"Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane"

Skye narrowed her eyes as she watched the footage of a giant robot attacking New Mexico. She'd snagged it from the internet before SHIELD – it had to be SHIELD – could pull it. Good thing, too; only twenty-five minutes after she found and downloaded it, it disappeared, along with everything else related to the bizarre goings-on. More corrupt corporate cover-up.

She was going to get to the bottom of this.

There was no way she could afford to fuel the van for the long drive, let alone fly, and SHIELD would probably have everything cleaned up before she could get there, so she dug deep in her usual way. First off, she found the Twitter account where the first picture of 'Thor' (did they really think it was some Norse god?) had been posted. Cheesy grin aside, he was cute. And dreamy. Seriously dreamy. The kind of dreamy that could power the world if it could be tapped as a source of electricity.

"Okay, Miss… Darcy Lewis, what's your story?" she said, fingers flying over the keys of her laptop. "Student… Culver University… political science… intern. Jane Foster, huh? Where are you lovely ladies based?"

She screamed when there was an earth-shaking thump outside. A second later, she closed her laptop, slid open the door, and jumped out of her van.

"What the hell was that?" she said, looking around.

There was a man down the alley, black hair, panting, lying at an unnatural angle, and wearing… a cape. Like the one Thor had been wearing, except he was blond and tanned. This guy was pale, and he looked… really unwell. She ran over to him, and he scrambled back when she got near.

"Whoa, whoa," she said, holding up her hands. "Are you okay?" He didn't reply, just stared at her. She squatted down in front of him, suddenly really concerned. "Please say something."

He shook his head, slowly, then faster. "It cannot be you. A mortal? Impossible."

"What d'you mean?"

"By the Norns!" he said, and it definitely sounded like he was swearing. He struggled to his feet, and Skye stood up, ready to catch him if he keeled over, because he looked to be in serious danger of that.

"What's your name, sir?" she asked.

"I am… no one," he said, his eyes darting back and forth. They finally settled on hers, and he frowned. "You are?"

"I'm—"

"No, you mustn't!" he barked, his eyes widening. Then there was a flash of light, and he disappeared. The last Skye had seen, he'd been reaching out to her. She stumbled forward, feeling for him, but he was gone.

"Weird," she muttered. "Better check the date on those sandwiches."

The next time Skye saw the stranger – who she seriously thought she'd hallucinated – was when she was watching live coverage of the Avengers fighting some flying robotic monsters in New York City. She cleaned up some of the footage simultaneously, and saw a man in clothes which were similar, but with longer hair.

"Can't be," she said. There were some freeze-frame shots. She collected all she could, firing up her best software. Thor was there, and so was Iron Man.

Stark Tower…

With a grin, Skye began her hack. She eventually cracked into the security system, and located the cameras. Something tried to block her, but she managed to catch a quick look of Tony Stark talking to her mystery guy. It was him.

"Holy cow!"

Then her line was cut off, and she quickly left the hack before Stark's people could wipe her hard-drive.

"Damn," she said as she sat back. "Huh. Cute guy, but apparently the villain? That sucks."

With a frown, she rolled up her right sleeve, and traced her fingers over the weird shapes which were supposed to be her soulmark. It was itching, and she scratched it absently as she stared at the live footage. Everything was winding down now. People had died, according to the reports running across the bottom of the screen, and she took a minute of silence for them.

Well, there was no way SHIELD could cover all of this up. Everyone was going to know that Earthlings weren't alone in the universe. Superheroes, honest-to-God superheroes were out there! This was public.

And she was gonna make sure it stayed that way, no matter what.

"Visitor from Asgard," Skye said, looking up from her laptop. She tensed, remembering what happened last time she'd been in Sif's presence, along with that Kree. Her tremors were getting under control, but another confrontation like that wouldn't be good, especially if it justified Sif's belief that Skye should be imprisoned on Asgard. She'd have to be extra careful.

"Who is it?" Coulson asked. If it was Thor, they were basically screwed. The god would be pissed to find out that he was alive. Maybe happy as well, but mainly pissed. It was a big secret to have kept all that time, and if any of them let slip that Sif had known all along, that wouldn't be good for the warrior goddess, either.

"We're about to find out," Skye said. "It's only a couple of minutes' walk away."

"How did they even find us?" Simmons asked.

