A little heads up, this Loki is a much softer one. I decided to write a Loki that's more sensitive than most Loki's, I suppose. I hope you all enjoy it and feedback would be lovely!

Loki leaned against the wall of the training hall, legs crossed as he stood watching, amused as Helena and Fandral were at it again. He chuckled softly as the female warrior flipped his ever-boosting friend on his back and a groan slipped out of his mouth. Loki shook his head as Sif cheered loudly while Volstagg and Hogun laughed at the fate of their friend.

Helena looked up and met eyes with Loki who raised an eyebrow at her breathless state but she only winked back and Loki looked down and did all he could to stop the effect she had on him.

Kicking Fandral a last time playfully, she laughed at his loud groan again before making her way over to Loki and leaning against the railing of the fighting arena, she grinned.

"He never learns does he?"

"Obviously not." Loki replied with a grin of his own. "I've lost count to how many times you've damaged his manhood with your ways miss."

"Every rose has it's thorns." She replied with a cheeky shrug of her shoulder. "Why don't you join in?"

"I'd rather not submit myself to humiliation, thank you." He said and Helena rolled her eyes in response.

"That's your way of admitting defeat, oh almighty God of Mischief." She replied with a dramatic wave of her hand and Loki couldn't help but grin widely.

"Only a fool would go against the Goddess of Asgard." Loki said flaring his hand in an exaggerated gesture as well causing Helena to burst out in laughter.

"And this is why you're my favorite." She said, leaning over and tapping his nose; the one action only she was allowed to do. "Always the charmer."

He chuckled again and looked down, his feelings for her dangerously on the edge, though he knew she knew. Helena's lips curled into a soft smile as she watched him and when he looked up at her again, she gave him her signature grin.

"Bets on how long Hogun will last?"

"A very short time."

"Five minutes?"

"Not even three."

"Ohh, such low faith in your friends." Helena teased.

"I wouldn't really call them friends considering they were basically shoved down my throat." Loki said with a snare and Helena gave him a look.

"Behave."

"You couldn't possibly make me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"I wouldn't dare, dear Rose."

Helena narrowed her eyes then stuck her tongue at him in a playful manner.

"Oh yes, extremely mature Helena."

"Don't make me come down there, Loki."

He grinned at her threat. Only Helena had this effect on him. The one person he cherished more than anything ever before.

His Helena; his beautiful Rose with her long jet black curls that reached her lower back and bright green eyes that could light up all Nine Realms with their beauty.

She flashed him a warning look then leaned off the railing. "I'm going to tell him you have so little faith in him then."

"Oh please, go ahead." He said with shrug, grinning. "I'll wager a bigger bet when you reach Volstagg."

"That's if the arena doesn't fall under his girth. Goodness knows how it hasn't yet." She said as she started walking back towards the group and Loki laughed softly.

"Behave, dear."

"I will when you do."

"Then we shall forever be misfits."

"Sounds like a plan."

Loki should his head with another chuckle. No one could match her fierceness or her quick tongue, except for himself of course. He continued to watch her as the group broke out into their playful fighting till he felt a presence next to him.

"You would want to wipe your drool, brother."

Loki's facial expression fell into a scowl.

"No, Thor."

"Would you want her to come and wipe it for you then?" Thor asked, grinning widely and if Loki rolled his eyes any harder, they'd probably get stuck at the back of his head. Thor laughed loudly and leaned against the arena's side.

"How long did Fandral last?"

"Longer than his last record. He's an idiot to keep challenging her."

"You do know why he does that of course?" Thor said, taking his eyes off the group and bringing them back to Loki and Loki's scowl deepened. He paused, his mouth turning into a thin line before saying,

"Women don't respect men that are weaker than them. Helena could care less about Fandral in that sense."

Thor eyed Loki amusingly. "Why aren't you courting her then?"

Loki's whole face clamed up and he looked at Thor. "Thor. We won't be having this discussion."

"Don't tell me you're foolish enough to believe that no one knows about your feelings for her? Or her feelings in return? I don't understand why you're holding back so much." Thor asked, his amuse increasing. "Everyone is very much well aware of it."

"You've been misinformed." Loki replied in a tight tone, turning away from his brother but Thor only chuckled. And you never will understand.

"Alright, alright, settle down now." He said, his eyes turning back to their group of friends. "I'm just wondering what is making you two wait to exchange emotions." Thor paused then giving his brother a side glance, he added. "I'm more surprised no one has caught you two mating yet. Or have you and you two are just excellent at concealing it?"

Loki's eyes widened and Thor laughed deeply at the scandalous look on his face.

"Thor!" he snarled, his face flushing. "This isn't a laughing matter, you oaf!"

