*Author's Note: Holy crap, it's been so long! I am so sorry! I can give you guys a whole list of excuses of why I haven't had time to write, but the major things my husband and I have had to deal with is a cracked foundation in our home and my parents. We helped them move, then some drama happened, and I honestly don't know how my relationship with my mom will turn out, so I'm sorry for any awkward story bits. But that's enough boring stuff from me. You guys are awesome for your patience! Happy reading!*

Earth: Providence [Location Remains Undisclosed by Director Fury]

Aura sat in front of the mirror Agent Koeing had given her, housed in a beautiful frame of artificial gold. LT had been so excited in finding a gold mirror, she didn't have the heart to tell the Midgardian it wasn't real gold. She honestly had no idea gold could be fake, but she had spent so long around it in Asgard, she knew whatever was on the mirror wasn't real.

She also wasn't sure why Agent Koeing insisted on getting her a mirror. No one had made a big deal about her having one before. None of the serving class were allowed any mirrors, big or small. It kept them from becoming vain, as Odin put it. She had never seen a clear reflection of herself until the day LT brought this in and set it up in her room by the foot of her bed.

Her eyes lifted to the mirror. It was still so strange to be able to see herself. To see her face, her eyes, her hair, and the specialized jumpsuit she wore so her clothes wouldn't catch fire should she have an episode. She was embarrassed and curious all at the same time, and she wasn't sure which emotion was the correct one. Mostly because she didn't know how to evaluate herself.

Would she be considered fair? Considered ugly? Did people think she was pretty? Or did no one care to look at her? Was she supposed to consider herself pretty? Or was it more appropriate to think herself ugly?

These were all questions she never dealt with before. And not that they were bad questions. She just didn't know the answer to them.

However, she knew one thing. She wanted to look pretty now.

Aura watched her cheeks redden in the mirror, and she lowered her gaze with a giggle. She didn't know why she suddenly desired to look nice; she just wanted to do it. There were a few ideas she had of what would be considered pretty.

After Director Fury had left, Agent Koeing had asked her if she wanted anything. She said flowers. Unfortunately, she was told they weren't in a place that produced real flowers, so the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent went out of her way to give her fake flowers, which lay beside her on the bench in front of the mirror.

LT had called them silk flowers.

She picked one up and gently rubbed a petal between her thumb and forefinger. It certainly didn't feel like silk. She had felt Midgardian silk before, and while it wasn't nearly as fine as the Asgardian equivalent, it felt better than the flower. Were there different types of Midgardian silk? That would make sense.

Whatever the case, it didn't bother her. These silk flowers were just as beautiful as real ones, and she still couldn't believe Agent Koeing found some for her. Humming a classic Asgardian tune, she began weaving the plastic stems of the flowers into a crown.

Aura had moved to braiding her hair when a light knock sounded on her door. "You may come in."

LT entered and stood right inside the doorway, her reflection clearly visible in the rectangular mirror. She chuckled at the faux crown on the Asgardian's head. "So that's what you wanted flowers for?"

The partial elf's face reddened. "Do you think it's okay? I know servants aren't supposed to wear anything resembling royalty, but Queen Frigga used to make these for me and let me wear them for a short period of time."

The agent laughed some more. Despite the sadness in her eyes. "Of course it's okay. You're not a servant here. I know it doesn't seem like it, but you're free to do what you want."

Aura nodded and looked down at her hands she placed in her lap. "Do you think it's…vain?"

"No. It's not a crime to want to look nice. Why would you ask that? Is it because of the mirror? If it upsets you, I can have it removed."

"Oh, no, the mirror is fine. I'm honestly not sure what to make of it, yet, but it's okay. It's just on Asgard…well, you know."

LT moved to the bed and sat down on it. "I do know. But you're also not on Asgard anymore, and from my understanding, you haven't been on Asgard in quite some time. You're free here. You were given the chance to start a new life."

She played with the crimson ends of her hair. "I wasn't ready to start a new life here. I was so close to having a better life there."