"Isn't there, like, a gatekeeper?"

"Heimdall," Coulson said. "Maybe he saw me?"

"He'd have to be looking for you," Skye said, frowning. "I mean, there are billions of people in the world."

"Let's ask when whoever it is gets here, okay?" he said. "I'll… be in my office."

"Too late."

"Son of Coul?"

"I presume that's Thor?" Simmons said. Fitz snorted softly.

"Are you going to swoon over his arms?" he asked. "Or exclaim over his 'dreaminess'?"

"It'd so be justified," Skye said, following Coulson out to the hangar. The others trailed behind. They were there in time to see Coulson flinch back when Thor stepped closer to him, Mjolnir in hand and a thunderous (pun totally intended) look on his face.

"What sorcery is this?" Thor rumbled.

"Alien sorcery," Coulson said. Which, y'know, was true.

"I got the treatment, too," she said, waving, trying to get some of the attention away from Coulson. "Alien blood, but… we don't know the source."

"Yet," Fitz said. Just as well. Simmons had gone completely still, and was staring at Thor. And possibly his arms. Who could blame her? "We'll find out eventually."

"When were you going to inform us that you were living?" Thor asked. Unfortunately, he was still fixated on Coulson, so Skye stepped up to his side as support.

"Who's your buddy?" she asked Thor.

"This is my father, Odin," he said, gesturing to the old guy with the eye-patch. "Father, this is the Son of Coul. He is the one we thought died at Loki's spear."

"I did die, actually," Coulson said. "It was being brought back to life that was the worst part. Being unmade like that…" He turned pale, and Skye glared at their visitors.

"Next time call in advance, okay?" she said. Odin was staring at her, and it was unnerving, so she had a perfect right to get a little annoyed.

"You are Loki's soulmate," Odin said. Skye blinked.

"Say what?"

"You are his soulmate."

"That's… impossible. I mean, yeah, the soulmark is weird, but—"

"Show me."

"…No. Not if you're not gonna say please."

Odin's frown deepened, but Skye stood her ground.

"Very well," he finally said. "Please show me your mark."

"That's better," she said, rolling up her sleeve. She showed the Asgardians her mark, and they leaned in close.

"Would you like to see a translation of the words?" Odin said softly.

"I would, thank you."

He waved his hand, and 'It cannot be you. A mortal? Impossible' appeared for a few seconds. Just long enough for her to read. She backed off.

"I met him once," she said. "I didn't know it was him. He had shorter hair. Then he disappeared, but he said that to me. I can't remember what I said, but he was… really in a bad way. I thought I'd hallucinated it until I saw his picture during the invasion. That's… when he'd killed you." She looked at Coulson, whose eyes had grown wide. "I swear, I had no idea. I've never been able to read this. I guess… I should've asked that professor dude, the Berserker, to see if he recognising the writing, but I usually forget it's there."

"It's not your fault, Skye," he said, patting her arm. "And Sif told us he died. I'm very sorry for your loss," he added to Odin and Thor. "And especially the queen's death. She sounded like a remarkable woman."

"She was," Thor said quietly. "However, I am stunned that your mark should still be upon you, Lady Skye, when my brother is dead. I would question whether `tis one of his tricks…"

"Perhaps we should ask Heimdall," Odin said, clapping Thor on the back. "Now you have seen that the Son of Coul lives. My Lady Skye?"

"Yes, sir?"

"If we discovered Loki to be alive, would you wish to meet him?"

"Are you kidding me?" she said, shocked. "No! He killed Coulson! I… I know it was only temporary, but he's the enemy… one of many enemies, so no. I don't wanna meet him. My last almost-boyfriend turned out to be a spy for HYDRA, and the boyfriend before that chose money over the morals he always drummed into us, and got an innocent man killed. I don't wanna go through this again, especially on a god-like level. No." She shook her head as she wrapped her arms around herself, and backed off. "Not going there, ever."

Odin studied her until she was fidgeting with nerves. Then he nodded shortly.

"Come, Thor," he said. "There is much to discuss."

"Very well, Father," Thor said, but he was still staring at Coulson. "You must disclose this to the rest of the Avengers, Son of Coul. They all deserve to know the truth."

"I'm surprised they don't already know, but I'll get onto it right away," he said. "Have a safe journey back."

