If it were of any consolation Roxanne would have told Fury about how Loki was as innocent as he could get but she knew he wouldn't believe her. He wouldn't believe anything really unless she severed the ties his men had with Thanos. But even then he still might not believe. Fury was someone who would use her to free his men and keep Loki under lock and key forever. She was such a fool.

With a strained laugh she leaned back against a wall in her room, though it looked like a cell really, and thought of ideas to break a tie with someone to begin with. She didn't really know how to save them but deep in her heart she knew that she would figure a way somehow. She wouldn't let them suffer and by god she wouldn't let the worlds innocent suffer either. Though they were oblivious they needed saving.

She needed ideas and the best person to go to-the only person she had-was Loki. Except she wasn't allowed to see him.

"I am in a cage with no bars. This day just gets better and better." She sighed banging her head against the wall a couple of times. "I need a guide to tell me how to save everyone."

That would make things so much simpler, would it not?

She gasped in surprise. "Loki?"

I don't think I am anyone else, last I checked. How are you?

"I'm glad your sense of humor has returned. Are you okay? Has Fury done anything to you?" Roxanne closed her eyes and envisioned him before her. "I'm fine by the way just stuck in this room until Fury deems me worthy enough to help him."

I'm mischief and chaos I have to entertain myself somehow when I'm bored. I'm fine and no one has done anything…yet. I suspect Fury wants to pummel me a bit though.

Roxanne growled low in her throat. "He wouldn't dare."

Are you that fond of me Roxanne?

With a small laugh she stretched her arms over her head. "Well you are just so charming it's hard not to be fond of you. Though I have to say you really do have a penchant for trouble."

I thought I was the one with the sarcasm? Riddle me this though mortal, what pray tell do you plan to do? This cage isn't exactly comfortable.

"Well, walk around to see where my limits and boundaries can be tested. Then find a way to break your tie to Thanos. Have any suggestions?" Roxanne walked to her door and opened it. When she saw no one was really in the hallway she stepped out. "Besides that's what I promised Fury I would do so I have to find a way somehow."

Why did you make that promise if you didn't know how? Do you even know how hard it is to break any such tie between two creatures, especially of this magnitude?

She rolled her eyes and proceeded to take a lot of turns before making a sharp right. She had passed guards, ordinary workers and scientists but none of them seemed remotely concerned about her.

"Oh, ye of little faith. Remind me to kick you in the shin the next time I see you." She smirked. "Besides I decided to open the door to my powers and use them for once. Be nice if you'd help me with those too."

I have faith it's just…it's too dangerous Roxy and I don't need you getting hurt.

"I haven't heard that nickname in years." She laughed quietly. "There's a difference between wanting and needing. Which is it Loki?"

Both.

She felt her heart stutter at that one lone word but it meant the world to her to hear it. It was most likely the only thing she would get to a love proclamation. That and it meant he remembered her from when they were kids otherwise he wouldn't have known the nickname.

"I'll be alright Loki, please don't worry too much." She found a door and looked through it and saw it was the bridge. They were sitting about a round table but two people were missing. Tony Stark wasn't present nor was Director Fury. And from what she could tell the ones present were listening to something and staring at the tabletop.

She entered the room and the Black Widow settled an intense gaze on her making everyone else go silent. Not wanting to be a coward she stepped farther into the room. That's when she heard it. Loki's voice patronizing them.

"It's an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me." Loki said with a smile.

"Built for something a lot stronger than you." Fury's voice replied carrying over the intercom.

"Oh I've heard. A mindless beast. Makes play he's still a man. How desperate are you that you call on such lost creatures to defend you?"

If Roxanne didn't know any better Loki was doing this on purpose just to rile the Director for holding him captive. It didn't help her with making everyone believe he wasn't a crazy psychopathic killer who was hell bent on destroying their world. If he said anything else she would be in his face in the next moment. She swore she would. How she would pull that off she had no idea but she would figure out how quickly.

"How desperate am I?" Fury's anger showed in his voice making Roxanne wince. "You threaten my world with war. You steal a force you can't hope to control. And you kill because it's fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did."

Loki's going to say something even dumber. Roxanne stepped toward the table and noted Thor looking so glum on the other side. He still cared for Loki.

