The gathered mass greeted the golden prince of Asgard as he entered the large throne room.

On the bottom of the stairs, just few feet in front of him, Loki offered his hand to their mother; to lead the queen the length of the room towards the second set of stairs on top of which sat the golden throne of the Realm Eternal.

Odin already waited, sitting one last time on the throne that was his for over three thousand years. His posture proud as he watched his youngest proudly walk with his head held high beside his mother. It was obvious in the last several days, after Thor traveled to Midgard to retrieve his brother, that Loki no longer fit on the realm that was his home for centuries. But it seemed his younger son had no problem with that, and Odin knew lady Jane Foster was the one responsible for that.

The woman Frigga had all those years ago foresaw as their son's savior had accomplished just that.

Now the young astrophysicist stood among the gathered crowd, just left of the stairs, dressed as an Asgardian lady. But the curious looks and few glares sent in her direction served as a reminder she did not truly belong.

Perhaps someday she would, but not just yet.

Odin wasn't the only one who noticed the attention Jane was getting.

While Thor was receiving a blessing and the title of the king of Asgard from their father, Loki inconspicuously observed the crowd. It was perhaps rude that he wasn't listening but he knew the speech of the kings well; he read it as a child in one of the large tomes in the library.

He cold see the looks both he and Jane were receiving. And while he was mostly used to them, being different in both appearance and due to his magic. But Jane was obviously uncomfortable.

Dressed in lovely cream gown decorated in gold Jane looked like a goddess in Loki's eyes. He could not wait for this nonsense to be done and over with so he could tell her how beautiful she looked. He would have done it earlier but his mother commandeered her away the entire morning.

Loud clapping caused Loki to finally focus back on his brother who received Gungnir from their father and sitting on the throne for the very first time.

It was an end of an era.

Loki hoped the realms were ready.

"I take it you have not told your brother about your decision to return to Midgard with Jane." Frigga said as she approached Loki the moment the formal part of the crowning was finished.

"If I have he would have already come to you to complain about it and demand you make me change my mind." Loki muttered, "He is a king now... if he is not ready to rule than father should not have crowned him yet."

"He is ready..." Frigga's words and a soft touch on his arm made Loki stop before he walked away in search for Jane, "... but you are his brother and he wished for you to be by his side."

Loki shook his head, bitterness entering his voice, "What Thor wants is to me remain exactly where I was for centuries... safely tucked away in his shadow."

"Loki, no!" Frigga tried to convince her son otherwise but he had already walked away, not wanting to hear what she had to say. And she understood him, understood why he felt that way. And it pained her.

And while Frigga focused on the past Loki focused on the future; his future.

He saw Jane exiting the hall in haste. Even from the distance he could see she looked distressed and it angered him. Someone dared to upset her! Someone made her sad!

Someone will pay!

As Loki was walking towards the side door from the hall he noticed several of the courtiers looking rather pleased with themselves. One of them was quite familiar to him, after all he had to fix the mess she caused during delegation visit from Alfheim some decades ago, when she tried to seduce a mated elf.

With a quick flick of his hand the incarnate gold stitching changed into large yellow feathers, the kind the odd Midgardian big bird on the television show for children had. But this time he didn't linger to enjoy the results of his mischief, and instead followed after Jane.

It was surprisingly easy for him to track her down. He did not even need to utilize his magic.

Loki knew Jane Foster by her scent.

And that is how he found her in what was probably the last location he expected she would be in. But at the same time it made perfect sense.

If there was one place on Asgard where she would feel and be safe- it was his chamber.

"I'm sorry I took off like that. It was rude of me. Thor-"

"My brother is no fool... most of the time..." Jane laughed weakly at Loki's attempt as humor, "He will know they made you upset by my reaction. I rarely cause mischief at important gatherings."

The look of disbelief Jane was sending him made the demi-god laugh. He was lying and she knew it. But then again this time his lie was painfully obvious.

"I felt unwelcome... It's stupid, cause your parents made it very clear I was welcome in Asgard at any time."

"It's not stupid, Jane." Loki approached her slowly, his face sombre. He knew exactly what she meant, how she felt, "Even though I am a prince, even though Frigga and Odin recognize me as their son, I am not perceived as such by most of the people you saw in the throne room today. It's been like this since the day my true nature was revealed."

"But you are the same as you were before it was a known fact you are actually a Frost giant!" Jane snapped. For all it's beauty Asgard was not as lovely as it appeared; its people and their prejudices tainted the gold of the Realm Eternal.

