As I post this I have Elventy-One reviews! Amazing! Thank you all! I'll try and get back to thanking you all properly soon xXx

This one turned out a lot longer than I was expecting (5,100 words exactly for just the story part!) and it's all Efa POV, but don't worry, well get back to Loki next time!

And a little note to explain the title – I'm completely with Efa on the subject of Loki's loveable-ness, 'Unlovable' refers to how everyone else (including himself) sees him, not how he actually is!

o

Chapter Twenty:

Reasons To Love The Unlovable

Efanna walked along the corridors of the S.H.I.E.L.D. base in silence, escorted by Steve Rodgers. It felt strange not to have Loki with her, but when Fury had called her and Steve to the bridge, about an hour after they'd arrived, he'd insisted that she come alone. It felt even stranger not to have Pip at her heels; Efa found herself reaching down instinctively only to remember that she'd left her faithful companion with Loki back in the cell. As anxious as it made her feel however, she knew it was the right thing to do. If she had known Loki well before she'd met him, her knowledge of him now could only be called intimate. It was obvious to her how much he was struggling with her revelations about his heritage, and now, being in the custody of his enemies. He needed the comfort more than her.

She noticed Steve kept giving her sidelong glances, as though making sure she hadn't just disappeared. Although she'd tried to keep her conversation with him normal, she was aware that she'd let slip a few details that, to his mind, she should have no way of knowing. It wasn't really her fault. There were a lot of things going on, and although she knew, rationally, that this was the first time she'd met him, the memories of conversations she'd already had, or rather would have with him, crowded her mind. She'd always found it hard to keep timelines straight and remember when talking to people that these things hadn't actually happened yet. It certainly didn't help that the only experience she had talking to people other than Loki was in her memories of Visions, so she felt she had to draw on those a lot just to know what to do. All in all, it was hardly surprising that she couldn't keep her whens in the right order. And what with her obvious closeness to Loki thrown into the mix, Steve now seemed to view her as some sort of unknown variable, capable of anything.

Steve's pace was fast, and Efa almost found herself jogging as they turned corner after corner. Finally she saw that the corridor they were following ended ahead of them. As the automatic doors to the bridge opened, Thor's voice echoed up to them, as regal, assured and frankly loud as she was expecting.

"I assure you, Loki is harmless! The All-Father removed from him his magic, his power, his strength. He has no way of causing you harm! He would not have been sent to this realm if by doing so it would have been put in danger!"

Efa and Steve had were now hovering to the side of the big table at the head of the room, so far unnoticed, and watching as the obvious argument played out below them. Thor stood by Fury, Agent Hill and Tony (who was now dressed normally) by the navigational screens, with Clint and Bruce looking on from the bottom of the table.

"I'm gonna have to disagree with you there," Tony argued, his voice arrogant and rather irritated, "Last time this guy played us all like his own personal orchestra. As deranged as he is, that takes brains. Even if he doesn't have magic or mind control, he's still clever. And if you let an intelligent psycho like that loose in the streets? Yeah, that's going to cause a problem. A problem we're going to end up having to resolve."

"You're both right you know."

Everyone span around at the sound of Efanna's voice, looking somewhat surprised. Whether this was at the fact that she'd dared speak up, or just that they hadn't noticed she was there in the first place, she didn't know. Neither did she particularly care.

"Of course that also means you're both wrong too," she continued, walking forwards, "But let's focus on the positives shall we?"

She paused, smiling, and watched their reactions. More sceptical gazes and raised eyebrows. Maybe it wasn't just Loki who had a thing for that, then, maybe it was just a reaction that she generally provoked. Seeing as no one told her to shut up, she ploughed on. Not that being told to shut up would've made any difference to her anyway.

"Like Thor said, without his magic, Loki poses a significantly reduced threat. But, like Tony said, he's still got that devious and distinctly messed up mind of his. If he'd been left alone when he landed he probably would be slowly but surely causing trouble. The point is, however, that he wasn't. He met me instead, and I'm pretty sure Odin knew he would. Thus, any danger he might cause is being contained, so you really don't need to worry about him. Especially as there are far more dangerous things that you should be worrying about."

"And how exactly does him having met you make any difference whatsoever, sweetheart?" Tony asked, "What the hell are you going to do to stop him, huh? 'Cover him with paint'?"

Efa shrugged.

"That worked pretty well last time. But the point is that I have now lived with Loki for over a month with no serious incidents. And as long as you don't try and separate us and take my advice when it comes to dealing with him, that will continue."