"Ooh. It burns you to have come so close. To have the Tesseract, to have power, unlimited power. And for what? A warm light for all mankind to share. And then to be reminded what real power is."

The words Loki has been saying are clues. These are what to come and the place it will happen but then Roxanne knew that from her dreams. She wanted to smile because she knew Loki was trying to give the Avengers a hint as to the imminent future. He was giving them an advantage.

"He really grows on you doesn't he?" Bruce Banner said from behind one of the chairs.

"Loki's gonna drag this out. So, Thor, what's his play?" Steve said analyzing the situation.

The look Thor possessed on his was one of forlorn and sadness. But he hardened that look so no one else would be able to tell. "He has an army called the Chitauri. They're not of Asgard or any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the earth, in return, I suspect, for the Tesseract."

Well that was kinda all true Roxanne thought gloomily. The situation she faced alone was starting to look damn miserable by the minute. Could they not see for themselves? Loki may act like a cat playing with his mouse but deep down he's trying to give them all a fighting chance while trying to figure a way to save them if he can't succeed.

"An army," Steve said in disbelief. "From outer space."

"So he's building another portal." Brue said and Roxanne wanted to shout in happiness. Finally someone understood something! "That's what he needs Eric Selvig for."

"Selvig?" Thor questioned and it made her heart drop to realize he would take Eric's defense against Loki.

"He's an astrophysicist."

"He's a friend."

"Loki has him under some kind of spell, along with one of ours." Natasha provided much to Roxanne's chagrin. They were just banding together against Loki without so much as wanting to really know why. Did they even wonder why he was leading this Chitauri army? Of who could really be behind this?

"I want to know why Loki let us take him. He's not leading an army from here." Steve turned in Bruce's direction when the quiet scientist began talking again.

"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats."

Excuse me? Roxanne grit her teeth to keep from speaking out of term against him.

"You could smell crazy on him."

As if he'd ever wonder why that is. Stupid ignorant people.

"Have care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason but he is of Asgard. And he is my brother." Thor defended Loki surprising Roxanne.

"He killed eighty people in two days." Natasha pointed out.

"He's adopted." Thor said as a poor excuse.

Roxanne had had enough.

"Will you all just shut up for one goddamn minute?" Roxanne snapped silencing them. "You're all idiots who can't even see the truth in front of your eyes."

Natasha stood up and glared at her. "What right do you have? You're consorting with the enemy."

"What right I have?" Roxanne laughed hollowly. "How much red drips from your hands Natasha Romanoff? I know what you are and the guilt you live with but don't think Loki doesn't have his own guilt to worry about. None of you understand because you don't want to see. But maybe you will before it's too late."

Natasha backed off and resumed just glaring at her.

"But Dr. Banner is right Loki isn't the one to be worried about at the moment. Think of the iridium. Why did Loki need it?"

It's a stabilizing agent. Those memories poured in out of nowhere. Tony had answered this before in her dreams.

"It's a stabilizing agent." Tony said right on cue as he turned to Phil Coulson. "I'm just saying pick a weekend. I'll fly you to Portland. Keep love alive."

Roxanne watched with mild amusement as Tony tried to convince Phil to see his cellist girlfriend that had moved off with her career. To see Phil alive was a relief but she wondered if he would stay alive now that she'd messed up the order of events.

Tony looked at her with amusement and confusion. "It means the portal won't collapse on itself like it did at SHIELD."

He walked by Thor. "No hard feelings, Point Break. You've got a mean swing. Also it means the portal can open as wide and stay as long as Loki wants."

All of it was true but Roxanne wanted him to say it since this was his part in the whole situation. It was Bruce's part as well. She watched as he went to Fury's computer screens and after a diversion he placed one of his bugs on the metal.

When he turned to look around he found Roxanne staring at him intently with a small smirk on her beautiful face. He didn't know who this woman was but he did notice how odd her hair color was. Thulian rose was the color if he had to guess. She intrigued him and not many make him feel that. Sure at first everyone does but this one had an unspeakable loneliness in her eyes and that set her apart from everyone else. Well everyone not an Avenger that's in this room or on this vessel of a ship. Whatever this was.

Her eyes though…he'd never seen such a shade of gold before. Astonishing. She was a puzzle. An enigma for him to figure out. He could tell she had many secrets to reveal.

