It occurred to me when I found the gif . . . it is really weird writing Steve without Martha, even if it's a flashback. Seriously, I'm trying to remember a time after his introduction in "The Sontaran Stratagem" where we don't see him with Martha, and I can't.

 . . . huh. Startha for life, I guess. *grins sheepishly*

Anyway, may the plotting begin! Enjoy, everyone!

Trigger warning for mentions of rape.

***

Jessie sat in her room, absently tracing the design on her bedspread when she saw a faint flicker of something on her fingers. Frowning, she brought them to her face . . . only to jump back when she saw a spark of electricity flicker between her fingertips. Gasping, she held her hands out, watching as it happened to each of her fingers, tiny bolts of lightning lancing out at her other fingers. "What the hell?" she breathed, watching them dance back and forth.

How the hell did she get this?!

The doors suddenly opened, and Jessie quickly sat on her hands, turning to see one of Thor's friends, Volstagg, enter the room, looking apologetic, two Einherjar guards with him. "Jessie Nightshade," he said. "You need to come with us."

Jessie gulped.

+++

"Protective custody," Jessie actually chuckled as they returned to the main conference room. "That's actually funny."

"Your safety is a laughing matter to you?" May raised an eyebrow.

"Um, considering we're facing a god that has the ability to teleport anywhere?" Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Protective custody is, yeah."

"Jessie's right," Thor nodded. "No matter where we place her, Loki will be able to find her, and make no mistake, he will attempt to find her again."

"Then why isn't he trying to find her now?" Grant asked, frowning. "He could be one of us, for all we know."

That had everyone looking at each other warily. "Thank you, Robot, for that idea," Skye finally broke the tense silence.

"I'm just giving ideas," Grant sighed.

"You're doing a good job of making everyone appear to be the enemy."

Jessie raised an eyebrow, looking sideways at the next closest SHIELD agent. "They aren't together?"

Jemma blinked. "No."

"Huh." Jessie considered the two, then shrugged. "Could fool me."

"Bruce and Tony are sweeping for excess signs of gamma radiation," Steve said, looking at the tablet he had on the table. "It's how we found the Tesseract last time. We find its signature, we find where Loki will be opening up the portal."

"And then it's round two?" Saleen asked.

"Round two," Clint nodded.

"How soon until Apocalypse 2.0?"

Everyone looked around the table uneasily. "Good question," Coulson admitted. "He could open it at any moment."

"He might wait until Jessie's close by," Natasha suggested. "It's her he wants."

"I'd rather not give him that," Jessie made a face.

"That makes most of us," Grant snorted. "I don't want to be fighting an enormous army of yous."

"Thank you so much, Ward, that makes me feel so much better about this."

"When you two are done flirting," Saleen rolled her eyes.

"We're not flirting," they said at the same time.

Natasha just smirked. "I have a question," Fitz raised a hand cautiously.

"Go ahead," Steve prompted.

Fitz lowered his hand again, clearing his throat. "Well . . . we know Jessie can phase through all of us and most of what's in this tower, yeah?" When he saw everyone nod, he scratched his head. "Do we know anything she can't phase through?"

That made silence descend on the group. "I can't think of anything," Jessie admitted.

"I imagine most of our weapons," Clint examined the switchblade he had in his pocket.

"I've never run into anything I haven't been able to phase through," Jessie shook her head. "Silver, bronze, gold, wood, metal - "

Steve's head came up. "What metals?"

"Uh . . . " Jessie considered. "Well, steel, definitely. Iron, yeah. That's most of the metal I can name off the top of my head."

She could almost see the gears whirring in his brain. "What about vibranium?" he asked.

***

"We are still unable to restore the palace shields," Fandral was telling Odin as Thor stormed into the throne room, bristling angrily. "Our artillery cannot detect them. Even Heimdall cannot see them. My King, we are all but defenseless."

"She's your prisoner now?" Thor couldn't help but growl as he stopped in front of his father.

Odin paused, then turned to Fandral and the other guards. "Leave us." As they left, he turned to face his son. "I do not wish to fight with you."

"Nor I with you, but I intend to pursue Malekith," Thor declared.

"We possess the Aether. Malekith will come to us."

"Yes, and you will destroy us."

"You overestimate the power of these creatures."

"No, I value our people's lives." The unspoken "and Jessie's" was obvious in Thor's voice. "I'll take Jessie to the Dark World and draw the enemy away from Asgard. When Malekith pulls the Aether from Jessie, it will be exposed, vulnerable, and I will destroy it, and him."

