The cool night air nipped against his bare skin, but it didn't raise goosebumps unlike with other people. Frankly, he wasn't like other people.

He wasn't even from this realm.

Loki Laufeyson, God of Mischief, former husband of Jamie Stark, and father of Alessia Lilith Lokidottir, was getting drunk.

He'd had this idea to great the new year in any state other than sobriety. The idea of drinking until he could almost hear the waves crash in his ears had hit him when he remembered the trip to Ireland he had taken with Jamie.

The very thought of his wife sent a slice of pain through his heart, like someone had taken a scalpel and was cutting it open as it beat rhythmically underneath his ribcage.

Loki had been married for almost a year to Jamie Stark, the youngest sister of Tony Stark, Loki's nemesis-turned-reluctant ally-turned-nemesis. He had met her when he fell on top of her after his adoptive father, Odin, had sent him back to Midgard.

At first Jamie had been wary of him, but she quickly took him under her "protection" after they were both attacked by The Other, an interdimensional being hell-bent on bringing Loki to Thanos, the leader of the Chitauri army.

Loki had initially entertained the idea of using Jamie as a pawn against her brother, but that plan was scrapped after they were rocked by a series of attacks courtesy of The Other. Loki and Jamie struck a close friendship after The Other had been defeated, one that Tony wasn't too fond of.

That friendship soon turned into a mutual attraction, which Tony didn't approve of – at first. The two then experienced several hurdles, including an attack by Thanos and his vastly improved Chitauri army, the arrival of Hades and Lucifer under the guise of the Starks' fiercest business rivals, Hayden and Lucius Hellman, and the relentless attacks of MODOK, the brain child of John Stane.

But it was their final adversary that finally defeated Loki: Ares, the God of War. A previous altercation that led to the death of Ares's beloved daughter, Adrestia, had given Ares the right to demand the life of a member from Loki's household as recompense.

At first Ares had demanded that life to be of Alessia, Loki and Jamie's daughter, but Loki offered his life in exchange for the child's. Before he could do so, however, Jamie had taken his place. Loki – and Tony – had been forced to watch Jamie's violent death, which even now haunted Loki's dreams and waking moments.

There were times where he could sense some form of darkness slipping over him, and it was only Alessia's laughter and bright smile that brought him back.

He had a role to fulfill, and he was determined to do it.

The memory of his dead wife numbed him even more than the chilly wind, but for some reason the absinthe and Guinness mixture he was drinking helped warm him up and put some sensation back in his body.

Loki heard a soft scuffle behind him and he turned his head, only to see the small form of his seven-year old daughter shift. Her dark hair – a trait she had inherited from both her parents – spilled out over the edge of her blankets and her pale skin looked almost transparent in the bluish moonlight.

Loki shook the contents of his glass and downed the last of the drink, feeling the pleasant burn of the alcohol as it made its way down his throat. Seeing that the pitcher was already empty, Loki stood and, careful not to wake his daughter, walked back inside and into the kitchen.

He set the glass and pitcher inside the sink before returning inside his daughter's bedroom. Loki had taken to watching over his daughter each night, a habit that his older brother Thor found puzzling.

"Why must you be with her each night, brother? I'm certain no one will harm her," Thor had said during one of their "family dinners."

"I thought the same about Jamie," Loki had answered softly. "As you can very well see, I was wrong."

Thor hadn't argued with him anymore on that point, but he did voice his opinion that such a practice was unorthodox. After all, things had become relatively peaceful for the past years; this gave the Avengers a chance to move on with their lives and even start families.

Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff even had a six-year old son, Andrew, who was part of Alessia's play group. Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were parents to the second Stark genius, Edward Howard Stark, and of course, Thor and Jane had a son, Haldor Thorson.

Bruce Banner finally got over his fear of starting a family with Betty Ross; they were now parents to Jonathan Banner. Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter were the only ones who had two kids: Peggy and Steven Rogers.

Many believed that this small roster of children was shaping up to be the next Avengers, a belief that Nick Fury seemed to be taking to heart. He had started arranging play dates for the kids – in the underground facility in Stark Towers.

Unfortunately, the Avengers didn't seem too keen on having the children exposed to "their world," saying that the kids needed time to be kids before it was too late.

Loki didn't know if Alessia was part of it; he hoped not. He didn't like the idea of having his only child exposed to countless dangers just so she could protect a mass of ungrateful Midgardians.