He began his theorizing and laid out what Loki most likely needed and was going to do.

"The only major component he still needs is a power source of high-power density. Something to kick-start the cube."

Agent Hill looked at him with curiosity. "When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?"

"Last night. The packet, Selvig's notes, the extraction theory papers. Am I the only one who did the reading?"

"Does Loki need any kind of power source?" Steve asked just keep Tony from rambling.

It was very easy to slip into invisible mode with these geniuses around but who was Roxanne compared to these people? She hadn't yet used any of her powers except to help Loki keep his shield up around his mind. All she was good for was standing here and watch the scene unfold just like in her dreams. She knew what Bruce would say next.

"He would have to heat the cube to a 120-million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier."

And that was how Tony became attached to Bruce Banner. He could see the intellect in those eyes even when Bruce hid them from the world all the time. Tony knew this man would be important in his life so instead of running away like he always does he didn't this time.

Roxanne was just amused by Tony. He's someone who could befriend just about anyone but his real friendship would lay with Bruce. Two minds smart enough to balance each other intellectually while having natural opposite personalities. They would be good for each other. Bruce would keep him under control whereas even Pepper has a hard enough time doing that herself. They were kindred spirits much like her and Loki were to each other.

"And I'm a huge fan of how you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage-monster."

Roxanne knew that was coming. The moment was just too cute what with Bruce trying to come up with an answer to that.

"Thanks."

When she turned to leave Fury came into the room leveling her with a glare. How many glares could she get today?

"Dr. Banner is only here to track the cube. I was hoping you might join him."

Tony kinda rolled his eyes in annoyance to Fury and good ol' Captain America.

And here comes the reference to flying monkeys…Roxanne couldn't help but smile at Thor's look of confusion and Steve's excitement of understanding the joke.

Thinking it was time to leave Tony turned to Bruce. "Shall we play, Doctor?"

"This way, sir." With that he led Tony out of the room and they were on their way to play with all the expensive toys.

Shaking her head Roxanne turned away from the bunch to catch one of the employee's playing Galaga. So Tony was right. Astonishing how observant he could be.

Looking to Fury she couldn't help but want to request an audience with Loki. It had only been hours since she saw him but she needed to be near him again. Loki was her kindred spirit. That event from earlier with him talking inside the cage made Roxanne pause. He sounded dark again but until she saw his eyes she would never know if he was fighting or if his control was forced from him.

"Have you found Barton or Erik yet sir?" she asked quietly.

At the mention of Barton, Black Widow tensed. Roxanne glanced at her and made way to a seat across from her.

"I mean no harm to him or anyone else." Roxanne gave her a gentle smile. "I know you don't believe me and that's fine. I'm not asking for your undying loyalty or anything just a chance to help however I can."

"And hopefully be an asset with that foreseeing ability of yours." Fury piped in. Leave it to him to want her as an asset.

"If I don't die that is." Roxanne deadpanned. "When will I be able to see Loki?"

"Not until we've found our men and you've released them from the monster that controls them." Fury glared.

"I'm not all-powerful Director so if I fail in severing their ties I'll be failing not only you and this world but Loki." She looked down at the table before her foregoing the confused glances everyone threw her way. "To me Loki is my ultimate goal."

Roxanne stood up and faced Fury. "You may not believe me but I honestly don't care what you think at this point. I know Loki and his mind hasn't been his own for years now. It's my fault for not trying to get back to him sooner maybe then we could have stopped Thanos before he began to fully control his mind. If I'd just found the doorway again I could have saved him."

"He killed eighty people in two days and you're standing there defending him and wanting to free him?" Widow stood up with a volcanic look on her beautiful face. "He took Agent Barton against his will to become some mindless lackey and its Loki's fault."

"And you've killed hundreds little Miss Natasha Romanoff. Tell me where your hands are cleaner than his?" Roxanne fully faced her. "You're an assassin; your hands will never be clean because no matter what time of the day it is your hands are filled with blood. And let's not forget that ledger of yours shall we?"

At the mention of ledger Natasha flinched. No one had ever seen her yield to anyone and that tiny human reaction stunned even Fury though he only raised an eyebrow.

"I may not know you but I see you. You fight for Barton and I fight for Loki but that is where the line between us ends. If push came to shove Loki knows that I'll die trying to save him. You on the other hand wouldn't be so gracious as long as someone took that fall for you." Roxanne got in her face. "Am I wrong?"