But Thor only laughed louder, enjoying the teasing that causes his brother so much embarrassment. Loki debated whether to throw something at him or just punch him and be done with it. Before he could decide which way he wanted to knock the breath out of his idiot of a brother, he was interrupted.

"Arguing as usual, boys?" Sif questioned, jumping over the railing of the arena and sitting on the edge, followed by the rest of the group.

"Of course not! We were just having an interesting discussion." Thor said, getting up and putting an arm around Loki's shoulder, patting it. Loki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest.

"Of course. Brotherly bonding, if you will." He said sarcastically and Sif chuckled knowingly. Helena stared between the two and pursed her lips before shaking her head, choosing not to question them.

"Anyone care for a meal? I'm famished." Volstagg stated.

"As usual." Fandral said, brushing down his beard, glancing at the group but his eyes falling back to Helena. "When aren't you famished?"

"You didn't even battle, how could you possibly be hungry when you were eating while we were at it?" Sif asked incredulously.

"Don't ever bother to question that Lady Sif, Volstagg knows no boundaries when it comes to food." Hogun muttered and rolled his eyes as Volstagg grunted.

"Come along then, warriors! Let's find us a feast."

Thor patted Loki on the back before moving towards his friends.

"Coming along, brother? Join us!"

Loki smiled tightly and replied, "I'll catch up to you all. I need a few moments."

Helena eyed him and turning to the group, she stated, "I'll catch up as well. I'm a bit worn out from our games."

"Was I too hard on you, lovely Rose?" Fandral said, grinning and Helena snorted softly while Loki resisted the urge to send him flying into the wall.

"If I'm not mistaken Fandral, you were the one groaning in pain on the ground." She said with a devilish grin.

"Your thorns are quiet nasty when unleashed, Roise." He replied with a grin of his own.

"Her thorns aren't the only ones that could hurt you Fandral." Thor stated, eyes watching Loki's expression, entertained. "There are horns as well."

Fandral and Loki's eyes met and with a scowl, Loki spoke.

"Her name is Helena, Fandral." he muttered in annoyance and Fandral looked at him, defiantly.

"It is her nickname isn't it? I believe I can call her by that."

"It isn't your place to call her anything but her actual name, Fandral. Do remember she is Lady Helena." Loki retorted with another tight smile.

Helena stared between the two and then at Thor with a raised eyebrow, who only grinned broadly.

"That's quite funny, I don't recall anyone taking my opinion on the matter considering it is my name." Helena said, smiling at the two then walking over to the two and putting her arms around both, she grinned. "You both can drop this Helena nonsense and call me of these two: your majesty or your highness. Don't make me force you to obey now."

"Oh, you wouldn't need to force me. I'd gladly call you that, your majesty." Fandral said, pulling away from her and taking her hand, kissing it. Loki's jaw tightened but before he could make a move, Helena shoved Fandral and wiped her hand.

"Be gone with you and your grease, Fandral. Goodness." She said as the others laughed and Loki smirked softly. Fandral's eyes locked with Loki's again and he raised his eyebrow then turned to Helena and gazing at her, he bowed dramatically, coolly continuing his act.

"As you wish your highness." He said, exaggerating a sob. "I shall be gone!"

"Oh please." Sif scoffed and dragged him away as they walked off. "Catch up soon, you two!"

Helena waved them off then turned to Loki. She crossed her arms and stared at him amused. He blinked at her in response.

"What?"

"What was all that about?"

"What are you talking about?"

She gave him a look. "Don't try to play with me, Loki. That whole throwback with Fandral…Was it really necessary? He's our friend."

Loki frowned and turned away from her, poking at the sides of the arena. "It was nothing. I was merely reminding him that it's not his place to call you that."

"Why not?" Helena asked with a raised eyebrow. "The others call me Rose as well sometimes…it's not really that big of a deal."

"Yes it is." He said, turning to her, not bothering to hide his jealously and possessiveness. "I gave you that nickname and I don't like it when anyone else calls you that, especially Fandral."

She looked at him curiously then smiled in a teasing manner. "You're jealous of Fandral? You can't be serious."

"What?" He asked, turning to her with a look of disgust on his face. "I would never be jealous of that idiotic, pompous, self-absorbed git."

Helena's eyes widened and Loki immediately regretted what he said. He was starting to sound and look extremely childish in front her and he almost cursed himself for letting his jealousy get the better of him.

"Helena, look -"

"I don't know why you're being so possessive. I'm not yours." She said, her tone having a sharp edge to it. "I'm not some prize that you two are battling for."

Loki's response died in his throat at her words and he stared at her, surprised. She crossed her arms and gave him an unamused look.