"I stood out before too. But I was tolerated... now..."

"I truly believe you will find a place for yourself on Earth." Jane said softly and Loki's eyes widened as he looked at her. The small smile on her face, the honesty in her gaze, the blush that was spreading over her cheeks.

She looked so beautiful right now.

That was when Loki decided it was time, despite knowing he was taking a big risk.

She could react in the same way everyone else would. She could call him a monster and leave. She could avoid him and return to Midgard alone. She could inform him she never wishes to see him again.

That last one would break his heart.

But the younger prince of Asgard had faith in Jane. Jane would not run or hide, would not abandon him or see him as anything other than Loki.

It was a strange sight. The more of his visible skin started to show its true color, the larger the smile on Jane's face was. Until Loki blinked and now blood red eyes gazed into wide brown ones.

And a gasp escaped his lips as strong arms wrapped themselves around his torso. And a single tear escaped his eyes as his hands found their way around this fragile mortal who accepted him.

"You look beautiful tonight." Loki whispered in Jane's hair the words he planed to say before and she smiled.

A single loud knock on the wooden door was the only warning they had before the doors opened and Thor walked in, now without a helmet on his head and Gungnir in his hand. Both were left on the throne before he excused himself to seek out his brother.

It was unheard of the king to leave a feast like that, especially one held in his honor, but Loki was more important to Thor than ancient customs.

Loki and Jane reluctantly let go of each other, something that brought a wide smile on the new king's face. He did not believe they had already confessed but it was obvious strong feelings linked them together.

And seeing how Loki now looked as the Jotun that he is made it clear Jane accepted all aspects of his brother. It may not be love, not yet, but it was only a matter of time.

He needed to speak with certain someone very soon.

"Something you needed?" Loki grumbled. Thor and his horrible timing ruined everything.

"I wished to speak with you, with both of you... to apologize for what happened. Father had made it quite clear Jane is a guest of the royal family. I never expected someone would dare-"

"What you witnessed today is rather similar to things that happened before." Loki could see the confusion on his brother's face and it caused him to sigh. Of course Thor never noticed.

"Brother?"

"I had experienced the same things; even though I was seen as son of Odin and Frigga I was looked down on for not being more like you, I held the title of the prince but it did not stop people from mocking me for using magic. Now that is it known I am a Frost giant all my accomplishments, that I rarely got credit for anyway, mean nothing for I am nothing but a monster."

Loki felt warm fingers interweaving with his and looked down to see Jane offering her quiet support.

"It will not be that way anymore, brother." Thor said, his voice revealing the anger that bubbled below the surface, "I will make sure it never happens again that a prince of Asgard feels unwelcome in his home!"

"It matters not." Loki said calmly and, when he noticed a frown on his brother's face, added, "I will not remain on Asgard much longer, I will return on Midgard with Jane instead."

Thor opened his mouth to protest against such a decision. To remind his brother their mother will not wish to see him go. To say he will need Loki's counsel on important matters and his silver tongue when he had to deal with emissaries from other realms.

But then Jane smiled slightly and lowered her forehead on Loki's shoulder. And his brother turned to look in her direction and gently kissed the top of her head.

And Thor knew he must stop being selfish.

"SHIELD's director Fury knows about Loki's plan." Jane turned towards Thor but did not move from Loki's side, "There is a team called Avengers, made out of exceptional people that defend Earth. Once we return, if he wants, Loki can join them."

Thor looked at his brother and noticed the sadness in his still red eyes, "If I stay here I will continue to be in your shadow, now more then before. On Midgard I will have an opportunity to establish myself as Loki of Asgard... not Loki, Thor's younger brother."

"Will you use your Jotun form on Midgard?" Thor asked curiously and moments later the paleness he was used to spread over his brother's skin, the blue shade of his true form vanishing once more.

But Loki just shrugged in response.

"We can stay for few more days... or however long you need us, well Loki, here."

Thor nodded in thanks to Jane, and when Loki didn't protest that she was making a decision for him, said, "Then before you depart we must make time to discuss Asgard. Father will be here to assist me at first, but he will not be by my side forever and frankly... I trust your opinions brother. I can not simply continue to rule the same way father had, some changes have to happen."

A smile instantly appeared on Loki's face, "You have come a long way brother. Few years ago you would have believed you knew everything there is about being a king and ruling a realm. Despite the consequences I do not regret letting the Frost giants in Asgard if this is a result... a much wiser Thor Odinson."