Her words were met with silence, and some very intimidating glares. They made her a little uncomfortable, but Efa held her ground. She was not going to let them do anything to Loki. Luckily she didn't have to endure them for long, as Thor stepped towards her, letting her turn her gaze to him instead. Somehow he was even taller than Loki.

"I take it you are the fire-haired maiden Heimdall spoke of?"

Efanna's mouth curled up. She liked the way Asgardians spoke, and often Loki was too moody to phrase things so prettily.

" 'Fire-haired maiden', huh? Indeed, I am she," Efa answered, "How eloquently, and, well, flatteringly, put. Pray tell, are these your words, or Heimdall's? I must know to whom I should give my thanks."

Thor looked a little surprised, but chuckled at her words.

"Heimdall did describe your hair to me, but on seeing it, I was the one who was reminded of fire," he confessed with a grin, "I did not think there were those who still spoke in such a manner in this realm."

"Well I've had a varied education," Efanna replied, matching his grin and lapsing back into less formal speech, "Thank you for coming, and please thank Heimdall for relaying the message. Somehow I doubt Loki will share my thanks however."

"I think it is you who deserve my thanks," Thor replied, "I am told you have looked after my brother since his arrival here."

Efanna shrugged.

"I was always going to," she said, "You don't need to thank me for it. Our meeting was Fated, I believe, and after that, well, how could I not?"

"I can think of a few reasons," Tony interjected.

"I'm sure you can," Efa admitted, somewhat sadly, "But luckily, you're not me."

"Lucky for us, or for Loki?"

"Lucky for everyone."

There was a pause in the conversation as everyone considered her words. Efanna used this chance to look around the room. It was far more impressive seen in real life than in any of her Visions. She had to strongly resist the urge to run over to the great sheets of glass and simply stare in wonder as the world passed by below them. She'd always loved being up high, and you couldn't really get much higher than they were now.

"He still deserves to be punished," Barton insisted, dragging Efa's attention back to their discussion.

"You think he is not?" she asked coolly.

"Banishment in mortal form is one of the most severe punishments the All-Father could have given," Thor assured them.

"He's still walking free though, isn't he?"

"That depends entirely on how you define freedom," Efanna pointed out, her voice firm now, "True, he is not in a cage, or at least he wasn't until you put him in one, but that does not mean he is free. That does not mean he goes without punishment. It may not seem so great a thing to you, but you forget that one person's pleasure is punishment to another. You see being able to wander the whole of this world as freedom, but I assure you, Loki does not, and he is the one whose opinion really matters in this instance. After all, it is he who is being punished, not you."

She carefully watched their reactions as she spoke, assessing the impact of her words, how close she was to convincing them, and how much more she would need to say. The majority of the people before her still looked profoundly sceptical, but she thought she saw the beginnings of understanding in the eyes of Bruce. She gave him a small smile, partly as thanks, or perhaps encouragement; partly because she hadn't had the chance to say hello yet.

"You also fail to take into consideration the effect being constrained in human form has on him," she continued, "Banishment is the least part of Loki's punishment. Try to imagine the frustration, even the pain, of being in a form that is so much weaker than that you are used to. Imagine knowing you are capable of so much, but being unable to reach it. It's … it's like …"

She paused, trying to find the right words.

"Tony – it's like you having all that genius, all that intelligence, but no way to use it; or, Steve – like if you were forced back into the body you had before the serum, but with the knowledge that you were once able to do so much! Loki is used to his strength and his magic, things which are an integral part of him; and now they are locked away, out of his reach. Surely you must have some idea of how hard that must be? That, for Loki, it is far greater punishment than simply being locked in a cell – to be reduced to the level of those he sees as pathetic and worthless, all the while knowing he was once so much more."

Efanna paused again. The intensity of the stares she was receiving was almost enough to make her shrivel and cower, but the images she had Seen of Loki at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands filled her mind; of him beaten, screaming, tortured. She would not let that happen. But she realised she had still not said enough to change their minds. Sighing, she moved over to the table and leant against it, staring into the distance.

"Of course, his real punishment lies in what is still to come," she told them quietly, "In the choice he must make."

The silence became, if possible, heavier as those before her demanded an explanation. They didn't bother using words. They weren't needed.

"There are two routes that Loki now faces. Both will punish him in far greater ways than you could ever hope to."

Efanna knew this was inevitable, that it was always going to be this way. Loki had been set on a certain path, one that would always come to this crossroads. She just didn't like to think of the pain it was going to cause him.