"If you fail, you risk this weapon falling into the hands of our enemies," Odin warned.

"The risk is far greater if we do nothing," Thor retorted. "His ship could be over our heads right now and we'd never even know it."

Odin gritted his teeth. "If and when he comes, his men will fall by ten thousand Asgardian blades."

"And how many of our men shall fall on theirs?"

"As many as are needed!" Odin snarled, making Thor narrow his eyes. "We will fight! Until the last Argardian breath, the last drop of Asgardian blood."

"And how are you different from Malekith?" Thor asked bitterly.

Odin chuckled darkly. "The difference, my son, is that I will win."

***

"Darcy?" Jane asked as she hung her head over her fourth mug of coffee.

"Jessie isn't calling me back," Darcy answered as she paced, her phone to her ear. "Erik isn't calling me back. Stupid SHIELD isn't calling me back!"

"What's SHIELD?" Ian asked from where he was watching the news.

"It's a secret," Jane answered bitterly.

"Hey, wasn't that Agent Nightshade from there?"

"Uh, hey, Erik," Darcy said as she left a voicemail. "It's Darcy again. Uh . . . Thor came back, he took a SHIELD agent to Asgard, Jessie Nightshade. Um . . . we're not sure what we're supposed to do."

"Darcy, Dr. Foster, you really need to look at this," Ian suddenly called from the living room. "Your friend Erik, what was his last name again?"

"Selvig," Jane answered as she walked in, eyes wide as she stared at the news reel. "Oh, my God."

" . . . disrobed and began shouting at visitors at the historic sight," a news reporter said as the two women watched in stunned disbelief as Erik streaked across Stonehenge, completely nude. "He was later taken into police custody for psychiatric evaluation. The police are still refusing to confirm - "

***

Thor looked up from the table he sat at when Heimdall walked up to join him. "You're not in Odin's war council?" he asked.

"The Bifrost is closed by your father's orders," Heimdall said heavily. "No one is to come or to go." He took off his helmet and sat it down on the table, looking defeated. "We face an enemy that is invisible even to me. Of what use is a guardian such as that?"

"Malekith will return," Thor told him. "You know this. I'll need your help."

"I cannot overrule my King's wishes, not even for you," Heimdall shook his head.

"I'm not asking you to," Thor assured him. "The Realms need their Allfather strong and unchallenged, whether he is or not. But he is blinded, Heimdall, by hatred and by grief."

"As are we all."

"Well, I see clearly enough."

"The risks are too great."

"Everything that we do from here on is a risk. There is no other way."

Heimdall considered for a long time before his molten gold eyes met Thor's blue ones. "What do you require of me?"

***

Sif, Fandral, and Volstagg were sitting at another table nearby when Thor walked up to them. "I need a favor," he said, looking at them all.

The trio saw Heimdall standing behind him, then looked at him. "What is it?" Fandral asked.

Thor looked at Sif first. "Can you find a way to bring Jessie to me?"

Sif frowned. "She is under guard lock and key by Odin's best."

"Sif, please," Thor looked at her desperately. "She's my sister. She has been under the control of men for too long. She does not deserve this."

When Thor said those words, Sif had a determined glint in her eye. "Where am I to bring her?"

***

Jessie was staring in horror at her fingers, seeing smoke starting to curl off of them, when the door to her new room opened. Sif stepped inside, fully armored, giving her a look that dared her to argue with her. "The Allfather wishes to see you . . . my lady."

Jessie swallowed and stood up, her arms tightly crossed so Sif couldn't see her dilemma. "What for?" she asked quietly as they walked out.

"This way," Sif took her arm, pulling her down a different corridor.

Jessie paused. "This isn't the way to the throne room."

"Well spotted, Agent Nightshade," Sif nodded, releasing her. "So stay quiet and follow me."

Jessie's eyes widened, realizing Sif wasn't taking her to Odin at all, and she grinned, following her. "Jessie Nightshade, by the way. Guessing you realized that."

Sif gave her a look before nodding. "A pleasure to meet you. I am - "

"Lady Sif, right?"

She blinked. "You know of me?"

"Thor spoke often of his home when I met him," Jessie smiled. "He spoke fondly of his best friends."

Sif smiled, a bit more relaxed at that. "He spoke fondly of you as well. He calls you his sister."

Jessie grinned widely at the statement. "He's like the brother I've never had."

Sif chuckled as she led Jessie deeper into the palace. "I believe I like you, Agent Nightshade."

"I think I like you, too, Lady Sif."