"Despite the consequences?" Thor glanced in Jane's direction and grinned, "I would say the consequences were exactly what you needed."

Loki too looked at the woman on his right and smiled, "Yes they were."

Thor decided it was time for him to return to the feast, he had been away long enough. He knew Loki and Jane might return as well, but if they do not at least they were in good company. Although he might send someone to act as a chaperon just to cause some mischief.

"I will speak to Idunn early tomorrow morning." Thor casually said as he was exiting the chamber, "I will inform her she should expect you to visit her soon."

He did not linger to hear if Jane would question his brother about who the woman was. He needed to go back at the feast and look displeased with those who made his brother feel less.

After a restful sleep in the chamber that was designated for her the first time she visited Asgard Jane was ready to take on the world. Or at least have breakfast with the royal family.

Loki wasn't in his chamber when she knocked and peeked in. That she did not expect, but Jane just shrugged and started to walk in the direction of the great hall. But even before she reached the end of the hallway Frigga appeared out of the room and invited her inside.

At Thor's request the breakfast was served in the smaller dining room in the royal wing.

Jane sent him a small grateful smile, she could use without the curious looks and crowd today.

"You look lovely dear." now former queen of Asgard said as she took a seat opposite of Jane, "That color looks fetching on you."

A blush spread over the astrophysicist's cheeks as she looked down on what she was wearing and realized she chose a gown that was deep green in color. The shade that matched Loki's cape.

Seconds later, like he knew she was thinking about him, the trickster prince entered the room and placed an object on Jane's still empty plate before taking a seat next to her and casually wishing everyone good morning.

While Jane looked confused at the fruit, Odin and Frigga were both shaking their heard at Loki. That was not the way to do it and he knew it. But he was Loki and he did what he wanted.

Thor on the other hand started to laugh wholeheartedly, "I should have known you would go to Idunn right away. You do not waste your time brother."

Jane gave Loki a questioning look but it was Frigga who explained the meaning of the small golden apple to her, "Idunn's apple is a special fruit that grows only on Asgard. To us it is merely a source of nutrients, no a mortal like you it would gift a lifetime- our lifetime. Five thousand years and health of an Aesir."

"Oh." was all Jane could say.

"It is a rare gift. One was not granted to a mortal in my lifetime." Frigga could see Jane understood how a precious gift she had been given, "Which is why I wish my son was not so casual with it. I had raised you better than that Loki."

"My apologies mother." everyone present could hear in Loki's voice he was not sorry in the least.

"You do not have to eat it right away." Odin pointed out when he noticed the expression on Jane's face, "It is a big step to take and there is no turning back. It will not rot but is as long-lived as the person who eats it. So take your time lady Jane."

Out of the corner of her eye Jane noticed Loki moving his hand a bit and the golden apple vanished from her plate. She knew where it went, for he told her about his dimensional storage after she saw him vanishing his armor into it.

Odin's words still echoes in her head. The former king was right. It was a big step, those were a lot of years. And she only knew Loki for month and a half... Jane blinked in confusion.

It felt like she knew him a lifetime.

"Now, tell me about Midgard." Frigga interrupted the silence that surrounded them, "And about this Avengers. Quite an unusual name. What are they avenging?"

As Jane was explaining to his mother the existence and purpose of SHIELD and their team of special warriors Loki pondered about the strange turn his life took. About the chances in front of him. About the fact Frigga and Odin seemed to support his decision to travel to Midgard and live there.

Before he would presume they simply wish to get rid of him but now he knew, he could see, they only wished for him to be happy. And if moving to another realm was what was necessary for that, than they would wish him good luck and let him live his life as he sees fit.

And despite her not saying anything he knew that life would include Jane. All five thousand years of it.

Jane sat on the stone bench outside of the training grounds. It was early in the morning, the sun had just risen, and with it so did the Aesir warriors.

She was still asleep when Loki knocked on the door of her chamber, rousing her from a rather pleasant dream. If he noticed her blush he didn't say anything, apart from inviting her to join him and Thor. She had after all expressed her wish to watch them train one last time before the two of them return to Earth.

The training grounds were enormous area behind the palace, surrounded by the tall hedge fence and separated into several areas. In the distance Jane could see targets but there were no archers that practiced. It was obvious most warriors preferred swords, for most men were situated in the area where Loki and Thor were, training.

Or maybe they were only there to watch.

To watch their king show the trickster who fought without honor what it means to be a warrior.

Jane noticed the looks they were giving Loki, the looks they shared. They did not consider him a true warrior, not when he chose throwing daggers for his weapon of choice. Not when he fought from the distance and used what they considered tricks to defeat his enemy.