"The first," she explained, "The one I hope he will take, is redemption. He will come to realise the full extent of his crimes and he will regret them. And therein is his punishment. He shall seek to atone for his actions and, if he can survive the pain it will cause him, he will learn to forgive himself. Then you will have one of the greatest allies you could ever hope to have.

"If this does not happen, if he cannot heal the pain that scars his heart then darkness will overcome him, the pain will consume him and all that is truly Loki will be lost. There are no tortures in this world or any other that could ever be greater than this. If he chooses this path he will suffer more than you could ever imagine.

"That is why I am helping him. If he chooses that second path, not only will all of humanity suffer, and quite possibly all the universe as well; but he will too, and I cannot bear to see him cause and suffer such pain. I love him too much for that."

She focussed her eyes back on the people before her. Some looked thoughtful, others just angry. Thor, perhaps, was the only one who seemed to understand her sadness.

"If you are in love with him then your judgement cannot be trusted," Fury announced slowly, breaking the silence that seemed to smother them.

"I am not in love with him!" Efanna cried in exasperation, "Does all the world have so tiny a view of love?"

"How could you love him after all that he's done?" Clint asked coldly, his fingers once again curling around the handle of his gun.

"How could I not?" she said expressively, "I know him better than any of you could possibly imagine, I know what drove him to this path; but even if I didn't I would still love him. There is not a single creature in all the universe that does not have some aspect worth loving. And if that aspect can be nurtured, if that aspect can have the love it deserves then it will grow until the whole creature can be worth loving. That is the true nature, the true beauty of love – it creates itself. You don't have to be good to be loved, but you will never be good if you are not, at least the tiniest bit, at least by someone. Can you really deny Loki that right? If you do then you cannot blame him alone for his actions."

As her words sunk in, the faces around her began to look slightly less assured. Bruce looked thoughtful, and Steve in particular was beginning to look uncomfortable.

"So what do you see in him worth loving?" Clint asked, his eyes still hard. Efanna knew he would be the hardest to win over. Whit what Loki had done, it wasn't surprising.

"There is so much! You would not believe it but you do not know him as I do. Everything Loki has done, he has done because he is in pain. True it's deep and obscure and at times based on bizarrely twisted logic that only Loki's strange mind could possibly hope to understand; but it's pain all the same. If you try and cause him more pain you will only ever make him worse. If no one ever tries to heal him, what reason does he have in that messed up mind of his to help anyone else?"

She looked around the room, locking her eyes onto each of theirs and staring them down, readying herself to make her next blow. It was harsh perhaps, but necessary.

"None of you are innocent," she reminded them firmly, "Each one of you has blood on your hands. Every one of you have done things that some would never forgive. And yet you have had the chance to prove yourself worth forgiveness. Why shouldn't Loki be given that chance too? What right have you to be forgiven if you will not offer that same chance to another?"

The discomfort on Steve's face had spread. Efanna knew these men, and she knew the weight their conscience weighed on them. She knew that, somewhere deep inside them, they all sought forgiveness too.

"You believe Loki capable of redeeming himself?" Fury asked finally.

"If he is given the chance to, yes," Efanna replied with assurance, "I'm not saying it will be easy. I'm not saying that he won't make mistakes on the way. But if you give him this chance then I believe you will end up with a reformed man who will be a great ally in the battles to come. And I know that if you do not you can be certain that all he will ever be is an enemy, and that there will be no way of containing him from which he will not break free and seek revenge – which will be all the worse for your judgement."

"We could always just kill him," Clint suggested coldly.

"If so then the world is at just as much danger from you as it is from him," she countered implacably, turning her eyes to him and challenging him to uphold his statement.

"How do we even know we can trust you?" he asked, "How do we know you're not under his control."

"Because you know, regardless of whether that is the case or not, that my words are true. Because I talk not of individuals, but of the morals that guide you, that you feel set you above men who act as Loki has. Because if you disregard my words now, you know that it shall forever haunt you, and that you will never again be able to answer when your conscience reminds you of the wrongs you have done."

Efanna felt cruel saying such things, but she had to make them understand.

"Okay, I think you've made your point," Fury told her, staring at her firmly with his single eye, "You assure me that Loki will behave? That he shall pose no threat to any of my agents or our operations?"

"As long as you're sensible, and I stay with him whenever he is required to interact with others, at least at first; then yes."

"Then we have an agreement. We shall not harm him – but mark my word, if he puts one toe out of line, I will make sure he sorely regrets it."

Efanna's face lit up and inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. They were still a long way from trusting either of them, but this was a start. They had promised not to hurt Loki, and she was sure she could get him to agree to her terms.

