Author's Note: I also have this posted up on AO3, in case anyone recognizes it.

Set after the events of Thor: The Dark World. Partially AU.
This is not beta'd. Any mistakes are my own.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

I.

It had been a relatively normal evening for Darcy Lewis and Jane Foster, who had called it an early night once more. The last few days had been such, ever since the Dark Elves had hit Greenwich and left destruction in their wake—but England was recovering. Unfortunately, Jane was not.

That did not mean that the scientist was not trying to say otherwise, but she was not very good at masking her emotions. She had been restless and her uncertainty was clearly etched on her face. Thor had promised to return, but as the days turned to weeks that promise was beginning to look like another lie. This would not have been the first time either, and that was what really troubled Jane the most.

Darcy knew the older woman was distressed, but she knew over time things would get better as they had before. In a day or two, she'd encourage her to go on another date with whatever-his-face was—she was certain the astrophysicist would appreciate the distraction. Darcy had interrupted their initial date, but the two seemed to like each other enough and it would be good for Jane to start moving on.

However, her luck with men was almost as bad. At least when it came to grabbing the attention of someone she wished to pursue. She had caught the attention of her intern, which unfortunately she was regretting. Ian was sweet, but not really her type. She didn't want to break his heart so soon after all this, so she told him to take a vacation. Her reasoning was that everyone needed a break after the disaster with the elves, which was partially true. However, the Intern was not too keen on leaving so soon after the development of his feelings for her, but she insisted and told him that Jane needed her right now. With great reluctance, he left to visit his family in Manchester—and now, he would be back in about a week and she was going to have to let him down before he got lost completely in translation.

Why did men suddenly think a kiss meant I wanted to date you? It had been the heat of the moment and she didn't know if she would live the next moment or be killed on the spot. Not to mention that he was somewhat cute and it had been a bit of a while since she'd been with anyone. She just couldn't help herself.

Darcy groaned and ran a hand through her hair. She was definitely going to let him go before her ovaries begged her to do something else with him. It was all for the best. Right now, her main focus was helping Jane. And that was the plan she was going to stick to.

She straightened up and cracked her knuckles as she stared down at her laptop screen. She'd been sitting in her bed for the last two hours researching and reading anything she could find related to Norse mythology. The goal was to try and find a way to summon the God of Thunder, but so far there had been nothing of the like found. Her hope for a solution was quickly dispersing, but her desperation to help Jane fueled her ongoing search. Darcy just couldn't sit back and watch her friend continue to be miserable—she had already witnessed it once before and there was no way she was going to let things play out the same way again.

However, the only thing to come out of her futile search was just lore after lore. There was no summoning spell or tool or anything of the like to call upon the otherworldly boyfriend of Jane. She was stuck at square one with no solution in sight.

Darcy didn't know what to do anymore, but she didn't have time to dwell on those unfortunate thoughts. The flat was suddenly struck by a blinding flash of light, which was shortly followed by an echoing boom that caused the entire place to tremble and quake from the anomaly. Darcy shrieked in reaction as she grabbed her pillow and covered her head. It was a vain attempt to shield herself from any falling debris; but as sudden as the shaking had begun, it suddenly stopped leaving Darcy blinking with confusion until she heard Jane cry out with excitement.

The hell?

The woman's distinctive footsteps could be heard as she bolted out of her bedroom. It took only a moment before it dawned on Darcy what usually followed the sound of thunder. The brunette quickly followed chase, tossing the pillow absentmindedly behind her.

It had to be him.

And to think she had begun to doubt him, but given his track record who could really blame her?

Darcy had been quick to clamber up the metal stairwell after Jane, who had dashed up to the rooftop with unbridled anticipation. However, the intern had come to a stop when she realized that her enthusiastic friend stood in the doorway stock-still. Shouldn't Jane be running into Thor's arms right about now and snogging the crap out of him? The young girl cautiously peered beyond the petite woman's shoulder to see what was the matter.

Thor had been expectant and a relief to see, but the gangly looking man he had draped around him was not. To make matters worse, she recognized the stranger that had haunted numerous media outlets. Even without the daunting horned helmet, one could tell it was Loki. She paled. Why the hell was he here? She had been told he had died, and yet here he was on the rooftop of Mrs. Foster's flat.

However, he looked like death incarnate.

His body was completely battered, covered in dried blood and dust. His complexion was completely ashen and his obsidian hair fell limply across his gaunt face like a tattered curtain. This was the psycho that had killed hundreds of people?

"Why?" Jane managed to choke out in shock. Their reunion ruined by the homicidal god hanging off the hero's shoulder. She took a step forward, "Why is he here?"