***

"What I'm about to ask of you is treason of the highest order," Thor looked around those who had gathered: Jessie and Sif on one side of the table, Volstagg and Fandral on the other, Heimdall standing against the wall. "Success will bring us exile, and failure shall mean our death. Malekith knew the Aether was here. He can sense its power. If we do nothing, he will come for it again, but this time, lay waste to all of Asgard."

"That's cheery," Jessie muttered.

Thor couldn't help but smirk slightly when he saw Sif's lips lift up in what could have been the beginning of a smile. He had had a feeling that the two women would get along well. "We must move Jessie off world."

"The Bifrost has been shut down, and the Tesseract locked away in a vault," Sif reminded him.

"There are other parths off Asgard," Heimdall shook his head. "Ways known only to a few."

Thor grimaced. "One, actually."

All of the others' faces turned to looks of disbelief. "No," Volstagg shook his head.

"Loki?" Jessie guessed, eyes wide.

"Yes," Thor nodded.

"He will betray you!" Fandral protested.

"He will try," Thor shook his head. "I can handle him."

Fandral snorted. 'Well, what then? We have your lovely mortal here - "

"Who will stab you in your sword hand with a knife if you try to sweet talk me again," Jessie gave him a warning look.

Sif outright grinned at the slightly mortified look on Fandral's face. "She would," Thor chuckled.

Fandral cleared his throat. "My mistake, my lady."

"And what of the Allfather?" Sif asked.

"It is my sworn duty to notify him of crimes against the throne," Heimdall spoke for the first time. "I will summon him to the Bifrost and tell him myself."

Volstagg sighed. "Assuming you can get Loki's help, and you can distract the Allfather long enough, what good would it do? We'd all be dead the minute we step one foot outside the palace."

Thor grinned. "That, my friend, is where we won't be leaving by foot."

Sif turned to frown at Jessie. "Does he act this suicidal on Earth?"

"Sometimes more," Jessie sniggered. "When Loki attacked again - " She broke off with a frown. "Loki . . . "

"Is something wrong, my lady?" Volstagg asked.

"Something about Loki," Jessie shook her head, frowning. "Why did New York come to mind?"

"Do you think you know something that could aid us?" Thor bent down.

"New York . . . New York . . . " Jessie shook her head. "There was something about him even back then that didn't seem right about him. I don't remember what it was, but - "

"Loki has always been known for his tricks," Sif told her. "Perhaps you are remembering one?"

"Norse mythology calls him the Trickster . . . " Jessie stood up to start pacing. "Trickster . . . something about mythology . . . "

"I doubt Loki is the same as what mythology on Midgard portrays him as," Fandral snorted.

"Portray . . . " Jessie froze. "His looks."

"Jessie?" Thor approached. "Do you remember?"

"Thor . . . " Jessie turned to him, eyes wide. "I need you to be honest with me, even if this question sounds ridiculously stupid."

"What is it?" Thor asked.

She took a deep breath. "What color are Loki's eyes?"

Every Asgardian in the room blinked at that.

+++

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Skye asked for the tenth time as they gathered at the shooting range, Jessie shuffling nervously by one of the targets, wearing Kevlar over one of her arms.

"If she has a weakness, it's better we all know," Tony answered.

"I am not letting you shoot me," Jessie gave him a look.

"Noted."

"OK, Barton," Steve turned to Clint. "You're up."

"OK," Clint nodded, drawing back his bow and aiming for Jessie's wrist. "Hopefully this won't hurt."

"Got it," Jessie nodded, bracing herself.

Clint let the arrow fly. It soared right through Jessie and into the target behind her. "Safe from arrows," he concluded, turning around.

"Nat?" Steve turned. "May?"

The two women stepped up. "Is it bad I'm nervous for this?" Saleen whispered to Bruce.

"The Other Guy is, too," Bruce murmured back.

The two women started shooting. No blood came from Jessie as she phased right through the bullets. The target wasn't so lucky. "Bullets don't hurt her," Natasha reported.

"Only one thing left to try," Coulson looked at Steve.

He nodded and took a deep breath, taking his shield from his arm. "Come closer for this one," he requested.

Jessie nodded, jogging back over. "Do you think it'll work?" she asked.

"I'd rather not break your arm if it doesn't."

"Ah," she said weakly. "Thanks."

"Right," Steve took a deep breath, flipping his shield so he would be hitting Jessie with a blunt side.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

Steve brought his shield down -

Jessie let out a loud yelp and backed away, shaking her arm out. "Ow!" she cried, face pale as she stared at Steve.

"It didn't go through," Jemma's eyes went wide.

