AN: Thank you everyone for all the support! I really love all the reviews, and can't believe your kind words! Thank you so much to everyone who read/reviewed/favorited! I love you all!

Sorry for the small delay in new chapter-work has ( unfortunately?) been busy. The good news is, I almost have the next chapter ready! Look out for an update sometime in the next week! Unfortunately, this chapter isn't as Loki-centric as I would like...but the next one certainly is.

So-please enjoy!


Chapter 18: Seeds of Doubt


Loki let out a frustrated sigh as he looked at his shaking hand above a silver door handle. The prince had been in countless battles, he had been so close to Death he could feel her icy breath, but as he stood in front of the unimpressive door he felt terrified. For someone so talented with words, he was shocked at the difficulty he was having articulating the fear he was feeling. He couldn't fathom why he was scared of a door handle.

Touching his hands to its cool surface he stopped—not sure if he could bring himself to heed Stark's advice. On the surface, the prospect of apologizing made his blood boil. It was not in his nature to be a good person, and the idea of admitting that he did something wrong made him sick. Still, behind the villainous mask he now wore there was another part of him that desperately wanted forgiveness.

And deep down Loki knew he was scared of being denied that absolve. He had been denied so much in his life already—the throne, the truth of his birth, Midgard—he knew he couldn't take another blow.

Casting his eyes down towards his shaking hand, he wanted to let out a scream. He didn't even know what he would say; he had been the God of Lies so long he didn't know what was real. When his mind would race with the memories of what brought him here, he tried to lie himself out of it—he tried so hard to erase the truth. He didn't want to believe he had so willingly become the monster he was now.

But after long moments passed, Loki pulled his hand away from the chilled metal. Though he wanted forgiveness, he didn't know what he would do with it. He didn't truly feel sorry for his actions on Midgard-on Jotunheim. Whatever sickness plagued his mind was far from cured, and expecting to be forgiven when he was still a monster yet was laughable. Expecting to be forgiven for decidedly unforgivable actions was a joke.

He couldn't risk it.


Gold eyes looked cautiously around the empty hallway before them. On either side of her door, Eir could not see a soul—and it sent a shiver down her spine. While she was not blessed with the talents of Heimdall, she could have sworn she had heard someone only moments ago. Instead, the only company that came to greet her was an uncomfortable chill in the air.

Closing the door behind her, the Goddess of Medicine started to trek down the halls of Stark Tower. Surrounded by the sounds of her clicking shoes, she cast her eyes to the many pictures that adorn the mortal's walls. She could see pictures of their host with people that looked very important, and she could see him smiling with a woman she had only briefly met. There were pictures of him with Thor, and pictures of him working on complex technology the likes of which eluded Asgard.

Seeing the strange glass walls of a workshop, the Goddess walked over and cast her eyes over the amazing things inside of it. There were lights and a number of suits that lit up and looked ready for war. In the middle of all this, though, was a pair of brown eyes looking straight at her.

"Hey you!" he yelled, "Let me see your hands!"

Giving the man a confused look, the Goddess held up her petite hands so he could see. On her nails, she could still see the chipping polish from a festival long past—one of her last remnants of Asgard. But before she could think further, the man hurriedly beckoned her into the lab. With a rush of entering air, the glass door to the workshop opened itself for the woman.

"You're the doctor, right?" the man asked, "I need a little assistance, and I'd rather not have to call Pepper."

Nodding slightly, Eir listened carefully as the man explained the procedure. It seemed simple enough—she just had to reconnect the new piece of technology in his chest. Though she was not well read on technology, she was confident that if the man went into cardiac arrest like he warned, she would be able to save him regardless.

"You've got that, Goldie?" the man asked, "Here's the new reactor."

As soon as the new piece of technology was placed in her hands, the man ripped out the old one. In the corner of the room, rapid beeping on a heart monitor said that the metallic pieces had already stated to advance. With a deep breath, Eir placed her hand inside the mortal and felt around for the connection point.

"You know, I don't think we were properly introduced. Now that you're inside me-" he laughed to himself, "Funny, that's usually the other way around."

Ignoring him, Eir smiled as her fingers found the port and connected the electronics with an audible click. With the new reactor in place, the doctor could hear the beeps in the background resume a normal physiological speed and cadence. Looking back towards the patient, she noticed that he was holding a hand out to her.

"Tony Stark. Iron Man."

Shaking his hand, the Asgardian smiled.

"Eir, of Asgard."

The woman watched as the human detached the various electronics from his chest and sat up from his seat.

"Thor said you're a handmaiden to the Queen." Tony remarked looking at various screens, "That must have been glamorous."

To this Eir wanted to laugh. Glamorous? Not quite. Asgard's most important people always surrounded her, and the Queen made sure she was dressed well. Still, her line of work put her in the vilest of situations. Wading through death-laden fields, and trying to save the lives of helpless Asgardians was decidedly not glamorous.

"At times." She admitted, "Though 'handmaiden' is often overly romanticized. Most times, life was not so luxurious."

The woman watched as Tony cringed.

