Note: Usual spoilers for the latest episode, S02E17.

"Open the Bifrost"

"I need a breath of fresh air," Jemma told the guard. Prison guard, she may as well think of him.

"Arms out, legs apart," he said. She narrowed her eyes, but complied, and tried not to fidget as he patted her down, checking for weapons. Of course he wasn't going to find anything dangerous, and certainly not Fury's toolbox. After all, that was with Fitz. And she couldn't tell May that the real toolbox was on the way to a man they didn't seem to trust anymore.

Well, too bad. She was on Coulson's side, and she had to find him, and Fitz, and make sure they were all safe.

"Where are you going, Jemma?" Bobbi called. She hesitated at the threshold, and then looked back over her shoulder.

"Just for a quick walk," she said.

"I'll come with you."

"I'd rather not."

"What're you keeping from us?" Bobbi asked, walking closer.

"N-nothing," Jemma said, stepping backwards. "I've just been checked over."

"I'm not saying that it's a concealed weapon. Just that you're hiding something."

"I suppose you're terribly familiar with the concept," she snapped. "Leave me alone. I want some time to myself where I don't have to fear being spied upon."

Then she flounced off with as much indignation as she could muster. A pity she had to leave her things behind, but there was no way they'd allow her to leave like Fitz. If she quit, it would look suspicious after her compliance to date.

But of course things could never be so simple. The minute she was out of sight, she heard the first guard call for the others to search for her, in case she ran.

So she ran. Honestly, did they expect any different? Good thing she'd worn her sports shoes, and that she'd kept up the exercise routine she'd established while undercover at HYDRA. It came in handy as she pelted between trees, through shrubbery – what a time to think about Monty Python! – until the voices came too close. There was a stitch in her side, and she briefly wondered just how far she'd run. Judging by the low hum of an engine, far enough for them to send a Quinjet to look for her. If she wasn't so terrified, she'd be proud of herself.

Oh dear. What to do next? Where could she go? There was no way of contacting any of her allies on Earth…

So don't stick to Earth, she thought to herself. With a grin, she sprinted towards the clearest patch of land she could find. Certainly, the Quinjet may land there. But there was no tracker on her, and she'd ditched her card. She ran to the middle and looked at the sky.

"Heimdall, open the Bifrost!" she screamed. "Please, help me!"

"She's this way!" Jemma whirled around, clutching her chest. They were coming for her. There was no—

Then there was a burst of colour and light around her, and she was hurtling through the air with nothing to hold onto. Not until it stopped, and she fell into someone's arms. She shrieked, staring around, until she realised she was no longer in a forest. The arms holding her were dark, and clad in armour. She looked up into golden eyes, and gasped.

"H-hello," she said. "Are you Heimdall?"

"You called for assistance, Jemma Simmons."

"You know me?"

"I would not have assisted you had I not recognised you as one of the Lady Sif's allies."

"W-where am I?"

"On Asgard, my lady."

"I… I see." She looked around, marvelled at the shiny surroundings, the stars in the heavens, and blushed when she realised that she was still clinging to Heimdall. "I'm so sorry to bother you."

"Do you wish to see Lady Sif?" She nodded. "You handled the journey to Asgard remarkably well, Lady Jemma."

"I'm… I'm not a lady—"

"You are an ally of Lady Sif, and thus of Asgard," he said, holding her hand as he led her down from a platform. "Are you the healer?"

"Well, I'm certainly a doctor, although not quite—"

"Would you prefer Healer Simmons?" he asked.

"That… that would be rather nice, actually," she said, smiling up at him. "Thank you for rescuing me, Heimdall."

"I am concerned that you required rescuing."

"I wouldn't have tried calling you unless it was serious."

"Come with me. I will take you to Lady Sif."

"Unless you could send me straight to Director Coulson?" He shook his head. "I didn't think so."

"I can find him for you."

"Yes, please do."

Sif was in the court of Asgard, speaking to… it must have been Odin. Jemma wanted to hang back, but Heimdall brought her forward. Sif's face lit up when she noticed them.

"Lady Jemma!" she called. "What brings you to Asgard? Is the Son of Coul with you?"

"Hello, Sif," Jemma said. She wished the woman was the type to hug. Right now, she felt like a bit of physical comfort. "I wish I knew where Director Coulson is, but I'm afraid I don't. Quite a lot has happened s-since you left." She squeezed her eyes shut, bowed her head. "Calling for otherworldly help was a bit of a last resort."