Loki noticed them too but remained silent.

Thor noticed them and decided to act.

"Come on brother, I am curious. How fast can you get the enemy of his feet?"

Thor barely finished the sentence when he found himself lying flat on his back, looking at the blue sky. And he laughed.

"Fast enough?" Loki asked as he offered a hand to help his brother up.

"it is cheating." one of the warriors commented, "In a fair fight-"

"If Loki is cheating by using magic, then so is Thor. Cause last time I checked Mjolnir isn't a regular hammer." Jane pointed out loudly, not caring that she would attract their attention on herself, "It's funny how warriors who considered themselves to be the best in the Nine realms know little about true power. Your steel weapons are of little use when your enemy is capable of magic and can stop your hearts before your swords left their sheaths, before you managed to lift your axes or maces."

"Jane?" Thor was slightly confused. Was his brother truly capable of such a thing?

She looked directly at the newly crowed king and sighed, "I apologize for disturbing the training but it angers me that the same men who talk about honor in a battle show no respect to a prince of Asgard. Where is their honor then?!"

Red faces looked at the ground; some in embarrassment for the mortal spoke the truth, some in rage that a mere Midgardian dared to speak in such a way.

If Thor was about to say something he never did. For seconds later Loki marched right to Jane and kissed her deeply, not caring they had the audience. Not caring that warriors were gaping at them like fools. Ignoring a whistle that came somewhere from the general direction of there Fandral was standing.

Jane sighed when they parted, already missing the feel of Loki's lips on her own. Their warmth and the taste of honey. If not for the large crowd around them she would have pulled him down for another one.

She'll do that later, in the privacy of his chamber.

And later once they are back on Earth.

Her heart thumped loudly, blush spreading over her cheeks, and Jane smiled at the Asgardian prince that looked at her like she was most precious thing in all the Nine realms.

She had no idea that to him she was just that.

The welcome committee that waited for them on the helicopter landing pad of the Stark tower was made out of Tony Stark himself who grinned widely at the sight of Loki and Jane stepping out of SHIELD's helicopter, a red-haired woman Jane knew was Natasha Romanoff but never officially met and Bruce Banner who came to New York just for this occasion.

It was not every day that Avengers get a new member.

An alien one at that.

"You don't look like E.T.." was the first thing that left Tony's mouth.

A sigh was the first thing that left Natasha's.

Doctor Banner was more polite, "Welcome back on Earth.

Tony showed them their new place of residence since they would both be staying in the Stark tower on Fury's request. The inventor didn't mind it one bit. A brilliant scientist and a demi-god as tenants in his building, that was pretty awesome.

Next stop was a rest and recreation area. Inside the large open room more people waited for them. Tony was more then happy to introduce them, in his own way.

"The lovely miss Natasha Romanoff, who you should not anger cause no one will ever find your body. Agent Clint Barton who doesn't need binoculars to spy on the hot chick in the building across. Steve Rogers, the man who refuses to lend his shield when I wanted to make mussels on the barbecue, and I found this great receipt with beer. Bruce Banner, my science bro with some serious anger issues. And me, Tony Stark."

Complete silence surrounded the gathered people, everyone waiting for someone to speak next. Eventually Tony sighed and went to the bar to get himself a drink.

Ten minutes later everyone were sitting on the leather white couches around the room, discussing the latest mission they just returned from. It was a false alarm, nothing but a bunch of college students trying to be clever until they found themselves surrounded by over two dozen SHIELD agents and the entire Avengers team. Then one of them urinated himself.

"It's not always kids being stupid." Bruce told Loki when he noticed the expression on the prince's face, "SHIELD is responsible for global security. To us mortals it is a big deal."

"I understand, and I would gladly assist any way I can."

"What exactly can you do?" Tony asked, "I heard some thing from Coulson but he was rather vague. He did however mentioned magic."

Loki nodded at the inventor, "I am a mage with many abilities. Creating doubles and changing my shape, healing both myself and others... there are some limits, some things I can not do, but I could do without them."

"You are also immortal?" the blond man that was silent till now spoke, "Or at least long-lived."

"Aesir are slower than Midgardians, but we... they age and eventually die. After around five thousand years."

Tony whistled while Bruce looked at the brunette sitting on Loki's left and frowned, "But Jane is mortal."

The Avengers looked at the astrophysicist who smiled slightly at Loki before she answered, "There is a way around that."

