just know." I nodded my chin toward the door. "Do you know your way around this room? Around the tower?"

"Duh."

"Well, how about around the city? Could you drive around and not have to focus too hard on where you're going, you just autopilot?"

He remained silent, leaning forward in his seat now. I like the way he looked so concentrated. I could hear the gears turning in his brain.

"So," I continued, "that's how. I just know. I've traveled enough to know my way back. It's a feeling, it just feels like home."

We sat in silence for several minutes, but not an uncomfortable one. I lay back and stared at the ceiling, resting my hands on my ribs. It felt so nice to be in a bed, albeit a hospital bed. I thanked the universe for putting me here, even for the night. I tried not to focus on what would happen to me after the surgery. They'd probably kick me out, after being sure I wouldn't sue them or leak anything to the press. I had no interest in doing so, but would the threat help me gain more of their care and resources? How could I come out with some advantage from this? Did I want to take advantage of people who were being so needlessly nice to me?

"Stop thinking so hard. I can feel the strain from here." Tony leaned back and scrubbed his face with the heels of his palms. "So, ever been to Asgard? That's where Thor's from."

"I don't know," I admitted. "Doesn't sound... familiar? What's it like?"

"Never been there myself. The way I've heard Thor and Jane discuss it, I guess it's... pretty gorgeous? Shiny buildings, breathtaking sky, blah blah blah. Kind of medieval style, or at least the citizens seem to be. Like a city of fuckin' larpers, but... immortal."

"Thor's immortal?"

"Nah. Maybe. Probably not. Nobody's immortal." Tony stood up and squeezed my shoulder amiably. "Least, not til I figure it out first. Night, kid. You need some rest. You've got a big day tomorrow." He winked and sauntered out of the room.

I thought about Asgard, tried to picture what it was like. Tony didn't give the greatest description, but it sounded interesting. I listened to the not-totally-silent silence. Machines whirred and beeped softly. The prospect of trying to go to Asgard was too exciting to stop thinking about. My mind filled with possibilities, how it might look. What it would feel like. The pain of my hip was dulled, but still swimming underneath the cover of drugs. I couldn't walk. But a peek... just a small peek, there and back, just for a few moments.

"Um... Jarvis?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Ann is okay."

"Of course."

"If I... I'm going to leave for a little bit, so don't alert the men."

"I wouldn't recommend -"

"It'll be okay, I'll just be gone for a few minutes. I just need to check something out. Okay? Please?"

There was pause enough for me to contemplate the extent of Jarvis' programming, and where his programming ended and his own sort of awareness began. Speaking to him was like speaking to a human. "I will allow ten minutes. If you aren't back, I will alert Master Stark and likely Master Banner."

"Masters, huh?"

"Master Stark prefers that I address him as such. He's got an interesting sense of humor."

"I guess as long as you don't mind. If you... mind anything."

"It doesn't bother me. Ten minutes, Ann."

I concentrated on the idea of Asgard. There was a moment of gathering myself, like running fingers along cracks in a wall. I found it, instinctively pushing forward. There was a strangely pleasant feeling like being turned inside out. I swooned into the sensations as my very cells took themselves apart, vibrated, changed, and reemerged on the other side.

The pain was immediate. My hip screamed and ached; I bit my lip to stifle the sounds threatening to exit my throat.

"What have we here?"

I jerked my head in the direction of the voice and strong arms were grabbing mine, dragging me -

"No, please -"

I shrieked and gasped as they dragged me. "My hip, my HIP, PLEASE." I repeated it over and over, a litany of my stupid pain, glassy and bright. Dots in my vision. My eyeballs felt hot. Finally they dropped me and I fought the urge to curl into a ball. My nose was running.

"Leave us. Now."

This voice was intimidating and regal, echoing off the walls of - of -

I swiped at my eyes and focused on my surroundings, hiccuping and crying with all the intensity of a child. I made no effort to turn toward the voice; from the sound of it, it was coming to me anyway. Everything was golden. It was extravagant and impersonal; somehow cold and warm at the same time. Footsteps echoed as they came nearer. His was a slow gait, whoever he was. Again I felt intimidated. My hip settled just enough to be tolerable. Pain was at the edge of everything.

I craned my neck back and looked up behind me. An older man dressed in armors and fine, vaguely-medieval clothing made his way down many steps. They led up beyond him to a gaudy golden throne. One of his eyes hid behind a plate. "Child," he boomed. "What brings you here?"

"I'm not sure where I am," I admitted.

"You lie to the Allfather." His tone was conversational, if not a touch insane.

"No, no! I don't! Allfather - so, that means you're Odin. Like from the stories."

He raised an eyebrow as he came closer. He looked - amused? Could that be right? He knelt over me, rocking cleverly on his heels. Even as he closed the distance between us that much more, he still loomed over me. Odin, the Allfather. Everything about him commanded respect. His eye glittered maliciously in its loneliness. Staring into it was hypnotizing - the green of it was unnatural and bright, seeking, knowing -

"Tell me, my dear, how you managed into my throne room."