These thoughts continued to swirl in his head until sleep closed his eyes. His dreams were the only remaining sanctuary he had, where he could spend time with his wife and avoid the disapproving glares that he received whenever he ventured out into the real world. It was in his dreams where he could sift through the useless thoughts and memories and discard these, to make room for more memories and ideas.

After a few minutes – or so it seemed – Loki was jostled awake when Alessia clambered up the back of the armchair and clapped her arms around his neck, giggling.

"Wake up, Daddy, wake up!" she cried, and he could imagine her kicking her feet in excitement. "It's time!"

Loki groaned and tilted his head to the side. "What is that infernal racket? I must change my alarm."

Alessia laughed, her arms still around his neck. He felt the slight chill coming from her body, and he knew without looking in the mirror that she was changing to her Jotunn form. He could feel the markings form on his skin as well, but he still didn't open his eyes.

"I really must…change…the alarm," Loki continued, accentuating each phrase by reaching up over his head and wiggling his fingers on Alessia's neck, which was one of her ticklish spots. Each time Alessia shrieked with laughter, finally releasing her hold on his neck and dropping off the back of the armchair. "Finally. It's gone."

"Daddy!" Alessia rushed around to the front and practically jumped on his lap. "Daddy, you promised!"

Loki opened one eye slowly, a smirk forming on the side of his mouth. "Did I?"

"Yes!" Alessia stressed. "Come on, we're going to be late!"

Loki opened his other eye and nodded once. "Very well. If I made a promise then it must be fulfilled. Get dressed, darling."

Alessia grinned and hopped off his lap, hurrying to her closet. Loki was aware that Alessia would most likely put on the first clothes she would set her eyes on, but he wasn't worried. She seemed to have developed a sense of style with all the shopping trips she had gone on with her Aunt Pepper, and sure enough Alessia had decided to wear a navy blue dress with white ballet flats, her black hair tied in place with a white ribbon.

Loki changed into a white dress shirt, a black tie, and black slacks. His long hair was slicked back, making his jaw more prominent and his cheekbones higher. When he looked up he saw that Alessia was staring at him thoughtfully.

"What is it?" he asked her, buttoning the cuffs of his sleeves.

"Why can't I transform my clothes so that I don't have to spend time changing?" she wondered.

"Your mother asked me the same question. You must develop that ability."

Which you will soon enough.

"How old do I have to be when I start developing that?" Alessia walked beside him as they headed to the kitchen. Her nose wrinkled at the smell of absinthe and Guinness, flicking her wrist – a gesture she had learned from him – so that the faucet turned on, drowning the alcohol and its annoyingly bitter smell out.

"Much older than you are now." Loki winked at her and flicked his wrist as well, causing a breakfast of pancakes and chilled chocolate milk to appear on the kitchen table.

Alessia plopped down on the chair with a sigh, pulling the plate of pancakes towards her. Loki took out a box of Cheerios from the overhead cupboard and poured some in a bowl, which he slid towards Alessia as he poured himself some deep black coffee.

"Daddy, why do you put a lot of coffee beans in your coffee?" Alessia asked in between mouthfuls of pancakes.

"I don't know. It just makes the drink taste bitter."

"And you like bitter."

"Well I'm certainly not sweet."

Alessia made a face at him before finishing her pancakes. Since she was half-Midgardian (she was conceived when Jamie was still mortal), she didn't share her father and uncle's voracious appetites. Loki certainly didn't look it, but he could eat a meal fit for three grown men.

"But that's because you're always frowning," he heard her mutter, and he wondered if she was going to start scolding him for being his serious self. But Alessia soon found something that distracted her: the time.

"Daddy we're going to be laaaaaaate!" she cried, hurrying to the front door. "Come on come on come on!"

Loki gave a long, drawn out sigh and finished his coffee before walking to Alessia. She twisted the doorknob and flung the door open, disappearing into the hallway. Loki strode out after her, using his magic to close and lock the door from the inside.

Loki and Alessia both shed their Jotunn appearances a split second before they turned the corner. Mrs. Greenwalt, one of their neighbors, paled as the two approached her. She smiled nervously as Alessia greeted her with a cheery "Good morning!" and tried to duck beneath Loki's penetrating gaze.

Alessia skipped towards the elevator and pressed the Down button. "Daddy?"

"What is it, darling?" Loki turned his attention from Mrs. Greenwalt to his daughter, who was hopping from one foot to the other.