"What good are you dead to him?" Natasha whispered darkly.

"Better off than you." Roxanne smiled at her brightly all of a sudden. "But then again people have been known to change for the better. You'll be no different."

"I am my own-"

"Master of fate? Yes, you are but it doesn't change that something much bigger than us guides us along in life." She chuckled at the glare Natasha gave her. "I'm not your enemy but have it your way. I'll still save Barton for you. That's the least I can do for what you'll do in the future."

"What I'll do?" Natasha said in a disbelieving tone.

"You'll help save this world and Clint's world as well." Roxanne smiled softly. "You're more important than you think. The ties and bonds you work so hard to sever before they begin have formed right under your nose and you're terrified of this power. But don't ever fear it."

"You don't know anything about me." She spat.

"I know enough." Roxanne sighed and looked at Thor. "What?"

"You care for my brother?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Of course I do. We were childhood friends." She smiled softly remembering some of those times. "Your brother isn't crazy he's been controlled by Thanos for so long that the bond is almost unbreakable. But he's been fighting every step of the way so maybe I can sever that bond. Maybe it's not too late."

"How could you be his childhood friend when no human can cross to Asgard?" Thor paled when he thought of the Death God. "How did Thanos do this? And why Loki?"

"Loki and I possess the ability to use magic and it just so happened we could open doorways between our dream realms. Thanos is a whole different story." She sighed as she clenched her fists. "He came to Loki in his dream and used everything necessary to break him so he could control him. Had I known I would have done something but Loki had sealed his door away as an attempt to protect me. He wiped his own memories of me to keep Thanos away."

"He was just a child." Thor shook his head in denial. "No it can't be true."

"It is true don't you remember what color his eyes were as children before Thanos?" she stood up. "Remember how things were before your friends came into the picture? The Death God will stop at nothing to kill everyone and everything."

"I don't remember his eyes as children. I fear I never paid him the attention I should have." He huffed angry at himself. "You still haven't said why he chose Loki. What could Loki possess that he would covet my brother alive?"

Her dreams told her what he was. What Loki was meant to be if ever the universe was beginning to become too much.

Everything was black as night with no light whatsoever. She tried to turn, walk, run and even feel her way through it but it was no use. The darkness was suffocating. She wanted freedom again.

"Where am I?" she whispered hoping someone would answer.

After moments of silence she screamed, afraid of what this darkness was. She could feel her powers protecting her from it but evil could be felt all of a sudden. It was choking her, suffocating like water. Her lungs felt as though a huge hand was crushing the air from her.

How long did she stay like that thinking she was on the brink of death only to have it all start over with clarity?

"Someone please help me." She managed to gasp out.

'Be calm young one.' A melodic voice resonated within the darkness. 'This darkness is but the sleep of the dishonored ones. It is their punishment for their wicked deeds.'

Trying hard to clear her mind she grasped onto that voice using it as an anchor. After what seemed like hours she finally calmed down enough to find out the darkness didn't suffocate her anymore.

"Sleep of the dishonored ones?" she voiced softly.

'Yes. I keep their ability to sleep so they never close their eyes to the horrors of Hel's realm.'

"Who are you?"

'I am no one but the Tree of Life-Yggdrasil.'

"I thought Yggdrasil was a metaphor to explain the connections of all the realms?"

'I have no physical appearance if that is what you mean. I have a soul, a spirit that lives for the sake of connecting all the worlds together. Since the dawning of time I've been here waiting for each world to be made. I help certain ones who fight the evil in this universe but I am limited.'

She wondered if this was really happening or if she was dreaming. The Tree of Life was speaking to her.

"How do I know this is real?" she asked meekly.

'Let me show you.'

Within one moment she was in darkness the next amid the stars looking down on a bright light. When her vision cleared did she see what that light was. Golden waves of aura and power flowed throughout the universe connecting what looked to be cluster of stars together. She could feel power radiating from each movement Yggdrasil made and shuddered. So much power.

"You really do resemble a Tree of Life." She whispered. "Why I am here?"

'You were brought here from your dreams for I have a message to tell you.'

"Yes?" she prompted.