Sif tilted her chin up, and Jemma opened her eyes and saw the warrior's smile.

"I am glad that you feel you can come to Asgard for aide," Sif said. "How is Skye?"

"I have no idea. She's missing." Sif's smile fell.

"That is unfortunate," she said.

"I don't know where any of them are!"

"Calm yourself, Healer Simmons," Heimdall said. "I will do what I can."

"O-only if you have the time. But thank you, Mr. Heimdall."

"Just Heimdall, my lady," he said, bowing over her hand. "Until later."

As he left, Sif wound an arm around Jemma's waist and led her towards the throne.

"Sire, this is Jemma Simmons, one of the Son of Coul's people," she said. Odin's sole eye was focused squarely on Jemma. She twisted her fingers together.

"Do I curtsy?" she whispered to Sif. The woman laughed.

"Bow, Lady Jemma," she said. Jemma quickly followed her instruction, and was relieved when Odin smiled. That relief disappeared when he stood, and began to walk down the stairs towards them. Sif seemed perfectly at ease, but then she understood court etiquette, and Jemma certainly did not.

"A pleasure to meet you, Healer Simmons," he said, clearly following Heimdall. He held out his hand, palm up. "Any friend of Lady Sif is a friend of Asgard."

"Thank you, your highness," Jemma said, putting her hand in his. As soon as she made contact, there was a prickling at the base of her spine. It became quite strong, and she squirmed.

"Is there a problem, Healer Simmons?" he asked.

"N-no, your highness. Just a twinge in my back."

"Perhaps our own healers can help?" he suggested, letting go of her hand. The tickle faded, and she smiled.

"It has gone already," she said. "It's where my soulmark is."

"I am curious about how Midgardian soulmarks work," he said.

"We have words," she said.

"As do all the realms. Is it impolite to ask about yours?"

She shrugged, embarrassed. "I can't read mine. It isn't any Earth… uh, Midgardian language."

"Perhaps we can read it?" Sif said. "We know the All-Speak."

"Does that translate to written language?"

"Of course," Odin said, raising an eyebrow. Jemma blushed. Without another thought, she raised the back of her shirt, and both Sif and Odin leaned in to read the words, if they were indeed words.

"I recognise that writing," Sif said. "It is the notation of All-Speak. I believe the Lady Foster has such writing upon her skin."

"What does it say?" Jemma asked. "Does… does this mean my soulmate is Asgardian?" Odin inhaled through his teeth, and Jemma twisted her head to stare at him. "Is there something wrong, your highness?"

"'A pleasure to meet you, Healer Simmons'," Sif read aloud. "I must introduce you to more of the court while you are here, to ensure that you find your soulmate."

"Oh my… goodness," Jemma said. It was probably best not to say 'Oh my God' while here. "How can that be?"

"I do not know." Sif walked down a step. "Come, Lady… I beg your pardon, Healer Simmons. You can stay with me, unless his highness has any object… Odin's eye!" She drew her sword, staring at the king, and Jemma turned to see what was wrong.

That… wasn't Odin. He melted into a man with green eyes and black hair. He touched her lower back, and Jemma gasped as something surged through her spine, starting from her soulmark and rushing through her body. Her legs trembled, and she stared at the stranger.

"Guards!" Sif shouted. "Loki, step away from her!"

"You are my soulmate," he murmured, stroking the words. Jemma's heart pounded, and then realised what Sif had said.

"Loki?" she said weakly.

"Jemma, come to me," Sif said.

"I have heard 'Thank you, your highness' many times since taking on Odin's form," Loki said. "Becoming a king was the only way to find you. And now I have." He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. "Your are truly lovely, Healer Simmons."

"I… I…"

Then everything went black.

Jemma woke to something – hopefully someone – stroking her hair. She turned her head into the touch, exhaling through her nose. She felt lips on her forehead, and drowsily forced open her eyes.

"Good evening."

"Mmm." She blinked slowly, trying to focus. "Where am I?"

"The palace's healing chambers. My father was happy to arrange for you to stay here while you recover from your shock."

"Oh." She nodded. "You have lovely eyes."

"No one has ever told me that."

"They should have." She frowned. "Your name…"

"I am Prince Loki."

"Loki…" Her eyes widened. "You killed Director Coulson!"

"He did not stay dead, it seems."

"But he went through a terrible procedure—!"