"Thank you, Director Fury," Thor said solemnly, "I too, shall add my assurance that Loki will not be of any danger to you."

Fury nodded his acknowledgement, but his eye was fixed firmly on Efa.

"I am very interested to know just how you know so much about Loki," he said firmly, "Somehow I don't think he's the type to share his soul with some girl he's only just met. You owe us a lot of answers."

Efanna sighed as everyone, even Thor, looked at her expectantly.

"I can't tell you that without telling you everything else, and I've already made it quite clear that I'm not doing that until Natasha's here to hear it too," she explained wearily, "Believe me, when I do tell you, you'll understand why."

"You're asking us to put a lot of trust in you, all the while telling us we face some great danger that you refuse to tell us anything about," Agent Hill pointed out.

"I know. And I am truly grateful that you have thus far taken me for my word."

She cast her eyes about the room, wondering how much she could tell them as an act of goodwill, without them getting too suspicious.

"I can give you some information on the danger that we currently face," she said eventually, "As long as you agree not to question how I got it until Natasha's here."

Fury considered this for a moment, then nodded his agreement. The others shifted forward, and, judging by the look on Bruce's face, he would have agreed to her terms regardless of whether Fury had.

"Okay," Efanna started, trying to compile all she knew and sort out what she could safely say.

"The current weather – the cold, the storms – it's being caused by some sort of creatures – creatures which are not from this world. I don't know what they are, and neither does Loki – they're evidently not from any of the realms known to Asgard. They are creatures of ice and appear to dislike heat – which is common sense really, but useful to know. That's why – so far – all of their attacks have been very far north. You know of one or two of these, and they are what attacked your Alaskan base, but there have been many more. Mostly just one or two people at a time, but they seem to be getting stronger. They don't seem to be able to move south until their change in the weather has made it cold enough for them – but I'm sure you're aware just how quickly the average temperature of the northern hemisphere is dropping, so I don't think that's going to be much of a problem for them for long. Pip and I seem to be the only ones who are able to see them. There may be others, somewhere, but I wouldn't count on that. They do, however, show up on thermal imaging – as very, very cold.

"That's about all I can say for now," she said after a pause, "You need to get the message out to people who'll understand it, hopefully that could ensure you don't get another incident like Alaska. You should maybe issue a warning to the general population too. Keep dwellings well heated and don't venture outside unless absolutely necessary, that sort of thing – especially in remote northern communities. At the moment they're the ones in greatest danger. They'll have no idea if or when they might be attacked, and no way to defend themselves. If you could get the respective governments to issue an official message, it might save a few lives without alarming people too much. I would also suggest fire as a good method of prevention. It's basic, I know, but it should be effective. If you can get access to thermal cameras across the world, you might be able to set up some sort of monitoring system, but I don't know enough yet to say how effective that might be. I don't know how we can actually fight back. Not yet. I only know that 'The Avengers' are our only hope and only if you guys stick together … and let me and Loki help."

Silence once again reigned as they took her words in.

"This is serious then?" Fury asked.

"About as serious as it gets."

Efanna watched as the team seemed to mentally pull themselves together. It was both daunting and reassuring to see the grim determination enter their eyes.

"We don't have to rely on thermal imaging from the surface," Tony announced, "I can hack into the satellites covering the northern hemisphere with the tech we need and see if we can find any patterns or abnormalities. Could give us an idea on when they move and where."

"If Tony's hacking satellites, why stop at thermal imaging?" Bruce suggested, "If we get all monitoring data sent here then I can check out whether there are any other ways of identifying these … creatures."

"Then get to it," Fury told them, before turning to Agent Hill and issuing various instructions to various individuals.

The bridge was suddenly a flurry of activity. Efanna moved to one of the big chairs that surrounded the table, slumping down and gently spinning it back and forth with one foot. She was exhausted. It had been a very eventful day, and she knew it was far from over. Right now she wanted more than anything for Fury to assign her and Loki rooms so she could sort the day out into drawings and then just curl up with Pip and sleep. Of course she knew that wasn't going to be an option. Idly she wondered what the time was supposed to be now, how many time zones they'd crossed and which one the moving S.H.I.E.L.D. base even ran to.

"I am told your name is Efanna," Thor said, startling Efa out of her daydreams.

She looked up to find him leant against the table just to the side of her chair. Steve had now joined a conversation with Fury, Clint and Hill further down the room, and Tony and Bruce had already disappeared, so they were more or less alone. Feeling slightly awkward she pulled her sleeves over her hands, just to make doubly sure no skin was showing there.