"I could not leave him," Thor muttered solemnly as he glanced at his bruised and unconscious brother. "Please, Jane."

"You really know how to sweep a lady off her feet. Most boyfriends bring flowers, not a homicidal maniac," Darcy interjected, not at all pleased that Thor had returned with the destroyer of Puente Antiguo and the enemy of New York.

The commentary seemed to have jogged something within Jane. The astrophysicist's eyes narrowed as she took another step toward the Asgardians, "I saw him die—we saw him die. How is he still alive?"

"I will explain everything shortly. Just please, he needs assistance. Father has not been kind to him," Thor stepped towards the doorway, causing both women to step away from his path. They did nothing to stop him and watched him slowly descend inside, dragging his brother along with him.

Darcy noticed a few droplets of blood that had stained the concrete ground and stared aghast at the doorway, "What kind of fucked up family—"

"Darcy," Jane interjected, stopping her friend from going off. Darcy bit her tongue. It served him right for all the damage and destruction he had done, but she could not process how a father could do such a thing to his own son.

Jane ran a hand through her hair as she rushed back inside, leaving Darcy momentarily alone. The young intern watched Jane descend back inside before she glanced up at the cloudy sky behind her. It was late and cold. She wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to shield herself from the frigid air. This evening felt colder than it had any other night before. She didn't know if she should take this as some kind of omen, but she did not have time to reminiscence over that before she slipped back inside the flat.

Thor had not wasted any time in dumping an unconscious Loki down onto their couch. The blonde god wearily glanced over his brother, before he looked onto his girlfriend, "A word in private, please."

Jane glanced at Darcy before the younger girl waved for her to go ahead. The two disappeared down the hall into the scientist's room without another word. The intern figured they would want to talk in private, but she did not like that she had been left alone with an unconscious murderer.

Her taser would have been a comforting item to have right now, but the thing had disappeared somewhere in the Convergence and she had yet to buy a replacement. So instead, Darcy stood awkwardly in front of the former dead god and chewed on her bottom lip. He looked a lot worse than she had initially thought and was thankful that he was unconscious. Even as injured as he was, it did not mean he was any less of a threat. He was still a bad guy. Thor was insane to bring someone like him into their home. She didn't care if he was his brother—what the hell was he thinking?

Granted, the God of Mischief looked like he was lying on death's doorsteps. The only sign that indicated that he was still with the living was the slight rise and fall of his chest. Loki would have looked peaceful if it was not for the ugly bruising around his throat and a dreadfully torn up bottom lip. It looked like he had bitten down on it one too many times. She winced and instinctively touched her own with her fingers.

It also probably didn't help that his Asgardian armor he had worn during his rampage in New York was missing. Instead, he wore a torn tunic and blood crusted leather pants. Both were faded and covered with soot. He looked almost human in this bare and broken state.

She almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

But Darcy knew that regardless of his current state the man was still completely dangerous—he had taken too many lives and so much destruction had come forth from his hands. A part of her wished he had stayed dead. It would be the only way he could really ever atone for all the evil he had unleashed.

"Darcy," Jane spoke softly, placing a hand tentatively on her shoulder and briefly startling the intern who had not heard the scientist approach. The look her friend was giving her already spoke volumes that she would not like what she was about to hear. She braced herself.

"They're going to be staying with us…for some time."

"Absolutely not," Darcy made a gesture at the comatose Asgardian, "are you forgetting who he is? What he's done? I'm okay with Thor, but he's an absolute nope."

"I know my brother is not forgiven, but I beg thee to listen," Thor urged. The thunder god looked worn, tired, and desperate—which just tugged her heartstrings with sympathy. She pursed her lips, trying not to let his distressed state bother her.

"All-Father will end up killing him if he is to return. Loki has done much evil, but the punishment he is being inflicted upon is too cruel," he grasped Darcy's hand, "I know you are not pleased, but he is much different now. He saved both Jane and I."

Darcy glanced over at Jane, who stared at her gravely. A few moments ago, Jane had been just as vehement about Loki being here. It was evident that Jane had heard things in much more detail, considering she was aware of how much the younger brother both angered and scared the scientist. She suddenly felt like she had fallen into the twilight zone.

"He's only going to be here temporarily," Jane reassured as she looked at her pleading boyfriend before turning back to Darcy, "I understand if you're not happy about it and are welcomed to leave, but I would appreciate it if you would stay and help."

Darcy pulled her hand away from Thor's loose grasp. "Help?" she gestured at Loki, "Are you forgetting he can kill us at any given opportunity?"

"He will not harm you. He cannot," Thor urged, taking a step toward his brother and laying his hand on the unconscious god's forearm. His fingers brushed the golden braces around Loki's wrists. They were covered in strange runes. "These prevent him from using any of his magic. Mother made them herself."

