________________________________

some kind of argument. She knew her son better than anyone, and could immediately sense his distress.

However, her other son was also distressed.

"Thor is in Asgard?" Alex was the first to speak.

Loki's eyes narrowed. "You stay in here."

"Don't tell me what to do." She defied.

Frigga intercepted Loki's angry stride toward Alex. "She must come. She may be able to help."

Both Loki and Alex looked to Frigga, who was sure in her words. Alex was shocked she was being considered as someone who could help. She would do so in a heartbeat. Loki, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and thought for a moment. He didn't want to risk Thor escaping with his prisoner. Hell, he didn't even know how Thor gained access to Asgard.

Unless, he accidentally left the Bifrost open.

Ignoring Loki's cursing, Frigga led Alex out of the room. They hurriedly walked, leaving him to his thoughts.

He was outraged. He was not at all surprised that Thor had made a grand entrance home, hijacking Loki's plans. He had to quickly think of a way to divert Thor from returning Alex to Earth. He would not allow that to happen, not when the scepter was at stake.

The smallest bit of hope he had was also at stake.

Alex was brought into a dimly lit room, where she saw Thor, and some unfamiliar faces. She met Thor's eyes, and he looked relieved.

"Thor," She breathed.

She walked briskly over to him, wrapping her arms around him. It was a settling feeling to be in the presence of someone from home. Even if Thor wasn't of Earth, and barely knew her, she felt safe around an Avenger. She caught the eye of the young woman with Thor. She was very small, with plain brown hair and a normal-looking outfit. Alex had forgotten what Earthly clothes had looked like, which led her to question how long she had actually been here.

"Clark, this is Jane. My, um, well--" Thor stumbled.

"It's nice to meet you, Jane. I'm Alex,"

"Thor has told me about you. I'd love for you to tell me all about the things you can do. I'm an astrophysicist myself, so documenting such an interesting phenomenon--"

"We're ready for you, milady." Two women in matching garbs told Jane, who nodded.

They helped her onto a table of some sort, and began to work on her. Gold dust particles flew above Jane, and her eyes widened in amazement. Alex, too, was taken aback by this unique technology.

"What's that?" Jane marveled.

Thor leaned to the nurse next to him and Alex. "This is not of Earth. What is it?"

Alex had yet to find out what exactly was wrong with Jane, but saved her questions for another time. Frigga watched in anticipation while the nurses worked.

"We do not know." The nurse answered, her face blank. "But, she will not survive the energy surging within her."

Alex's head snapped up. "Did you say energy?"

Her eyes met with Frigga, as if they had the same thought. What if, Alex could somehow stop this?

They tuned back in to Jane, who was asking the woman what the machine does. "Does a soul forge transfer molecular energy from one place to another?"

The woman looked impressed. "Yes."

"Quantum field generator." Jane whispered to Thor, who smiled.

Thor knew, without a doubt, that Odin would have her immediately taken back to Midgard. Fortunately for Jane, he was absent.

"Jane, what if I could somehow take whatever energy is in you, out of you?" Alex asked.

"No, milady. What is inside her, is quite lethal." The nurse spoke. "If it takes you as a host body, the effects will harm you as well."

Frigga stepped toward Jane, and gingerly placed her hand on Jane's arm. She waved it slowly, and a bright red light shined through Jane's skin. They could see the presence flowing inside her.

"Come with me." Frigga said to them.

Thor helped Jane off the table, and followed Frigga. Alex joined them, suddenly wondering where Loki was. She was not shocked that he didn't come to aid Jane. Loki wasn't the type of man to help without any alternative motivation to do so.

Alex also knew Thor might be able to return her to Earth, but there was obviously more important matters.

They were brought by Frigga into a very dark, yet large room. There was a tree-like object in the center of the room, glowing magnificently.

"There are relics that pre-date the universe itself." Frigga began. "What lies within her, appears to be one of them."

Alex looked up, and above the tree, were different glowing objects. They were different colors, yellow, blue, and green to name a few. Frigga opened a sort of book, and kept talking.

"The nine realms are not eternal. They had a dawn, as they will have a dusk. But before that dawn, these dark forces, the Dark Elves reigned absolute and unchallenged."

"'Born of eternal night, the Dark Elves come to steal away the night. I know these stories," Thor intervened. "You told them to us as children."

"Their leader, Malekith, made a weapon out of darkness and it was called the Aether. While the other relics often appear as stones, the Aether is fluid and ever-changing. It changes matter into dark matter. It seeks out host bodies, drawing strength from their life-force. Malekith sought to use the Aether's powers to return the universe to one of darkness. But, after eternities of bloodshed, Odin's father Bor finally triumphed ushering in a peace that lasted thousands of years." Frigga finished telling her story.

"What happened?" Jane asked, confused.

"He killed them all."

Jane and Alex shared a look.

"Are you certain?" Thor asked, his voice wavering. "The aether was said to have been destroyed with them, and here it is."

"The Dark Elves are dead, or so Odin believes." Frigga said.

"Does your book mention how to get it out of her?" Alex spoke up.

"No, it does not."

A silence fell upon the group. Thor grasped Jane's hand, trying his hardest to reassure her. Alex felt guilty she couldn't help Jane at all, as if her powers were only to aid herself, and not others. What were her powers for, if not to aid? Surely, the only function was not to take people's energy from them. Even if that was used for good, such as alongside the Avengers, it still unsettled Alex.

"Jane, why don't we find a place for you to rest?" Frigga broke the silence. "Thor, assist Alex back to the chambers she's been occupying,"

Thor led Alex to the outside corridor, quickly ushering her behind a pillar. He held a finger to his lips, looking around. Once he saw no one was around them, he spoke quietly.

"Are you alright? Has he hurt you?"

She thought back to when Loki slapped her. The many times they've argued, how she had tried to get inside his head to understand him. The nights she had lied awake, wondering if she would ever see Tony, or Declan, again.

"No," She finally said.

"Clark, you have no idea how I wish to bring you back to Midgard, but right now, Jane is my priority. I," He paused. It was like what he wanted to say pained him. "I love her,"

Alex's heart melted. She could see how frightened Thor was that Jane might not be alright.

"I understand. It's alright, Thor. I don't want the scepter to fall into Loki's hands, for the sake of Earth. I've been trying to.." She tried to find the right word. "Befriend him."

Thor let a chuckle escape his lips.

"Befriend my brother? I'd love to see the day."

"He's hurting, I think. He just needs someone to be there for him. I don't believe he wants to do evil, but he feels he has no choice."

"There's always a choice." Thor scoffed.

Alex shrugged. "He'll come around."

Thor sighed. "Well, I should check on Jane. Can you find your way back to your chambers?"

"I'll manage. You go."

Thor squeezed her shoulder gingerly, leaving her alone. She watched him walk, her eyes on him until he turned a corner. Turning around, she began to walk back to Loki's chambers. She was, however, interrupted by almost running into someone.

There, standing in front of her, stood Loki.

________________________________

𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎 :)