Beautiful Chaos

{part five | chapter two}

"Home?" Lilith's eyes widened. Thor only nodded in response.

"Thor-"

"That is enough from you."

Loki gaped at his brother, "I don't think it is!"

"I get to go home?" Lilith was so shocked by the news that she had tuned out the argument the brothers were having a few feet away from her. She would finally get to see her family after all these months. The two gods ignored her, too caught up in their bickering. The crowd had dispersed a while ago, ushered away by the palace guards. The young woman looked around the empty courtyard and felt slightly dizzy, as if suddenly she could feel the planet's slow rotation. Everything was so overwhelming. She moved back towards the pavilion the lounges were situated under to sit down.

"Is everything alright, Darling?" Loki was at her side in seconds, his brow creased with concern.

"Darling?" Thor questioned, raising a brow. His tone was that of a man both confused and a bit flabbergasted.

"Quiet, Thor." Loki knelt in front of Lilith, placing a hand on her cheek and caressing her soft skin with his thumb. His gaze danced over her, scanning for anything wrong, "Is something the matter?"

"No, no. I'm just a little overwhelmed, that's all. Excited. We finally get to visit. I know we could've gone before... after Heimdall disappeared and Skurge took over. But we didn't think of it... And now we're actually going!" She smiled at the thought of seeing her family again.

"Lilith... Darling," Loki tried, "If... If you come with us you'll have to stay on Midgard. You won't be coming back."

"Then you can stay with me." Loki shook his head slightly, glancing towards Thor. Lilith felt her face grow hot and her heart sink. She stood from the lounge suddenly, startling Loki to his feet. She marched towards the god of thunder.

"Lady Stark-"

"Sit." The singular word was laced with so much venom that even Loki felt nervous for his brother. She pointed towards the lounges, glaring at the blond man. Thor moved to sit on the plush couch. Lilith followed him over and stood in front of him, crossing her arms over her chest before beginning her rant.

"This is what's going to happen. We are going to go to Earth. We are going to retrieve Odin. We are going to make one stop at the Barton's farm so I can give my family a god damn hug and then we are coming right back to Asgard. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, but Lady Stark-"

"Enough, Thor." Loki interrupted.

"Fine. I don't understand why you would want to stay kidnapped, though."

"She wasn't kidnapped," Loki corrected, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I was, though," Lilith argued, smirking at the god of mischief.

"This is... Stockholm syndrome-y. Very strange choice, Lady Stark." Lilith rolled her eyes, fighting a laugh. Thor smiled at her, "Shall we?"

"Ready when you are," Lilith said, glancing at Loki.

"Alright then, let's go." The three left the courtyard, heading towards the bridge to the Bifrost. Lilith was so excited she had forgotten about the method of travel they would use.

"How does this work exactly?"

"Like a magic elevator," Thor explained, "But faster. And sparkly. And if you do it wrong you'll end up somewhere you don't want to be. Probably dead."

"Oh. Well. Sounds safe."

"We'll be fine, Darling. Just hold onto me and you'll be safe." Lilith smiled as the god wrapped an arm around her waist. Trying her hardest not to laugh at the look Thor was throwing their way.

"New York," The god told Skurge, "Midgard."

Skurge inserted the sword - Hofund - into its slot and turned it, summoning the Bifrost.

"Shall we?" Loki looked at Lilith expectantly.

"We shall." And with that the three entered the Bifrost. Lilith had her eyes squeezed shut and her grip on Loki's torso was tight. She felt a sudden wind rushing around her. She felt the ground beneath her feet. She heard voices. She heard a car horn. She heard Loki whisper, "Open your eyes," and felt him press a kiss to the top of her head. She forced herself to open her eyes, squinting in the sunlight, adjusting.

"Taxi!"

"Ay! Watch the suit, bud!"

"Sorry."

"Shit, I'm late!"

The bustle of the city around her was surprisingly unfamiliar. She watched as people moved up and down the sidewalks, going to work, going to the park, going to lunch. The skyscrapers seemed smaller now. The streets seemed dirtier. The air seemed to smell less fresh; the specific odor of pizza and cigarettes mixed together and wafted out from the restaurant a few steps away from them.

"Home."

"Shit..." She heard Loki mumble. She looked up and saw a construction site in front of them. He turned to Thor, "I swear I left him right here."

"Right here on the sidewalk? Or right where the building is being demolished? Great planning."

"How was I supposed to know? I can't see into the future. I'm not a witch."

"Then why are you dressed like one?"

"Hey," Loki said, taking offense. It was only then Lilith realized their clothes had been changed; Thor's silver and red armor was now a grey sweatshirt, red t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, his hammer disguised as an umbrella. Loki's casual asgardian clothes had been transformed into a black suit and dress shoes, and Lilith's gown had been replaced by ripped mom-jeans, white converse, and an old ACDC t-shirt she had stolen from her dad when she was twelve; hair now tied in a bun and simple black eye makeup applied.

"I can't believe you're alive. I mourned you, I cried for you."

"I'm honored."

"Ask him!" Lilith turned to see two girls around her age giggling and staring at Thor. She rolled her eyes and smiled at them.

"He doesn't bite you know," She said, waving them over.

"Hi," one of them said, blushing, "Would you mind taking a picture with us?"

"Sure." Thor replied.

Lilith, still holding onto Loki's arm, placed her head on his shoulder and breathed in. She zoned out, thinking of how close she was to her family. She snapped back to reality and looked over when she heard Thor blabbering about Jane.

"She didn't dump me, you know. I dumped her. It was a mutual dumping... What's this, what are you doing?" He gestured wildly at the ground beneath Loki's feet and Lilith snapped her gaze towards the sidewalk and found a circle of golden sparks blazing around where she and the mischief god stood. She jumped backwards in surprise, out of the circle's reach.

"This... isn't me." He looked nervously at Lilith before he felt his stomach drop, the ground beneath him vanishing, a business card taking his place.

"Loki?" Thor poked the card with the tip of his umbrella before picking it up. He looked at Lilith with an expression of confusion before saying, "I guess we're going to Bleecker street."