"Aren't any of you happy?" he asked, "For a bunch of Gods you're all miserable people. I'm going to need therapy after listening to you guys."

Letting out a sigh, the woman knew he was right. Asgard on the outside was a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. For most of the population, it was just that—the landscapes rolling and the sky an endless canvas. There was a time for her, too, that Asgard was filled with nothing but wonder. There had been a time when she was happy—a time when even the horrors of war and the smell of death could not steal her euphoria. But no one close to the royal family ever made it out unscathed. Politics on Asgard were volatile and left their ugly scars.

She was no exception.

"I can cure you." She started, wishing to change the subject, "I know not why you had failed to seek me sooner."

Golden eyes watched as Tony looked down towards the ring of light on his chest and gave her a smile. It would be an easy fix—unlike his other mortal friend. In a matter of moments, she was confident that he would live unburdened by his faulty heart.

"Thanks, but no thanks."

Blinking a few times, she was taken aback.

"What?"

Eir could see the ghost of a laugh on the man's face as he looked to her obvious confusion.

"This is a part of me now." He explained, pointing to the reactor, "To get rid of this would be to change who I am. I don't need fixing."

This time, Eir couldn't help herself from letting out a bitter laugh.

"I applaud you, sir." She whispered, "I know quite a few who would give anything to be cured of their burdens."

Tony raised an eyebrow.

"You speak from experience."

Eyes widening, the Goddess looked at the man who was cleaning one of his many technological pieces. He looked occupied, almost half listening to what she had been telling him. Noticing the deafening silence, Tony turned to her.

"That tone." He explained, "It gives you away."

Narrowing her eyes at him, Eir simply shook her head.

"You are mistaken." She insisted, "It is absurd of you to think you know me."

To this, Tony Stark simply shrugged and went back to working on his machine.

"So be it, Princess." He smirked, "Thanks for helping me, again."

Feeling her teeth unconsciously clenching, Eir glared at the mortal before her. Taking her cue to leave, the Goddess walked out into the halls and continued on her trek to the dining room. Echoing through the empty halls, she could hear the sick clicking of angry shoes-mad that the mortal had been so forward. Mad because he acted as though he knew her.

Mad because he was right.


Heimdall let out a sigh as he looked out from the top of the mortal's tower. For reasons none of them could explain, they all felt weaker on Midgard. Thor could not summon lightening without great effort, Eir could not heal as quickly, and him—well, his eyesight was suffering greatly. From his vantage point atop Stark Tower, in the lab Lady Jane occasionally occupied, he could only see the faintest traces of Asgard. But what he did see disturbed him in many ways.

From what he could tell, there were no survivors. Though his vision was cloudy, he could clearly see Asgard's streams running red with the aftermath of a battle long lost. The palace was filled with a sick silence, and there was food left from a festival never had. He could not see his King—nor could he see his Queen. Asgard, from what he could tell, was in ruin.

Closing his eyes, Heimdall stood in thought for a moment. Whoever wanted these stones would stop at nothing to get them. Though Odin had spared their lives, he knew well that war was likely to follow them to Midgard. What they were living on now was borrowed time—and fate was never kind with extensions. In the end, the warrior knew they would have to face their fates eventually…and it scared him.

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

Snapping out of his thoughts, the man turned to see the embarrassed look on Jane's face. In her hands he could see a number of star charts, mathematical equations, and pictures. Sending her a warm smile, the Gatekeeper simply turned back to look out at the expanse that was New York City.

"Tis quite alright, Milady." He reassured, "This is your observatory, is it not? It is I who intrudes."

From behind him, Heimdall could hear the woman place the pieces of paper on a nearby desk and take a number of cautious footsteps up to him.

"What do you see?"

Blinking a few times, Heimdall looked to see Jane's brown eyes looking off into the distance—seemingly trying to see what he saw. Thor's lady was a curious one, certainly, and she had a fair mind. Smiling at the would be queen, Heimdall looked back towards the cloudy, winter sky above,

"Asgard, of course." He admitted, "Though I fear I cannot see much. What is not clouded is dire."

At his side, he could see a look of sympathy on the woman's face.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, "I know what it is like to lose the people you love."

Avoiding her gaze, Heimdall looked back to the city below. Though he could see the devastation on Asgard, he hadn't stopped to think of all the people he would never see again. He hadn't thought of never sharing war stories with Tyr, or see Gefjon's beautiful smile again. He hadn't thought of never again laughing and feasting at the many festivals Asgard had. But despite all of this, he sent Jane a small smile.

"Worry not for me, Lady Jane." Heimdall assured, "My greatest of friends were sparred the horrors. I could not have chosen a finer group of Asgardians for this task."

Heimdall could see the mortal scrunch her face in disgust.

"Even Loki?"

Golden eyes twitched slightly at the mention of the other prince of Asgard. When Lady Eir had told him that she had a way off Asgard he hadn't even considered that she would use Loki's vast knowledge to do it—though he should have known. While he wasn't fond of Loki, he knew that if he had perished on Asgard Thor would have blamed himself. In a sense, then, the Gatekeeper was happy the jotun had lived.

"Yes," Heimdall decided, "Even Loki."

