The Captain and The Asgardian

Chapter One

Gem had been on Midgard for around 5 years, it had been her wish. See Gem was no ordinary person, she was the daughter of Loki, niece of Thor and Granddaughter of Odin. She was in some way a demi-goddess. Her grandmother, Frigga, had taught her to harness her powers. She was a witch after all.

After her father's betrayal, she had asked to be sent here, she had thought that being here and being away from all the drama would make life easier. Her agreement with Odin was, that no-one but him and Frigga would remember her. She would be free to live an uncomplicated life.

She had always like Midgard, Heimdall had taught her all about the nine realms and their many differences. She had sat for hours with him, when she was a child, she most enjoyed watching him summon the Bifrost, to bring her uncle and father home. Her uncle Thor used to pick her up and carry her on his shoulders and would often allow her to play with Mjolnir, trying to drag it around. Of course, this amused her father and uncle greatly. All she had wanted when she was a teenager was to join them on their missions.

Now here she was wondering if she should be helping with things here. Men in iron suits, super soldiers, spies, assassins, even a hulk walked the earth, trying to protect the people living here. She had seen her uncle on the news only the other day, helping clear up the destruction that her father had left behind. Would she be welcome? She had been told that most humans are distrusting and most of these people who called themself "the avengers" were human after all. Like when she was a child Gem decided that her grandmother would most likely hold the answers she seeks.

"My dear girl." Frigga smiled fondly at her youngest granddaughter.

"Grandmother."

Frigga hugged her, she then looked at her. "This life suits you."

"I like it here. I enjoy blending in." Gem gestured towards her small sofa, but Frigga shook her head.

"You didn't bring me here to talk about blending in, child. Tell what it is you need of me?"

"No, I didn't. I..." Gem looked to the floor. Something Frigga smiled at. Loki would always look to the floor before he asked for something from her. Even from the smallest things like an extra slice of his favourite pudding to her forgiving him for yet again tricking Thor into doing something reckless. Clearly sweet Gem took after Loki.

"Ask away."

"I watch these Avengers fight for this place in such a passionate way grandmother. they would lay down their lives so that millions can live. Yet here I sit doing nothing when I have the power to help also. I don't know what to do. Yes, I want a quiet life, but I also want to make amends for my father's wrongs. Please Grandmother, what am I meant to do?"

Frigga moved closer and pushed a stray length of hair off her face, Gem had always been strong willed, another thing she and Loki shared.

"Ask yourself why you asked to be sent here." She spoke softly.

"It has always been my favourite place to watch. The people have so many freedoms far more than I ever had on Asgard. They make their own fates." Again, she looked down regretting admitting this to her grandmother.

"And you felt you couldn't on Asgard?" She was a little shocked but, in a way, understood even if she did not agree.

"I felt that after...."

"After your father's mistakes."

"Yes, that you and grandfather would want to make my choices for me, so I wouldn't repeat those same mistakes."

"You are not your father?"

"Aren't I? I have his magic, his mischief in me." Gem looked Frigga dead in the eye. Her grandmother was a very good liar but one lesson her father had passed on to her was how to tell when the truth has been hidden from her.

"When Loki found out the truth of his parentage," Now Frigga stepped away and perch on the sofa she had been offered earlier. "he felt like something was missing from his life, like he had been cheated of something and so he took action. Those actions caused a great deal of sorrow to many. including me, your grandfather, Thor and of course you. Tell me child, you know what your father is and what he has done. Would you have done the same as him? Do you feel like, for a better a word, avenging him?"

"No. I feel blessed to be who I am. I never understood why father felt like he had to do what he did. Yes, I'd be more than furious if I found out that my life had been a lie, but I would not kill because of it. If anything, I would have left in spite and never have acknowledged the lot of you again."

"Well then, you will not repeat his mistakes. As to whether you should help here or not, that is slightly more difficult. How would you explain yourself?" This child held so much of her father in her, yet her mother's light was seeming to shine that little brighter. To say the things, she just had showed great strength. She had condemned her father's actions yet agreed that she would not have simply rolled over. If she could come up with the right story, she would surely be a great help to these people and by taking their side it would hopefully quell the last of her father's impulses that lay within her.

"I could say I'm from Asgard, they don't have to know my parentage."

"No, they don't. You have lived here, alone, you have never had to truly lie about who you are. However, people will want details my sweet."

"How do you know I've been alone?" Gem asked, eyebrows raised.

"I have kept my eye on you. Did you think we would send you here without watching over you?"

"Sneaky. I'm only hiding my parentage; I'm not hiding who I am as a person." She said a little more sternly than she had meant to.

"Indeed. Here then, how about this. You have been sent here by me and the all-father to keep an eye on Thor and to help him should you feel he is in need of it. You have only been sent here in the last three weeks after what we had witnessed Loki do. How does that sound?"

"I think I can work with that." Gem smiled knowing now what she had to do and that her grandmother stood by her.

Frigga stood and took Gem's hands in hers. Her eyes were her father's through and through, she had his dark hair, and when she smiled it was like looking into Loki's own face. No wonder the girl was scared of becoming him.

"Just remember that your mother is just as much part of you as your father is. He did love you, in his own different way. We all love you. You do not have to hate your father for what he did, it is ok to love him. I do." Frigga wiped the tear that ran down Gem's face. "I think you would make a wonderful asset to these Avengers."

Frigga kisses her head and leaves. Decision made, Gem packs her bags with the few possessions she has and heads to New York!