The agent winced at the response. "Is this why you were so excited to see the picture of the hammer?"

"Yes. If Thor hasn't gotten to it or called it to him, it means he's in some kind of trouble. And whenever he's gotten himself into trouble, Loki's always been there to help him out."

She nodded in understanding. "So, you're thinking if Thor is here, then so is Loki?"

"Yes."

LT looked toward the door then shook her head. "Do you know where Thor is right now? If he's near his hammer, he's thousands of miles away from this base. Do you think they can find you here?"

Aura's gaze returned to her reflection. "Thor can't, but I know Loki can. Then we can finish building the life we were meant to have."

"Aura, I hate to sound mean, but have you considered that maybe it's time to move on from that part of your past?"

Her attention snapped to the Midgardian. "What? W-what do you mean?"

Koeing shrugged. "You cling so tightly to your past, it makes you miserable. I think it's what's causing your nightmares. Have you considered letting Asgard go?"

"I don't, I don't understand. Asgard is my home. Loki is my love. How can I let them go?"

"We have a saying here: if you love something, let it go. I don't think you're seeing the harm you're causing yourself by holding on so tightly. Maybe…maybe they let you go."

Aura's chin quivered, and she bit her bottom lip. "Perhaps." She rubbed at her eyes, trying her best to be brave. "I didn't mean much there. It would have been for the best."

LT ran her hands over her face and moved to stand behind the other woman. "I only mean that you need to stop putting so much faith in them to save you. Remember what I told you before? You have the ability to save yourself. And you can do it without using fire."

She nodded. "I'll try to remember."

The agent's lips formed a thin line. However, she soon offered a smile. "You said you wanted to look pretty, right?"

Aura's deep blue eyes lifted. "Is that okay?"

"Of course, silly. I can put your hair in a fancy up-do while keeping all your nice braids and flowers. Would you like that?"

She brightened. "I've never had my hair put up before. You can do that?"

"Honey, I grew up in a house full of boys. I had to learn how to do my own hair. We'll have you done in a flash. Tell me something, though. Why did you request to have your jumpsuit dark green? It kinda clashes with the orange and red you got going on in your hair."

The Asgardian's cheeks warmed once more. She played with her fingers. "Well, i-it's Loki's color."

Koeing rose a dark brow. "His color?"

"Yes. The color he typically wears. Queen Frigga's is teal and light blue, Thor's is red, and Loki's is emerald. It separates them as individuals."

"Okay, that makes more sense. I thought you just meant it was his favorite color." Then she grinned as she continued fixing Aura's hair, removing the bobby pins holding back her curls to use for the other. "Is he the reason you wanted to look nice?"

The half elf's gaze shot up, and her entire face reddened. "O-oh…oh, I don't know about that. I just, I only wanted, I don't know. I'm sorry."

LT released a hearty laugh. "You're quite alright. Even though you're as smitten as can be. You know that, right?"

"Oh, I don't know about that."

"Yes, you do. You've admitted to loving him before. It's no secret. What's your color? To separate yourself as an individual?"

Aura looked off to the side. "Well, my serving class wore mostly silver. We had sashes tied around our arms that were two shades of blue and rimmed in gold. It designated us to Queen Frigga's handmaidens. They were the ones who trained us. We didn't have individual colors."

The other woman gave a small nod. "I see. But, voila. You're done. You now have an individual hairstyle."

"That didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would."

"I'm a secret agent. I had to learn how to do everything in a rather timely manner. Now, go on. Look at yourself and tell me what you think."

Aura glanced at the agent in the mirror before studying her own reflection. Her tri-colored hair was swept behind her in a style reminiscent of the higher classes in Asgard. A few strands of shorter layers were left around her ears, naturally curling at the ends. The flowers woven into her braids.

Her head slightly tilted as a smile played with the corners of her mouth. She had never imagined what she would look like outside of her required servant attire. Even during all her time spent on Midgard, she hadn't considered changing her appearance with something as trivial as doing her hair differently.

However, she couldn't help but like it. She didn't know why, but she did, indeed, like it. "Am, am I pretty?"