"An immortal prince and a mortal woman." Tony took a sip of his drink and grinned at the pair, "Sounds like a fairy tale. I have my own, you know. It started when Pepper by some miracle agreed to marry me and soon we will have a tiny Stark junior running around."

A thud from somewhere made them all look around but when nothing else happened and Jarvis, Tony's AI that ran all the systems in the building, didn't informed them of danger they continued their conversation.

"What about you doctor?" the redhead assassin asked, "With your lover on missions with us what will you do in the meanwhile?"

Jane blushed slightly at the title Loki received but didn't say anything to discourage that opinion. Instead she focused on the question asked, "I plan to continue my research. The Einstein-Rosen bridge that would, if I succeed, link Earth to the other realms."

"Well, you will have centuries ahead of you to do it." Tony pointed out, "Wish I had them too, just to see how my current project would look in let's say- a hundred years. I made him to help when I can't now that Pepper is close to giving birth. She probably won't let me play with others much once the baby s here. Used one of my older arc reactors and scrap parts from old suits for him. Not the most handsome fellow but he will do for now."

"You said it was just an idea, not that you would actually build a-" Bruce Banner stopped mid-sentence as mechanical whirling sound and footsteps approached from the direction of the staircase that led to Tony's private lab on the floor below.

Moments later a metal machine that looked somewhat humanoid stepped inside.

Somewhere behind him Loki heard Tony curse but he ignored the inventor and all the others present. His focus was this thing and Jane. If the machine showed any ill intent he would react.

Jane's safety will always come first.

"Ultron, disengage." Tony issued the verbal order that was meant to cause his creation to shut down. It failed.

"Damn it Stark!" Natasha cursed as she looked around for any viable weapon. But there was nothing she could use in their vicinity. If this thing is out of control they were fucked.

She didn't care he claimed it was probably a glitch in the program. No one did.

The sound of weapons powering was the sign of hostility Loki waited for. If that thing did nothing neither would he. But seeing it wished to harm them it needed to be disposed of.

"Weak spot?" he asked.

"Glowing arc reactor in the center of his chest."

In a heartbeat Loki vanished from the spot next to Jane and appeared behind Ultron. He didn't wait to see if it would follow orders with delay and shut down, or power down the weapon that was a part of his arm.

Jane was in its visual field and that made her a potential target.

With that thought in mind it was very easy for Loki to shed the false tint of his skin and embrace the Jotun that he was, even in front of virtual strangers.

By pure instinct a long ice sword formed around his hand and he trusted it forward, right in the center of the machine's back. A small explosion served to tell him his aim was right. He had destroyed the invention that powered Ultron and so removed the threat.

Bruce blinked in surprise when he saw the blue color of Loki's skin. He knew from their conversation the Asgardian prince wasn't actually Asgardian but from a race of Frost giants. The giants part didn't fit Loki, but the frost part was spot on.

Loki watched in shock as the mortals in the room gave him a curious glance after the empty husk of the machine slumped on the floor in front of him before they turned to glare at the man who invented it in the first place. No one said anything. No one commented on his appearance.

To them he was no monster that parents told their children about.

He was simply Loki.

Jane smiled and went to approach him but an angry looking pregnant woman stepped in between them, her hands poised on her waist, and started to shout, "Just what did I tell you Anthony?! Do you think I talk just because I like the sound of my voice? I said 'no'! No! Building a robot to serve as a global defense system is NOT a good idea!"

"Pepper, I... You need to watch on your blood pressure, you know what the doctor said." Tony tried to weasel his way out of the mess he created by changing the subject.

But Pepper Potts would have none of that nonsense. She pointed a finger at him and started to approach the inventor that matched her step by step by moving away from her.

Loki ignored the threats against Tony's life, no matter how amusing they were, to focus on the woman who now stood in front of him and smiled widely, her hand holding his still blue one.

He knew what she was thinking, for his thoughts were the same.

Here on Midgard he was accepted.

"I'm a bit hungry..." Jane mumbled, "I think I'll go to the apartment Tony said we can use and see if there is anything good in the fridge in the kitchen." she walked past him and casually added, "Some fruit perhaps..."

Loki smiled and followed silently.

He would follow her anywhere.

By the time the Avengers noticed Loki and Jane were no longer present they stood in the middle of a luxurious sitting room of their designated apartment.

Loki held Jane tightly as he tried to profess his feelings from her through a kiss. Words would come a bit later.

Jane's right hand was in Loki's soft black hair.

In her left she held a golden apple.

THE END