"Can we get some ice cream after we visit the exhibit?"

"Of course."

Alessia smiled widely and clasped his hand tightly. Her small fingers wound through his long, thin fingers and he squeezed her hand.

The trip to the small gallery didn't take them long; it was located a few blocks from their apartment, after all. Unfortunately, their route would take them past Stark Towers, a place Loki wasn't too eager to see early in the morning.

Loki and Alessia wound through the crowd, most of who were bundled in coats and winter jackets. The cold never bothered either of them, as they both had Frost Giant blood running through their veins. Still, Alessia shivered involuntarily and pressed closer to her father as they walked down the sidewalk, peeking her head every now and then to stare at the dark-haired women they passed by.

While Alessia was busy looking at the brunettes that she passed, Loki found himself reverting into his mind as familiar yet strange sensations took over.

Even though he felt safe and calm, a sudden jolt of fear and confusion came over him. It didn't last long; the instant Loki became aware of the emotions it disappeared as quickly as it arrived.

What's the matter with me? Where are these sensations coming from?

Although puzzling, Loki was no longer a stranger to such sensations. These started a few months after Jamie's death, and kept on coming every now and then. Sometimes the fear – and at times, intense longing – became so strong that it sent him to his knees, causing tears to form in his eyes even though he had sworn that he would never cry again.

No matter how hard Loki tried to analyze these mysterious sensations, he could not explain it. The only person he wanted to confide in was Alessia, but she was just seven years old.

She may be a genius like her mother, but she's still seven. I can't be bothering her with a grown man's problems.

And so Loki kept these brief events to himself, hoping that these would solve themselves in time.

The two turned another corner, finally coming into view of Stark Towers. The building now held the emblem of the Avengers, and it was no longer a secret that it contained the underground facility of the group.

Careless as that may sound, Tony had pulled out all the stops to make sure the building was impregnable. Once inside, even MODOK couldn't penetrate its defenses. Part of these defenses was invented by Jamie, and it included her signature ice ray that she used during the attack of the Chitauri in London all those years ago.

Tony had modified her design slightly so that it could be used for a much larger weapon.

"We're not going to see Uncle Tony, are we?" Alessia tilted her head up at her father, who shook his head.

"I can drop you off later, if you like. You can just give him a call." Loki hoped that she would say no; the weekend visits she spent with Stark were more than he could stand.

Alessia shook her head. "I want to spend the day with you, Daddy."

Loki's mouth twitched and they walked quickly past Stark Towers. The gallery was already open, and several curious passers-by were already inside.

The event, organized and funded by Patrick Thwaites, was held to honor the seventh anniversary of Jamie's death. Tony had been invited, of course, but in true Tony Stark style he had reserved the gallery for the entire evening, giving others the chance to visit the exhibits during the day.

Loki and Alessia had immediately signed up for the morning session, which they were now attending. Patrick wasn't there, which was what Loki wanted. He just wanted to see the kind of exhibits they had prepared for his wife and allow Alessia to see and learn more about her mother before they left.

"Loki Laufeyson, fancy meeting you here."

Christine Everhart, the most obnoxious reporter in New York City, was waiting for the two just beside the front doors. Loki glanced at her.

"Everhart," Loki said crisply.

"I would like-"

"To leave me and my daughter alone? Please do," Loki interrupted, ushering Alessia into the first aisle.

Christine smiled knowingly and followed them, like the little pest she was. "I know this is a bad time, but I was wondering if I could get a few words from you."

"You just did." Loki leaned forward and whispered in Alessia's ear, telling her to go ahead. The little girl was oblivious to the tension growing between her father and the reporter, and practically skipped over to the first exhibit of Jamie, which was a collage featuring the annual portraits that were taken since Jamie was a baby.

"Please, Mr. Laufeyson. The public wants to know how-"

"I suggest you leave this place while you still can, Miss Everhart," Loki hissed, grabbing Christine roughly by the arm and pulling her close. "The only reason I haven't turned you into a toad or some other worthless vermin is because of my child. If I were you, I'd take advantage of my offer – while it still stands."

As Loki spoke, he felt his eyes turning red and his skin turning slightly blue. The sight unnerved Christine and she wrenched her arm out of Loki's painful grip before retreating. She stared at him before finally pushing past two people, who looked at her, startled.

Loki glared at her until she left, not bothering to conceal his appearance. Some of the people in the exhibit witnessed this exchange and made a hasty exit. Loki glanced at his daughter, who was now watching the short video Jamie had filmed for Tony's anniversary party.

The video had clearly been edited: the extra bit that showed Loki and Jamie flirting with each other in front of the camera had been removed. Loki reverted back to his normal appearance and joined her, placing a hand on Alessia's shoulder.

"She's so pretty," Alessia whispered. "I wish I could have met her."

"So do I," Loki agreed hoarsely. "Let's move to the next one, shall we?"

Alessia nodded, casting one last look at the image of her mother.

I thought this was going to be easy, Loki thought as they made their way through the entire gallery. I thought I could handle seeing her again. But Gods…

For the billionth time Loki silently asked why Jamie had to sacrifice herself. Why did she have to take his place? Why did she have to leave him alone?

You're not alone, Loki. You have Alessia. She loves you so much. I had to go because I didn't want the two of you to get hurt. Loki, please…

"Daddy?"

Again, Alessia's voice broke through Loki's thoughts. He looked down at her, his eyes silently asking her what was wrong.

"Can we get that ice cream now?"


Tony Stark flung the day's newspaper on the bed with a growl. "I can't believe this. Another god damn sighting! Are they trying to drive me mad?"

"If this were April Fools then I'd say yes," Pepper answered. "But yes, that is strange. I mean why do they keep sending us reports of seeing your sister all over the city? That's like rubbing salt into a wound, isn't it?"

"More like hydrochloric acid," Tony grumbled, ignoring the hopeful jolt that passed through him. "I'd sue their asses, but I've had it with lawyers."

"Things aren't looking so good with Thwaites and that guy who's swindling him, huh?" Pepper picked up another paperback book that was lying on the floor and placed it on top of the chest of drawers. "I don't understand why some people like defending people like Martin Colbert."

"Money. Plain and simple." Tony swore as he nearly sat down on another book, which had been left on the armchair. "Edward!"

Tony and Pepper both heard the soft padding of feet against the carpet. Seconds later their seven-year old son, Edward, came in. "Yes?"

"Son, I'd appreciate it if you stopped leaving your books all over the place," Tony said, trying not to use any of the swear words that he usually spouted when he was with people his own age. "Your mom and I keep finding them in the weirdest places."

Edward nodded and, quick as a flash, retrieved the two books – plus two more – from the room. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again, Dad."

"See that it won't," Tony told him, before Edward left. "I can't believe he's turning into a bookworm."

"Well he did start reading when he was one," Pepper reminded him. "Tony, I know you want him to be more like you, but-"

"I know, I know, I should support the natural development of his intelligence quotient," Tony narrated, rolling his eyes. "If he just expressed interest in one area of science, I'd be thrilled!"

Pepper sighed. "Just bear with him, okay? He is your son, Tony."

Tony slid his hands inside his pockets. "I know that, Peps."

Do you? Pepper wanted to ask, but thought better of it. Sometimes she felt as if Tony preferred Alessia over Edward. She didn't know what was worse: knowing about it or wondering if Edward knew about it. Tony wasn't exactly known for his subtlety.

"If I hear one more goddamn report about them seeing my sister, I'll kick their ass," Tony declared, going into the bathroom.

"I guess I'd better tell Jarvis to keep the suits on lockdown," Pepper muttered to herself before leaving.

The newspaper lay forgotten on the bed. A black and white picture was emblazoned on the front page, featuring a blurry image of a woman with long, black hair, her face half-concealed by her winter hat. She was standing outside a toy store, looking at something – or someone – inside.


Author's Note: There you have it. The first chapter to the sequel to "Stark Contrast." Unlike the previous fic, you'll notice that the chapters focus on one or two characters' POVs (not explicitly stated, but implied). Another difference is that the fan fiction will be divided into separate parts, which will be evident as I add more chapters. For now, I'll leave you with two songs that serve as part of the unofficial "soundtrack" to the fan fiction: "Hold My Heart" by Sara Bareilles and "Echo" by Jason Walker. If you haven't listened to the songs I suggest you do; you'll get the feel of the story even more. :) Finally, I'm doing some major rewriting/editing of "Stark Contrast" and I may provide a PDF copy of it. Just tell me if you're interested or if it's too much. xD Enjoy. ;)

This fan fiction is wholly dedicated to ingenious macabre; here's to hoping it lives up to your expectations!