"I have a... an interesting talent," I croaked. I wasn't sure what folks from Asgard were capable of, or how scientifically inclined they were. How was I supposed to explain this to him and not have him kill me? The possibility of my death weighed heavily on me, slinking from the recesses of my mind and clouding most other thought. I might die because I couldn't resist a stupid experiment, and nobody knew I was doing it. I wondered how much time had passed, if Jarvis was alerting anyone, what they could even do had he done so.

He twirled his fingers in a 'go on' gesture.

"I traveled here out of curiosity," I admitted. My heart pounded a nervous rhythm in my chest. "I didn't mean to get into this room, just - I was just trying to see Asgard."

"A stranger decides to arrive unannounced and uninvited into a god's chambers. One might say you have invaded Asgard." His eye twinkled as he smirked. Blue.

"Your eye," I said dumbly.

"Misdirecting me." He made a small sound of amusement. "You aren't very good at it."

"I would never... invade Asgard. Or anywhere." My mouth was going dry. "I'm one girl. Please. I can't even sit up right now. I can leave and I'll never come back, I swear on it."

He touched his mouth thoughtfully and seemed to consider. Each frantic beat of my heart echoed in my hip, rapid pulses of fire and sharpness. He smiled. "I am not such a malevolent god. I know you speak the truth." He laughed and added, "I will not execute you." I found it more relieving than hilarious.

"What is your name? You're a Midgardian, I'd take it."

"Anne. I'm from Earth." It was strange and silly to say so to a being that looked human. It felt like a game.

He dismissed this with a wave of his bejeweled hand. "One and the same. I find you interesting, Anne. Not many things interest me of late." He paused, tongue running over his bottom lip. "It would please me to learn more about you."

"I'm getting fixed up tomorrow, so I imagine it'll be a while until I can break into your house again. Recovery and all." I flinched as he broke into laughter again, this time loud enough to echo in the grand room.

"Your hip, that is. Tell me what happened."

I told him the abridged version. At the mentioned of Tony Stark, he seemed especially interested. "The Avengers are caring for you?"

"I mean - like, Tony and Bruce are, I guess."

I could sense something important happening, but couldn't figure out what. The look in his eye (had it been green? Did I imagine that?) only suggested things, and left me in the dark. I liked Odin. I was drawn to him.

"All right, then. I would offer you a deal, if you are agreeable." He paused to search my face for a sign, seemed to find one, and continued: "I will heal your injury right now, if you keep coming to keep an old man company. I would learn about you, your ability, show you Asgard. If you like."

"Yes." I allowed a nervous little laugh after answering so quickly and seeing his amusement. He looked pleased and smirked down at me. I ignored a tugging sensation in my gut. I wanted it all, I wanted the adventure. I wanted to know him.

"As my lady wishes. Now, this will hurt."

I let my head rest against the cool floor and watched him, fidgeting my fingers. "It will?"

"I use magic, but magic uses what's there - I'm manipulating your body. Your injury will heal itself, but you will feel it doing so, I'm afraid. It won't all be so bad."

"Wait -"

But he didn't. He placed a heavy hand over my hip and one, for leverage, I supposed, on the small of my belly. The pain was instant and breathtaking. I could feel the fracture lacing itself together, in a sense, traced in fire. There was a grating, horribly loud noise in my ears. It stopped when I took a breath, and I realized it was me screaming. I clutched at his arms, and they were immovable as solid rock. In the recesses of my mind, I wondered what might come of me shrieking expletives at the king of Asgard. In the current situation, it seemed appropriate and necessary.

"You will survive," he soothed. He made a funny gesture and the pain increased slightly. With it came a rush of heat. Muscles tightened and contracted and a wave of sensation caused my scream to choke and sputter into a whine. A dull throbbing commenced in its place, and another smaller wave crashed through my belly to between my thighs. My face had already flushed from the pain, but now it burned as I realized what happened. Odin was watching me, but gave nothing away to suggest he knew. The pain began to subside rapidly, and he petted me as it did. "It was not all bad, now, was it?" he said.

I shrugged and his smirk returned. "Good girl. You will be tender, and you will have a scar, but you will be able to wake tomorrow and perform any manner of physical activity."

"Thank you," I murmured, leaning up on my elbows. I wiggled my hips and sat up, amazed at his handiwork. I examined the scar, a vague L-shaped mark. It looked like something a deep cute could make, pink and raised. "I don't mind the scar," I added.

Odin's eye darkened. "Good."

"I'll come back. Tomorrow. Promise."

"Good," he repeated. He grinned and took my chin gently, tipping my face up to look straight at him. "I do hope so. If not, I could always find you."