LT leaned in so her head was next to the other woman's and squeezed her shoulders. "You are very pretty, madam."

Aura giggled. "I hope Loki thinks I'm pretty."

"Hun, what do I keep telling you? You don't need to put your hope in other people. You need to start putting your hope in yourself. Own the fact that you're gorgeous. I do."

Her tone dropped. "But I need that hope to stay alive."

Agent Koeing's brows furrowed in the mirror. "What do you mean?"

"I would rather die than lose hope someone is coming for me. I can't put my hope in myself, because if I try to free myself, it means I'll have to hurt people, and I can't do it. I can't hurt people. I've hurt enough since I've been banished here."

"Aura, that's not what I meant."

"LT, I hate it here." Her voice suddenly rasped with desperation. "I love Midgard, but I hate it. Ever since I've been here, I've been alone. I've been stuck in a time pattern that is agonizingly slow. I've been forced to watch people die. I've been forced to kill people. I have yet to meet a single person I can relate to on a personal level because I'm so scared of everyone in this Realm. Midgardians love to kill things they don't understand."

The agent assigned to Providence took a deep breath.

The Asgardian continued, tears streaming down her face. "I was unwillingly stripped from my home all because I chose love over ignorance. Being a servant had its downs, but I was happy there. I was given small allotments of food. I was given a simple bed to sleep in. Even though we weren't allowed to form close relationships, I was always around someone. Multiple people. Here…it's the same here, I suppose. Except I'm not happy."

LT blinked a few times. "You're not entirely alone here. You have me."

"I fear relying on you because with these nightmares and this other form I have no hope of controlling, I know I'm going to end up hurting you. Everything is so fragile here. Midgardians are so fragile. Loki is the only hope I have in seeing my home again. He's the only hope I have in escaping from this wretched place."

Koeing wrapped her arms around her and allowed her to cry on a shoulder. "Aura, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset. I just didn't want you to stay in this trap of seeking others' approvals to justify your own existence. I'm sure Loki will find you."

Aura choked back enough tears to speak. "I don't know anymore. It's been so long. He was the last thing I saw when I was cast out, but he has no idea where I am."

"Well, you've said he's powerful, right? I'm sure there's a way."

"He has magic, yes, but I don't know the extent of his powers. He was always surprising me with a new trick he had learned. I know I keep saying I can't lose hope, but I'm fighting just to keep it."

LT gave a nod. "And that's where your nightmares are coming from. You're wrestling with your reality, and they're manifesting themselves. You see your other form as your own personal demon, so that's why you've been subconsciously resorting to it."

She sniffed. "I guess." Then she buried her head into the other woman. "I just want to go home. I hate being stuck in this little facility. Asgard's palace is so huge, I had so many places to go. I miss Loki."

"I know, Hun. Why don't you tell me how you met? Maybe that will cheer you up."

"Okay." Aura straightened and wiped her tears away. "We were small children. Queen Frigga taught all the children in the palace. Including the servant children. I remember being so scared of everybody, I sat in the back of the room, protected by stacks of books."

"You like books?"

"Uh-huh."

"I can get you some books with wonderful stories in them. That might help you keep from being bored. Continue."

"After the first few days, I kept noticing this little boy was staring at me. I thought there was something wrong with me because he was staring so. Then he finally came over and sat down next to me. He said he hated sitting at the front of everybody and would rather sit with me and the books. I was too nice to say no, so I let him stay. He didn't say much. He just liked to sit and observe everyone else like I did."

LT grinned. "That's adorable. Then what happened?"

Aura released a small smile in turn. "He finally introduced himself to me. Just his name, though. He didn't want all the other children to know his title. He never seemed to care for it. It took me some time to understand who he was. But by that time, it was too late. Odin realized what Queen Frigga was doing, and he disbanded all the classes."

The agent frowned. "Why? What was the harm in teaching children?"

"It wasn't the fact of teaching children. It was the fact Queen Frigga taught the servant children along with the higher classes. He hated the idea of it, so he saw to the end of it."