"Shh." He covered her lips with a finger. "Do not excite yourself."

"Odin…"

"He fell into an Odinsleep… a deep sleep after the queen's funeral. Thor was not ready to assume the throne while he was so distracted by the Aether. I have kept the peace until now. He awoke not longer after your arrival here. He must have sensed a Midgardian among us, and last time one visited… it ended with my mother's death."

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm sure she was a great woman."

"The most wonderful…" He cleared his throat. "Now Odin may resume the reigns of leadership. I have been commended for handling Asgard well in his absence, leaving me free to be by your side."

She looked away. "You were still responsible for many deaths."

"Not entirely of my own volition. I… cannot possibly excuse my actions. In fact, I am rather confounded that such a woman as you should be my soulmate. You deserve someone who is not a war criminal." He stroked her hair again, and she sighed at the touch. When he touched her cheek, that itch from her soulmark resumed, and she shivered.

"Why does it feel so strange?" she asked. "It isn't anything like I expected. I've heard and read so many descriptions—"

"You are mated to a Jötun," he said. "I keep the appearance I used most of my life, because it is familiar to me, but we are from difference worlds. Is it only natural that our soulmateship is not the same as any other."

"How true," she said, her eyes growing wide. "It must be a unique case! How very intriguing."

"An inquisitive nature like mine," he said, and he kissed her hand again. "The things we can discover together, my dear Jemma."

"Loki…"

"Please let go of your reservations and grant me a chance," he begged. "I will do whatever is necessary to make reparations, to you and your director. Anyone. Tell me what to do and I will do it, Jemma. Anything."

She paused. "Where is your soulmark?"

He pushed up his right sleeve, and showed her the words written in English. 'Thank you, your highness'.

"I was always jealous of Thor, no matter how better I was at my studies," he said.

"I understand the feeling," she murmured.

"Your family?"

"Yes. Although they encouraged my studies, they disliked it when I chose to move to America. They thought I was wasting my education."

"They were wrong." He massaged her hand gently. "My obsession with the throne was already there, dormant, but it grew when the evidence of kingship appeared on my arm."

"This… this was my fault?"

"No! I am attempting to assure you that it was not your fault. The soulmark simply awakened what was already there. I became convinced that it was destiny. They should have seen that as a sign." He chuckled wryly. "My whole childhood I spoke of destiny being a foolish concept. After all, I waited hundreds of years for a soulmark. Now I wish I had shown it to my mother. She would have advised me…" He lowered his head.

"I wish I'd met her," Jemma said softly.

"She was as extraordinary as I am sure you are."

He picked up her hand and pressed his lips to it again. "Forgive me. My desire to kiss you is overwhelming."

Jemma blushed. "Oh?"

"May I court you? Or at least have hope that you may allow me to one day?"

"Oh, uh. Court me? I've never… encountered that back home. Dating, yes. But between soulmates, everything moves faster on… Midgard."

"We have more time here," Loki said.

"I won't live nearly as long as you," Jemma pointed out.

"When… if we wed, you would naturally partake of a golden apple of longevity. Think carefully, Jemma dear. We would be together much longer than any human couple. You would outlive your friends considerably. Yes, you would doubtless make new ones here, but your family—"

"Thinks I'm dead," she whispered. He nuzzled the back of her hand.

"I am truly sorry," he said. "And I will not press you for an answer now. I would be happy with anything which is not an outright rejection."

"Loki, you are my soulmate. I couldn't possibly reject you. I just… don't feel comfortable yet. Not knowing what you did, and…"

"I will do everything I can to make amends," he said softly. "Until then, do not worry. You shall be returned to the Son of Coul, and I will give you any assistance I can in fighting your enemies. Take your time considering my proposal of courtship." She nodded, and he kissed her forehead again. "Thank you, Jemma."

Eh. Can't be bothered to write more for this one. I mean, I could keep it going for ages, with Loki helping them defeat HYDRA, wooing the hell out of Jemma, fixing things with Coulson and the Avengers, and so forth. But to be honest? I'd rather just get this chapter out there to please you, my dear readers, and not leave you waiting ages for another story.

Please review! As I said in my latest 'Bonding Scenes' chapter, I've started posting a story I wrote last year, an original work of romantic fiction. It's on Fiction Press, under the name CeliaEquus. The story is called 'Stormy Weather'. Just in case anyone feels like wasting time on original fiction when they could be reading fan fiction. *Rolls eyes*