"Bye," Skye said, giving them a short wave. They all watched as their Asgardian visitors left as quickly as they'd arrived. "Crap."

"I'm sorry, Skye," Coulson said.

"What're you apologising for?" she said. "None of this is your fault."

"Loki is… was your soulmate."

"And apparently an Asgardian… or whatever soulmate is for life," she said, waving her arm. "Swell."

The first weird thing was that a HYDRA cell in Europe closed down. Then another. And another. It swept through Asia, but they were all fairly covert, whoever was doing this. The Oceanic region was next. Nowhere was safe for HYDRA. And the American factions were in a panic, which was hilarious to see and easier to exploit than before. No one was sure who was picking off all of the organisation, but soon North America was the only continent which hadn't been touched by this mysterious force.

Didn't matter much. They were hiding out – maybe they knew something SHIELD didn't know? – and Skye and the rest of the team became less focussed on HYDRA and began to target other agencies and bad guys. The Avengers were less than helpful, always calling for Coulson's help, or just bugging to see him in general.

"Dude, stay away from our director, he has more important things to be doing!" she snapped on the phone one day. She didn't care who was on the other end of the line. "He'd prefer to watch Supernanny than play the role to a bunch of jerkass superheroes."

"…This is Pepper Potts?"

Skye blinked, and then cleared her throat. Coulson was lying on his sofa, an icepack on his head.

"I stand by my statement," she said. "He's resting."

"Tell whoever it is that I'm busy," he said. "If it's Fury, tell him to go fuck himself."

"I'm… not telling her that."

"Look, I'll try to keep the others off his back," Miss Potts said. "Is this Skye?"

"Yeah," she said slowly, suspicious. "How'd you know my name?"

"Thor is here. And he has Loki."

Skye put the phone on speaker. "Hang on a second. DC?"

"Yes, Skye?"

"Oh my God, Phil?"

"…Hi, Pepper."

"Um," Skye said, "can we focus on the fact that Loki is apparently with you?"

"Hello, Skye," a familiar voice purred. She sat on the floor; the chair wasn't close enough. Coulson hurried to her side and knelt beside her.

"What is he doing there?" he asked.

"Ah, Director Coulson. So glad to hear your voice again."

Coulson was ashen, and Skye regretted putting the phone on speaker. What was she thinking? What if he started to have a panic attack?

"Uh…" She grabbed the phone again and took it off speaker. "What do you want?"

"I have nearly wiped out HYDRA. I wished to know whether you wanted the traitor brought to you?"

"That… that was you wiping out all those cells?"

"Why, yes. Surely you desire to see an end to—?"

"Of course, yeah," she said. "Hang on." She hissed to Coulson. "Loki's the one who's been decimating HYDRA."

"Good," he said, still looking dazed. "I guess that makes up for stabbing me through the chest."

"I wish to make amends," Loki said. "How else may I serve you, my dear?"

"Why?" Skye blurted out. "I mean, aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"I am the trickster god."

She face-palmed. "Right. But—"

"You are my soulmate. I have waited a lifetime to find you. You intrigue me, Lady Skye. As you will not see me while I still have innocent blood on my hands, and I am attempting to… replace bad deeds with good ones."

"I'll… I'll have to talk it over with my team."

"You could bring them here!" Tony Stark called out. "Pepper wants to see Agent."

"Look, just gimme a couple of hours, okay?" Skye said. "I've gotta think about it and talk to the others. I mean, you're gonna outlive me by centuries, Loki."

"Nonsense. I will ensure your longevity should you wish to bond with me, although that simple act ought to be enough. Once I have finished destroying your enemies. If you could send a list, I would be terribly grateful. It is easier than asking Heimdall to spy upon your records now that I am no longer masquerading as Odin."

What?

"Yeah, okay," Skye said. "I'm just gonna… go now. Nice talking to you… I guess?"

"The pleasure was mine, Lady Skye."

Then he hung up, and Skye placed the phone back down carefully.

"Um…"

"We'll talk about it, Skye. Meanwhile, help me up?"

"Like you need it," she muttered.

"I do after that."

"I'm sorry," she said, helping him stand. "I should've guessed it wouldn't be great for you to hear his voice."

"He's your soulmate, Skye. I'll have to get used to it."

"No, you shouldn't," she said. "I know I wanted to stay with the team, but if Loki gets rid of the rest of HYDRA, you won't need my help as much. And if you start working with the Avengers, you definitely won't need me."