To this, Jane let out a frustrated sigh.

"Well I don't trust him." She muttered, "If he tries to kill Thor I—"

"I don't think he will, Lady Jane." He interrupted, "I am not fond of Loki either, but I can see well something is plaguing the prince."

Heimdall noticed that the mortal continued to listen to him.

"In prison, I believe he was forced to think." Heimdall explained further, "The guilt on his face is obvious."

This time, Jane let out a bitter laugh before casting her eyes towards the city once more.

"That doesn't make him a good person." Jane argued, "We can't just trust him because he feels sorry."

Golden eyes closed in thought for a moment as the mortal's words met his ears. She was certainly right, of course—he wasn't a good person. But compared to the Loki that froze him and tried to kill him, well, this Loki was an improvement.

"No." He agreed, "But it means he is on the right path."

Next to him, the mortal rolled her eyes.

"You should have left him on Asgard." She countered, "No one would mourn his loss."

The man could feel the side of his lips curl into a small laugh as she spoke. Thor's lady had no idea how wrong she was. When he was in the healing chambers the night Loki was thought to be lost, he recalled much mourning. He could remember Thor's tearful eyes and the broken screams of those closest to the prince. Though he himself failed to shed a tear that night, he saw many of them.

"To lose Loki would be to hurt Thor in the worst way, Milady"

"I don't care." She shivered, "He's killed so many people, I don't feel safe with him here!"

This time, Heimdall couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Forgive me," He started, "But you know so little of Asgard."

He proceeded with caution when the mortal sent him a warning glance.

"Asgard is a culture that thirsts for war." He explained carefully, "We have all done things we regret in the name of Asgard. Myself—and Thor—are not exempt. Our hands run red as well."

With this, golden eyes watched as a shocked look washed over the mortal's features. Asgard and Midgard were very different, and if Lady Jane was to truly become queen she was going to face a difficult transition. Heimdall knew well the trials women attached to the princes faced—and they were difficult for Asgardians to bear. For Jane to take the throne would be painful to watch.

"You're lying." She whispered, avoiding his eyes, "Thor would never."

The man couldn't help but give her a sympathetic look.

"Thor is one of my greatest comrades, Milady. I have—"

"Well I love him."

Heimdall avoided the mortal's glaring eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. He never liked to get involved with love affairs, but he was smart enough to know love when he saw it. During his time as gatekeeper, he had been witness to a number of illicit affairs—and the great sacrifices that often came with them. Whatever Thor and Jane had was not love in the slightest.

"I have known him for centuries." Heimdall muttered, "You have known him for months. Can you be so sure?"

Before the woman could argue with him, their attention was drawn to a click of a door. Standing at the door with a large grin was the man himself—his blond hair tied back and wearing mortal clothes. Giving a nod of acknowledgment to the prince, Heimdall's eyes watched as the man walked over and kissed the mortal.

"I am pleased I found you here." Thor grinned, "Stark wishes to take a band of us to see the city. I hoped you would accompany me, Jane. You are welcome too, good Heimdall."

Shaking his head to the prince, Heimdall waved as the couple excused themselves from the observatory. Unmissed by his eyes, however, the gatekeeper could see that behind the woman's smile was an uncertainty. Smiling to himself, he returned to his post in front of the great window. Though he didn't want to be cold to the mortal, he knew it was in her best interest to know who Thor was—who all of them were.

For they were almost as guilty as the monster she spoke of.


Taking a deep breath, Bruce looked over the number again. All of the stones had similar physical properties and were emitting similar levels of radiation, but no amount of science could explain the vast differences in capabilities that the stones possessed. He had already studied one that enhanced power, one that defied the laws of physics, and another that was capable of long distance travel. But the one he was working on now was very different.

The instant he touched it he knew something was wrong. Behind the beautiful orange glow was something bizarre—and with the brushing of his finges against its facets, he saw the entirety of his life flash before his eyes. He was forced to relive both the most wonderful and the painfully terrible scenes from a time long past…just because of some stone. In a touch, he was almost lost in a prison of the past. If Kate hadn't come to the lab early…

"You ok, Banner?" Tony asked outside of his door, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Looking up from his papers, the scientist noticed that Stark was returning with a number of bags. He had heard something about him taking the Asgardians into the city and after the unwanted troubles from the day he wished he had gone.

"I'm fine." He decided, "Kate and I experienced some adverse side effects from one of the stones today. I'm just a little shaken up."

Tony sent him a worried look.

"I don't want you destroying the tower, Banner." Tony joked, "Maybe you should take a break."

Giving the man a reassuring smile, Bruce just shook his head.

"I promise your tower will be safe." He laughed, "Kate swore she locked the stone in lead before she left. Everything will be fine."

Nodding in satisfaction, Banner watched as Tony wished him a good night and continued down the hallway. Taking one last glance over the numbers for the day, the man decided to wash his hands of the day. After everything that he had been forced to live through, he was happy to leave this day behind him. Shutting down the last of the computers, the man turned off the lights to the lab and locked the door—bathing the room in a darkness…

Made company only by an unattended faint orange glow.


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