"Yeah, that's me," she said, smiling to hide her nervousness.

"I hoped I might talk with you," he said, in a tone that suggested he was going to anyway.

"I thought you might," Efa replied wryly. Now, it seemed, began the awkwardness of her role as ambassador between brothers.

"I must express my gratitude for your feelings towards my brother," Thor started, his tone sombre, "I have often worried about the fate he would find in his banishment. I must caution you however. You yourself spoke of the dangers involved with consorting with Loki. I know you think of him more graciously than the others, but I do not wish to see you harmed by his scheming. If he does not act as you have promised, you will be the one who bears the full weight of responsibility for him."

"I'm fully aware of that," Efanna assured him, "And I shall make him fully aware of it too. Have faith. Both in me and in your brother."

"I have long wished to be able to," Thor confided, his tone melancholy, "But his mind is lost to me, and has been for so long now that I fear I shall never know him again."

"He's changed," Efa agreed with a sigh, "Your trip to Jötunheim set him on a particular path, a path that had not been easy for him to follow. We have come very close to losing him, many times."

Thor gave her a long look.

"I do not understand how you can speak of Loki so familiarly," he said, "Nor how you know so much about his past and his character. If I know him at all then he would not have shared such things with you."

The smile Efa gave him in answer was weary.

"He didn't need to," she told him, "But please, ask no more of me now. Until Natasha arrives you shall all just have to accept that I know many things I have no cause to."

Thor nodded, slowly. Efa leant her head back again, letting out her breath slightly in relief. She felt like she was stuck on repeat, she had said those words so many times that day. She had expected Thor to take her abnormalities most easily however. The Asgardians were a mystic people after all, and far more used to such things than the inhabitants of Earth.

"How is he?" Thor asked suddenly.

His voice was hesitant, and he looked off to the side rather than straight at her, but Efanna understood his concern. She sighed deeply and Thor looked back to her. She could see the pain deep within his blue eyes, she knew full well how deeply he cared for Loki. The problem is that Loki didn't.

"He is conflicted," she told him, "Unsure of himself, of his situation, of the direction he shall take to move forwards from here. Bringing him here hasn't helped. I wish I didn't have to so soon, but it was painfully clear there was no choice in the matter. That decision shall shape his fate, and I only hope it is for the better."

She locked her eyes onto Thor's, to ensure he knew the full importance of her next words. It was high time someone in Loki's family began to understand him, even the slightest bit.

"He is in pain. Not physically, but in his very soul, the very core of his existence. He has suffered since that fateful trip to Jötunheim more than you could possibly imagine, and more than he shall ever tell. He is not the man he once was. Pain has twisted him and corrupted him, and he was very almost lost in the process. I am trying to heal him as best I can, but his recovery is slow, and will always be. His scars will never truly fade and I do not know if he will ever be able to look past them. But I have hope for him. He has already changed since I have known him, and I hope that this progress will not be lost by bringing him here."

As she spoke, Efa watched the pain in Thor's eyes grow, mixed with a firm determination.

"I must see him," he said, after a moment of silence.

"I know, but you must be aware that he will not wish to see you," she told him carefully, "It was not Loki that called you here, but I. He only relayed the message because I managed to persuade him. To him you are no longer his kin, regardless of what you, nor I, nor anyone else may think on the matter. Your relationship is not the same as you remember it and it never will be. You must remember this, and not expect of him anything he is unable to give."

"I understand," Thor agreed slowly, "Though it pains me greatly."

Efanna gave him a gentle smile, knowing as she did the pain of both brothers in this matter.

"There is still hope," she assured him, "Though what you once had is lost, something new can be gained. There is still a chance that Loki might one day call you brother again. But it is only a chance. I know it is his forté, and not yours, but you must be patient in this matter. If you could wait, let me explain to him what has gone on here, and let him settle somewhat once we have been allocated our rooms. Then hopefully your meeting might be a little more … cordial. Although I give no promises on that account. You must expect a certain amount of hostility on his behalf. And I beg of you, please try not to do anything that might aggravate it!"

Thor gave her a wry smile.

"You words are wise. I shall be patient, as you suggest, and attempt to control my temper. However, I can make no promises on that account. Loki has always brought out both the best and the worst in me."

Efa let out a dry chuckle. She knew that only too well.

So in the end I didn't get around to the Loki/Thor meeting – sorry! That is coming up in the next one though, or at least I think it is, depending on how much Efa and Loki have to say to each other about all this! But it will be soon, I promise!

I hope you liked this offering, and that it wasn't too long! Let me know!

Huge amounts of love to you all xXx