"Well, that's a bunch of bull. But you and Loki kept in contact?"

The Asgardian nodded. "He brought me new books and would see me in secret. When we grew older, his visits became less frequent, but he always made time for me when he could. He started bringing me flowers from the royal gardens, small trinkets, and extra food. We were able to keep our relationship hidden for a while." Her head sunk into her shoulders. "But…"

LT grabbed the other woman's hand. "Someone found you out?"

"Yes. It was my fault. I forgot to take off a sash he had given me. I used it to tie up my hair at night. One of the other servants noticed it and reported it. It was emerald green."

"Loki's color."

Aura sighed. "Yes. Loki and I were taken before Odin. When confronted with it, Loki didn't deny it. He fought for us. And while he was fighting, I was dragged away. His face was the last thing I saw when I was tossed out." She hugged herself. "He was so sad. There was nothing we could do."

The agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. lifted her brows. "I don't know this Odin guy, but I would like to stick a few rounds in him myself. That's ridiculous to keep people apart simply because of social status. If Loki comes to Earth, I'll make sure to reunite you with him."

She looked up. "Really?"

LT smiled. "Of course."

Director Nick Fury cleared his throat.

Aura startled, shifting her gaze to his reflection in the mirror and holding her hands to her chest. How long had he been standing behind them? Although, she didn't think she revealed anything too sensitive about her beloved.

The other woman rose. "Do you wish to speak with her?"

Fury stared his agent down. "I do." Then he turned to Aura, holding out a picture. "Can you identify this man?"

Aura swiveled on the bench. Glancing at the dark-skinned man before taking the picture.

It was of a tall blond in blue jeans and a t-shirt.

She nodded. "That's Thor. Although, I'm not sure why he's not in his armor. He wears it religiously."

Fury procured the photograph and slid it inside his trench coat. "Right now, he's in a small town. He's harassed my men. Taking them out like flies. All without the use of his hammer. I need you to think, and I need you to think real hard. What can you tell me about him?"

Aura looked to LT then down at her hands as she played with her fingers some more. "He was born to Odin and Queen Frigga not too long before Loki. He's the oldest and has been training for battle since he could walk and hold objects, so he's a master fighter. The tales of his victories across the Nine Realms could keep anyone entertained for days on end. He likes to attack first and ask questions later."

The director crossed his arms. "I noticed. Does he have any diplomatic skills?"

"Not that I've seen. Loki is better at it than he. That's why they're usually found together. Thor smashes his way into a situation, and Loki talks them out of it. They're good brothers."

"So if we approach Thor in a peaceful manner, he'll immediately attack?"

"I'm not sure. Thor can be…moody. It's clear to anyone he's Odin's favorite, so he's allowed to get away with almost anything."

Fury sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Great. We're dealing with a spoiled, rich brat who can take out a small army of men without breaking a sweat. What's the best way to bring him down?"

The Asgardian's eyes lifted. "I don't know if you can. I've never heard of anyone doing it."

LT leaned against the tall dresser in the corner of Aura's room. "Was he nice to you and the other servants?"

She shrugged. "He didn't talk to us much unless he wanted something. I've never personally interacted with him. Not even when we were children. He doesn't particularly care for us, but he was never outright mean to us, either."

The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. spoke again. "And he has no weaknesses?"

Aura looked at him. "Not being able to use Mjolnir? But he sounds like he's been doing okay without it. He's never lost a battle."

"What about magic, powers? Does he have anything like that?"

"Only with his hammer. When he wields it, he can fly and control storms, mostly lightning. I've heard people say he's scary when he goes into full raging storm mode. Which happens quite frequently because he's quick to anger."

"Fan-flippin-tastic. Not only is he a royal pain, he's extremely volatile. This is going to bode well for my agents. Thank you, Aura. If you think of anything else, have Agent Koeing call me, got it?"

Aura nodded. "I understand."

Director Fury walked out, pausing in the metal doorway. "If this Loki does show up, I'll...let you know."