Darcy stared at the intricately designed gold bracelets that supposedly suppressed the younger brother from doing anything wicked. It just looked like a really sturdy and expensive piece of jewelry. But, they definitely did look like something that came out of Asgard.

While the cuffs were somewhat reassuring, Darcy was still not completely convinced. "That won't stop him from strangling us."

Jane seemed to pale a bit at the statement and her brown eyes momentarily flashed in worry. However, the petite woman stomped those emotions out, "Thor said he wouldn't hurt us."

"Right," Darcy paused, "no offense, but did he not try to kill Thor? I don't buy the changed Asgardian act. Just because he saved a life once doesn't excuse the fact he's killed innocent people and won't do so again."

"He is much different than the last time he was on Midgard. Rest assured, I will speak with him about everything once he awakens. He will be on his best behavior," Thor stated in defense as he straightened himself and stared at her confidently.

"I'm not convinced, but whatever, " she grounded out annoyingly, before glancing at her boss, "I'm staying, but if he so much as looks at me funny I reserve all rights to punch him."

Thor chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling in good humor, "Of course. Thank you."

"Yes, thank you," Jane agreed giving Darcy a hug, "I promise this is just temporary."

"It better be. I'm not exactly thrilled to be rooming with the guy who tried to enslave Earth," she glanced at Loki, "what happened to him, anyway?"

Jane opened her mouth to respond, but Thor spoke first.

"All-Father has been inflicting penances for his crimes. Loki's been chained to a stone in the garden enduring venom being dripped onto his flesh for a few weeks now. That punishment is just a start. He was planning on stitching up his lips shut next," Thor stated unhappily, "Granted, Loki did try and deceived father once more, but mother would not want him to suffer like this."

"Deceive?"

Thor hesitated, choosing to hang Mjölnir by the entrance as he chewed over his next words, "After Jane and I had left my presumed dead brother, he decided to return to Asgard and try to take down our father. Of course, he did not succeed."

Darcy's mouth flapped open and shut. "You said he was different! How is that any different from trying to take over Earth?"

The blonde hung his head a bit, "you are right to say it is not much different, however, he does not deserve a lifetime of punishment. He cannot atone for his sins if he cannot do anything to better himself. I believe he can change. Midgard helped me change for the better."

He lifted his head slightly and threw a knowing smile at his girlfriend, before wrapping an arm around Jane and looking at Darcy once more, "I believe Midgard can help him change too. Cruelty has done nothing to improve his character."

Darcy was stunned by how much of a gamble he was putting at stake. He was putting both Jane and herself at risk and all for the sake of helping his brother. Granted, she did not agree with the punishment being inflicted upon him either, but there was no way she can accept his presence here. There would be consequences for this, that much she knew. How could the character of someone so vile, be fixed? She could not understand how Thor could come to such a conclusion. Could he not understand that evil people cannot be changed?

Or maybe she was not seeing the complete picture? The thunder god had convinced Jane somehow that Loki wasn't all that evil. Just maybe, there was more than she was being told but she could always find out later. Maybe when Loki is gone. They did tell her that he would only be here temporarily.

As much as she wanted to argue with him, she was tired. She ran a hand through her brown hair as she began moving back to her bedroom, "Fine. Maybe some Midgardian therapy will somehow help him become less of an ass."

It was either that, or she'll end up screaming, "I told you so!" just before Loki murders them all.

Author's Note: I decided to try something different. It sounds a bit out of character that Jane agreed to letting Loki stay, but I promise more information will be revealed later on as to why. I however, truly believe Thor would think such a thing when it comes to reforming Loki—it may not seem so due to their scene in Thor: The Dark World when Thor speaks to Loki in the dungeons, but I believe he saw the possibility when Loki saved them from the Dark Elves.

However, I believe Loki's initial reasoning for helping Thor had been for his own personal agenda—but the plan for saving them just happened due to the fact that he did not want to lose the only other person who has ever cared for him. He had already lost his mother and while he would never admit it out loud, Thor is the only person he cares about since his relationship with Odin is far from ideal. The scene between the brothers on the skiff spoke volumes and I feel like Loki has a lot of regret in his heart but he does not know how to cope, but rather knows how to dig himself a deeper grave. Such is the case with him trying to take the throne. He is too fueled by his hate to see anything else clearly.

Thor is constantly being painted as some kind of idiot, when in reality I think he is a lot more perceptive than people give him credit for. Loki is his brother and while his brother has done heinous things, he has grown up at his side to know there is some good in him. The two share a trait of letting their emotions get the best of them, but I feel like Loki has not learned how to get past it like Thor had with his self-righteousness in Thor.