Chapter Text
Loki stood in shock in Asgard’s observatory, letting his father's and brother's yells wash over him as he thought.
How did his skin not burn when he was touched by the Frost Giant? Was he cursed? Was it an intimidation tactic?
No, the giant was as shocked as Loki was when it happened. As far as Loki knew that there was only one thing could survive a Frost Giant's touch.
Impossible! That would mean that Loki's mother and father had hid things from him, lying to him for a thousand years.
That would mean that Loki was a Frost Giant.
Before he could panic, Loki's attention was snapped back to his family where Odin was shouting to his son that he would be banished.
Loki could hardly react when his brother was pulled through the Bifröst, staring at the space he once stood with terror.
With Thor gone, what would become of Loki after his discovery? How could he remain in Asgard when the one person he trusted was sent to another realm?
Acting on instinct, Loki threw himself in the portal, following his brother on another adventure.
*****
Loki couldn't help but snort when he landed just in time to see Thor get hit by some large transport vehicle. Loki himself was able to simply step to the side as the vehicle continued to careen out of control. After he was sure that the metal beast wasn't going to make anymore attempts on his or Thor's life Loki strode over to where his brother lay groaning in the dirt. Loki rolled his eyes at the dramatics.
"Really, brother," Loki chided as he knelt next to Thor, "that couldn't have been worse than that time with the Griffins, could it?"
Before his oaf of a brother could form an answer three humans fell out of the vehicle in a rush, rapidly forming apologies.
One woman who appeared to be the leader of the party knelt in the dirt next to Loki, begging Thor not to be dead.
Loki huffed a laugh at her frantic pleas, "Don't fret, my brother has faired far worse. Despite his mortal form at the moment, he shall be fine."
It seemed that the moment he spoke was the moment everyone else realized that he was there, judging by the look of surprise on the woman's face next to him. He watched in curiosity as she took in his appearance as well as Thor's, but quickly distracted by the Bifröst runes etched in the hard ground.
Thor chose that moment to rise, grunting his displeasure at his weakened state and his loss of Mjölnir. Loki's idiot of a brother began shouting at the sky, demanding that Heimdall and Odin open the Bifröst and bring him home.
The whole situation really devolved into chaos from there.
The woman who had originally knelt on the ground with Loki was now frantically taking notes on the runes in the dirt, shouting at her companions about gathering samples and readings.
The older man who was with her began to try to coax this woman away from Loki and Thor, unnerved by Thor's shouting and his growing anger.
The third member of the human party, Loki noticed, was younger than her other companions and holding what appeared to be a mechanical torch, never letting the light stray from Thor and his agitated pacing.
Clever girl, he thought, always keep your eyes on the threat.
Unfortunately, Thor turned his ire on the young woman when she shouted to the older man that Thor was "freaking her out." Loki watched as she pulled some weapon out of her pocket, a small red targeting light finding its mark on Thor's chest. Faster than Loki could track, the woman fired her weapon that launched small projectiles which embedded themselves in Thor's skin. All at once, Thor began convulsing erratically before collapsing back onto the desert floor. A final few sparks of electricity flew, making Thor’s leg twitch comically.
Loki's gaze darted between his felled brother and the small mortal woman, trying to piece together the fact that Thor, the mighty God of Thunder, was defeated by a Midgardian weapon that shocked its victim with electricity.
Beaming at the woman who was now reloading her weapon, Loki couldn't help what came out of his mouth next.
“Oh, I think I'll like you."
*****
No one seemed to know what to do once Thor was down. The older woman was still taking her notes while the man kept the younger woman behind him as if to keep her safe, yet she still trained her weapon on Loki over his shoulder.
"Alright, who are you and where did you come from?" The young woman's voice was steady, seemingly nonplussed by the fact that she had to discharge her weapon, her hands and eyes steady on her target. Clearly, she would have no qualms taking Loki down as well.
Slowly, Loki raised his hands to show that he was unarmed. Of course, he could subdue and disarm each mortal with his magic if he so wished, but if he was to remain with his banished brother on this realm for some time, it would be best to make some allies.
"My name is Prince Loki of Asgard, and that heap of man besides me is Crown Prince Thor, my elder brother."
There was a few moments of silence before the gentleman and the younger woman spoke at once, "Bullshit."
At the same time, the researcher snapped her head up at his words, for apparently she was more open minded than her companions.
Loki tuned out her rapid-fire questioning, keeping his gaze on the feisty woman who had not lowered her weapons. For now, Loki would assume that she was in charge even though he was certain it was the older woman who led her party into the desert.
"May I know your name? I would love to know the name of the mortal woman who felled my brother with his own element."
This reminder that she did in fact take down a man twice her size made the woman smirk, mischief in her eyes.
Ah, he thought, this is a woman after my own heart.
"Darcy. This here is Dr. Erik Selvig, and the woman crawling in the dirt is Dr. Jane Foster.”
“What brings you all out into the desert, Lady Darcy?”
Darcy blushed lightly at the honorific, but snorted in a very undignified manner at Loki’s question.
“I feel like that is a question that should be directed at you, stranger.”
He nodded since her logic was sound. After all, he was the one who did not belong on this realm. Or the Realm Eternal either, it seems. Loki shook the thought from his mind, focusing on the older woman who had begun to speak.
“I’m studying a phenomena that I’ve been observing in the night sky for some time,” Dr. Foster began, “I’m researching the abnormalities to find their source, which I’m hoping will lead me to discovering a way to create my own Einstein-Rosen bridge. A wormhole,” she clarified at his look of confusion.
“Ah, so you wish to create a Midgardian Bifröst?”
At her own look of confusion, Loki very pointedly looked at the runes they knelt in. The doctor smiled beautifully as she understood and began writing her notes again with even more fervor.
Again, Lady Darcy and Erik spoke simultaneously.
“Bullshit.”
Loki had grown tired of their stubbornness and with a heavy sigh he took the risk of teleporting directly behind Lady Darcy. The mortal spun much faster than he anticipated and only managed to save himself from his brother’s fate by grabbing the weapon and aiming it away from his chest before she could discharge it again.
Raising one sardonic eyebrow, he looked between the three mortals.
“I hope by now you realized that I have knowledge of things you do not. It would be wise not to underestimate me.”
Erik looked as if he was desperately fighting the urge to flee, Dr. Foster was rambling to herself far more quickly than Loki could follow about possible theories, but Darcy’s reaction pleased him most of all.
While his hand remained on her weapon Loki felt her grip slacken the slightest bit as her jaw dropped in shock. The god was pleasantly surprised when he met her gaze.
Lady Darcy did not have one ounce of fear in her eyes. Rather, her awe-filled stare also carried a heavy dose of respect. The thought had him smirking at the woman, knowing that while she would no longer be underestimating him, he too would have to be sure to pay her the same respect.
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