"Did you think I wasn't aware of Fandral's feelings? I have been and I've refuted them on multiple occasions because I don't think of him in that sense, at all." She continued, "The constant little bickers between you two makes it nothing but extremely awkward for me and everyone else, so stop it."

"Stop what, exactly Helena?" he said, finding his voice again but his tone far from calm. In fact, he was livid with her words. "If you're so aware of his feelings, are you not aware of anyone else's?"

"The problem is, I am." She replied instantly and walked towards him, leaving little space between them. "I am very well aware but there's nothing being done about it."

He looked down at her and narrowed his eyes slightly, "What do you mean?"

Helena looked at him and pursed her lips slightly. Loki could be a genius at all other moments but whenever it came to the two of them, he was as clueless as it gets.

"Do you love me, Loki?" she blurted and raised her eyebrows for what felt like the hundredth time that day, at his facial expression. She watched him hesitate and struggle with an answer and after a few minutes of strained silence, he answered.

"Isn't - isn't it obvious?" he said, hating that his tone had a slight tremor in it and Helena resisted the urge to sigh.

"Loki, this isn't what -" she began but he cut her off.

"Helena, you know I, I'm not good with these things. I thought it had always been obvious and you made it seem that we were on the same page. Why else would I be so possessive? How could you say you're not mine?" he said urgently.

"It is obvious but every time you have a chance to prove it, you never do anything." She said, frowning. "Do you think love is just about the secret glances we've been sharing for years? That would've been fine if eventually we were going to get somewhere, but we aren't. We've been at the same spot since we were children and I've been waiting for you to take the chance and make your move."

He fell silent at her words because he knew she was right. But Loki struggled with this. Expressing emotions wasn't something that he was used to it, if anything, he only expressed his displeasure and sarcasm.

Helena's expression softened and she sighed. "Loki, I know. I know that I'm pushing you a bit and that you aren't comfortable with sharing your feelings to others but this is me, Loki….me. Helena…the one that knows you better than anyone else could possibly ever claim to know you. We've been standing at a thin line for so long that it's exhausting and I want to know where this is going to go. Let's not forget how you denied me in front of everyone at the yearly festival a few months ago and I've been struggling with you since."

She turned away from him and went back to sit on the edge of the training arena, and turned her head, facing him again. She looked at him and knew by the slight flush in his face that he was reminded of his stupid mistake.

If Loki could take back anything he'd ever said, it would be that statement at the festival.

One of his father's friends had teased him and had called out in front of everyone, asking him if he was courting Helena. In a moment of panic, he replied sarcastically how, of course not. She was nothing but a close friend.

He sighed as he remembered the expression on Helena's face when everyone who had already assumed they were together turned to stare at her. Loki knew as much as Helena did, how she had expected that moment to turn very differently; she had thought he was finally going to say something but disappointment washed over her, drowning her. She had masked her hurt with a tight smile and lightly putting her arm around him, stating that they were indeed, only the best of friends.

Loki paid for that comment quite dearly; she had refused to even acknowledge his existence for days on end.

"Helena…I'm sorry. I know that moment will never be forgiven but, -"

"That's not true. I've forgiven you…I'm not one to hold grudges against you, you fool." She muttered, cutting him off. "That doesn't mean the topic doesn't hit a sensitive cord. This is why I get upset when you cause a scene with Fandral or others in general when you get jealous. You get jealous but you're still not willing to do anything about it. I've never pushed you for anything because I don't like pressuring you but at the same time, I'm being pushed constantly to the side."

Loki nodded silently and looked down at his feet. He was fighting with his inner demons, and he knew she was aware of that.

"Are you even able to tell me you love me? Even when it's just the two of us?" she asked softly, the composed expression she had through the whole conversation starting to slip and her longing to hear him say those three words took it's place.

The strained silence took over again and Helena stared at him, waiting for an answer. Refusing to meet her eye, he shuffled on his feet.

"I'm….I'm sorry." Was all he could whisper.

She blinked and felt her heart drop. Getting on her feet, her expression flattened and she looked at him one last time.

"Don't be." She said, her voice surprisingly steady though she felt anything but steady. "It was my fault for waiting. I should've figured staying as friends would always be best by now."

Her comment about 'staying as friends' hit him like a sharp whip and he looked up as she walked away, her frustration and anger showing through her footsteps. He wanted to go after her, he really did, but what would he say? He loved her to the point that imagining one day without her made it difficult to breathe.

However, his feelings were always on lockdown. That's what he was used to. Even though Helena was different, opening himself to that level of vulnerability scared him and the last thing he wanted to be was a coward in front of her.

Then again, by denying what he felt, that's exactly what he was: a coward and a disappointment. Even to the one person who he would gladly lay down his entire life for, a disappointment.

Always a disappointment.