"We'll always need you."

"I can go to Asgard with Loki. You don't have to be around him—"

"No, that's stupid. Don't go to another world you don't want to visit just to make things easier for me."

"Don't you see?" Skye said, pacing back and forth. "Obviously it's destiny that I go there. It'll be safer for everyone, I'll be away from my father, I can… get control over this. I could come visit you guys from time to time. And HYDRA will be gone."

"Skye—"

"And I can be with my soulmate," she added softly. "He killed you, sir. But I always had this fantasy that my soulmate was going to be a gallant prince who'd defeat my enemies and sweep me off to his fairytale kingdom, where I'd be treated like a princess. Just an orphan's fantasy, I know, but it's sort of real. I mean, he was… maybe still is a prince of Asgard. I don't know the deal there, but he was a prince, and he's wiping out the big enemy that screwed up my life. Asgard is supposed to be like a fairytale kingdom. Maybe I'll get a happily ever after?"

"I keep losing agents," Coulson said, leaning back against his desk. "I can't stop you if you really want to go. But I'll… we'll all miss you. Try to find some… scrying pool to talk to us often, okay? When you're not being a princess?"

Skye snorted. "I could never be anything other than down-to-earth. You know that."

"I do," he said. He pulled her into a hug. "We love you, Skye."

"Love you, too, DC," she whispered.

HYDRA was gone. Skye's father was gone. Ward was in their custody, because they still didn't have closure when it came to him. But Loki had completed his main objective, and Skye was heading back to Asgard with him, this time with the real Odin there, and Thor and the teams waving them off. Skye held on tight to her soulmate's torso as they shot through the Bifrost to Asgard, and she nearly stumbled into a tall guy she could only assume was Heimdall.

"Yo," she said.

"Lady Skye," he said. "Welcome to Asgard."

"Uh… thanks for having me? Nice to be here?"

"Do not sound so unsure," he said. "You were meant to be here."

"Oh."

"Come, I will show you to your chambers," Loki said. Skye couldn't help dragging her feet as they entered the palace, but tried to keep her spirits up for Loki's sake. He led her into – there was no other word for it – opulent quarters. She gaped as she stared at the furnishings, wandered from room to room, and stopped in front of a strange-looking mirror.

"What's this?" she asked. "Is it like the mirror in Beauty and the Beast?"

"I am unfamiliar with that tale."

"What does it do? Can I see people with it like Heimdall?"

"No," he said.

Her shoulders slumped. "Didn't think it'd be that easy."

"What troubles you, my dear?" he asked, touching the small of her back.

"Just… I'm gonna miss my friends. They're my family. They were there when I was dying and did everything they could to save me. They've… saved me in more than one way. Then I repay them by deserting them, and… No, it's not your fault. Fate paired us for a reason."

"Skye, you are not abandoning them," he said. "If you but touch this ornamentation," he pointed to a flower at the top of the mirror, "it will present you with a way to access one of the guest floors in Stark Tower. Lady Pepper reserved it for me, and the twin of this mirror is in the bedroom there. I did not deem it advisable to leave the second mirror anywhere frequently visited."

"So…" She tried to wrap her head around this. "You're saying that I can teleport from here back to Midgard anytime I want?"

"Straight to Stark Tower. Not an ideal arrangement, but—"

She couldn't not kiss Loki after that, so she cut off his words by throwing her arms around his neck and planting one on him. He seemed surprised, but got with the program quickly enough, and she definitely would've taken it further if he hadn't stopped her before they could reach the bedroom.

"Not until after the wedding," he said. "Asgard is a traditional society."

"Damn it, Loki—"

"And I would not wish our first time to be gratitude on your part for so simple a matter."

Simple? Freaking god-aliens.

"But—"

"I would like to court you first," he said. His cheeks actually turned pink. It was adorable. "So that you will like me for more than just… this." He gestured to the mirror, and Skye nearly melted.

"As you wish," she said.

What?

Uh, zandperl asked for Loki/Skye, and Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape has been bugging me for a Loki chapter, so here you are, m'dears!

And please review, everyone! Not entirely sure about this chapter, because unless I make things extremely non-canon with Loki, it's hard to come up with believable ways to pair him. You know, without having to go the redemption route like I usually do in these stories.