"I tried to make it," Jessie looked from person to person as Steve stared at his shield, surprised. "It didn't."

"Vibranium doesn't work," Grant's eyes widened.

"Well . . . " Jessie took a deep breath. "That's just . . . wonderful."

+++

"Green," Thor answered with a frown. "His eyes are green."

"I don't see what this has to do with anything," Volstagg frowned. "No offense, my lady."

"Green," Jessie swallowed. "You're sure?"

"Positive."

"Oh, no," Jessie mumbled, turning around to face the fireplace, eyes wide. "Oh, no."

"What is important about his eye color, my lady?" Heimdall asked.

Jessie swallowed, turning to him. "If his eyes are supposed to be green . . . why are they blue?"

***

"And they let you out alone?"

Jessie spun around, reaching for the gun she had tucked into her jeans, but Loki just held his hands away from his body. "No weapons," he told her.

"Yeah, but you have your magic," Jessie retorted. "Forgive me for being on my guard."

"Forgiven. Can we not chat?"

"You're a god that deals with tricks and lies. Why should we?"

Loki tsked, his blue eyes boring into her dark ones. "You're a clever one, Lady Nightshade. I see why my brother likes you."

"What do you want?" Jessie spat, looking around the back of the supermarket they were in. There were cameras around; surely the Avengers knew he was here.

"Oh, worry not," Loki grinned. "The cameras have conveniently gone off line."

Jessie turned to glare back at him. "I'm not scared of you, Loki."

"Curious," Loki tilted his head. "You don't fear a man?"

Jessie froze. "How do you know?"

"You forget, my lady," Loki said the words in a taunting way. "The Avengers made quite a fuss over your football friends. You forget, I know about your little gift. Do you truly believe that if I know that, I would not know about what they did to you?"

Jessie took a deep, shuddering breath. "Why do you care about that?"

"I have done cruel things, but I would not be that cruel to a woman," Loki actually grimaced at the thought. "That is why I am asking you to come, willingly."

Jessie snorted. "Do you truly think I am that suicidal? I don't want to watch this world fall to you or your friends. My answer is no, Loki. I will go kicking and screaming before you take my blood."

Loki gave her a condescending look. "I would not rape you, Lady Nightshade. I would not put it past anyone among my army to grant you that mercy. Come willingly, and you would not be harmed like that again. Refuse, and the next time we meet, it will be by force, and I cannot promise my men will be so kind to grant you the luxury of not being harmed."

Jessie summed up her courage and walked up to the Trickster, her whiskey eyes boring right into his blue ones.

"Let them try."

+++

Thor faltered, eyes wide. "Blue?" he repeated faintly.

"Yes," Jessie nodded. "I thought it was odd, because I remember from Norse mythology, they were as green as his robes."

"Blue eyes . . . " Thor turned around, shaking his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Blue eyes?" Sif repeated, looking around. "What is the significance of that?"

"Thor, I remember something else, too," Jessie said, and he turned to her. "I think that was what tripped my memory."

"What did?" Thor asked urgently.

"What Sif said at the beginning, about Asgard being sealed off," Jessie turned to her. "What did you say?"

"The Bifrost is closed, and the Tesseract is sealed away," Sif replied, frowning in confusion. "I do not understand why that is important, though."

Jessie swallowed and turned to Thor. "Thor, I swear, his eyes were almost the exact color of the Tesseract."

Thor's eyes widened slowly. "Oh."

"And I can top that, too," Jessie walked towards him, slowly starting to smile. "Thor, the Tesseract is practically the exact same color as the gem that was in Loki's scepter."

Thor's eyes lit up in sudden understanding, and the four other Asgardians were taken aback by the sudden hope in them. "What is it about Loki's spear?" Fandral looked between them.

"You're not making any sense here, you two," Volstagg growled. "Why is that so important?"

Jessie looked up at Thor, a small smile forming. "Because Natasha told me that Clint's eyes were the same color . . . after Loki used the spear to control his mind."

"And if Loki's eyes are the same color now," Thor began, his voice beginning to fill with excitement. "He might be under the same kind of enchantment."

"Exactly," Jessie grinned. "Thor, that might not be the Loki you knew. The Loki you knew might still be in there, and this is your chance to get him back."

***

And here is where we really start to deviate from what we know now as "Thor: The Dark World." I hope everyone can make sense of how my thought process worked. It'll be elaborated more once they get Loki out, but I think it's pretty clear how Loki's story is going to end, thanks to a lovely violet and bronze girl. :)

Keep looking for updates!