'The man you will see in the near future is your soul mate but he is also Ragnarok-the Destroyer of All Things. He is good in his heart but it is easily swayed. The Dark One has his mind in his clutches so I ask you to find this man before it is too late. You are his only hope.'

"This man…who is he?"

'You will know when you see him. Remember the eyes of emerald. That is his true self.'

"So I become some man's salvation to prevent the end of the universe?"

'Yes and do not fail for there are so many innocent lives at stake.'

"I'll try my best but nothing is guaranteed in life."

Roxanne had jolted awake inside her dorm room remembering her dream with such clarity. Save one man to save everyone? Sounds like a TV show she vaguely remembered.

At the time she had never known that man would be Loki but when she remembered their childhood time together she was so happy it was him that needed her. It was her chance to make up for not being there for him even when she had no idea what had happened. She wanted to be the one Loki could look to for help and it wasn't out of obligation to Yggdrasil either. She cared for her emerald eyed warrior. Every time he closed his eyes to concentrate on not feeling any pain she wanted to kiss his brow and run her fingers through his hair to comfort him. When he looked tired she wanted to watch him rest in peace with no worries of Thanos invading his mind.

If she dared say it she could possibly love Loki as more than her best friend. What was she talking about? Of course loving him was an option it was just whether or not he would like that. He could love someone else for all she knew.

But he did kiss me in Stuttgart. Did that kiss even mean anything to him?

It was to find solace in that kiss. That was why he'd done it. To give himself a moment of peace from Thanos. She should be mad but deep inside she couldn't find the will to muster any anger towards Loki.

Sighing at Thor she prepared herself to answer a question that everyone would be highly wary of. They wouldn't like the answer but she'd answer it anyway.

"Loki possesses the power to become Ragnarok." She stared intently into Thor's pretty blues and dared him to defy her claim. "It's not as bad as it seems but Loki is easily swayed by the forces of good and evil. Thanos had him in his clutches since childhood tainting the purity of his innocence with malicious destruction. As children Loki's always had a strong sense of right and wrong. That morality is what let him survive the evil Thanos tried to force feed him but recently even I can see he's been losing the battle."

Thor looked genuinely worried for his brother and that was good. It meant that there was hope to fix the strained brotherhood between the two.

"Loki is supposed to be a destroyer of the universe if my mind is correct?" Fury said with arms crossed over his chest. "And you wonder why I don't want him out?"

"What's a Ragnarok?" Steve asked with severe confusion written on his face. Poor man must have been trying to keep up with her and Thor.

"Ragnarok is an influx of power within one being that obliterates every living thing in the universe. If Loki somehow succumbs to evil Ragnarok is what will happen." Roxanne looked to Thor. "But if more people help me in restoring the damage that was done to him because of Thanos the higher the chance Ragnarok will never happen. Thor he needs his brother to be there for him."

"I will do what I can for him but I don't think he wants me there."

"He may not act like it but he misses you. He misses the times when you were children playing in Frigga's gardens." She smiled at him. "He used to tell so much about you up until Sif came along. I'm siding with Loki on this one because if not for her your brother would have been at your side through everything but Sif didn't want that. She wanted you to herself. Though she has gotten better with adulthood it didn't excuse what she did to my Trickster."

"What did she do?" He asked in concern.

"She forced him away from your side saying she would make his life miserable if he didn't stay away from you. Sif was insanely jealous when it came to Loki and it baffled him from the very beginning. But he said if there was any chance that that would make you happy then he would do whatever it took." Roxanne sighed. "Sif is a good person and Loki knows this too. She just wasn't a good kid."

"I had no idea." Thor closed his eyes in pain. "I had thought he didn't want to be around me but had I known..."

"He knows Thor." Roxanne smiled at him. "Don't beat yourself up over it."

"I'm still not letting him out." Fury said.

To her he sounded like a pouting child and that image alone made her chuckle.

"I promise to sever all their ties to Thanos." She stared at him solemnly. "On the condition that you change Loki's prison to my room. Lock it down, guard it and have Thor place a prisoners barrier around it I don't care but please do this for me at least."

He looked at her for a few moments before he sighed. "Fine but you will be held accountable for his actions."

It took her a moment to get over her shock but she nodded and smiled at him. "Yes I understand sir."

With a that smile still in place she left the room and into winding hallways.