1
My grandmother had explained the bond when I was very young. She had thought it best to explain it, so that it would not come as a shock if it happened too early on. I was only four years old, so I didn't really understand, but as I grew up and saw it happen to others, the expectation and yearning to find my match swelled inside me. My heart would race with excitement every time I would meet someone whose eyes seemingly matched mine. Yet, as every year went by and it didn't happen, the feeling would deflate just a little more.
Of course, there was a chance, however small, that I would not find my soulmate.
It rarely happened, but it happened.
It didn't help that ninety-nine percent of the population found their soulmate before their thirtieth birthday, leaving a small one percent to find that person before their thirty-fifth. After that, if you had been unable to find your soulmate, you fell into the 0.0000000003 percent of the population that would never find them. I was still two years away from those dismal odds, but I was no longer hopeful.
I tried not to focus on it, remembering that happiness was not only found in a life-mate. After all, I had a wonderful job, I had been granted so many good opportunities in life, and I had never wanted for anything, so I tried to keep myself occupied.
Of course, it didn't help that there was always someone that would make a 'well-meaning' comment, such as, "Don't worry, you still have time." or the ever popular, "It's not all it's cracked up to be."
The hope in me was but a thin thread now.
I awoke that morning with a dark cloud over my head. I had been dreaming about him… at least, I thought it was a him; there was always the possibility that it could be a woman and having always been attracted to both sexes, I couldn't be sure. I could see his face in my dreams, but I could never remember his features after I woke up.
In my dream, we had been enjoying a picnic by the ocean. I could smell the salt in the air, the bright sun burned my shoulders, my cheeks and my nose, but the breeze playing with my loose curls cooled it briefly.
I loved the ocean. I always had. And we were so happy, just sitting there in silence, enjoying soggy sandwiches and the kind of chips that were too salty and left you parched. The wind picked up, blowing sand into my eyes and the illusion came crashing down.
I felt a sharp pain in my eye, my right eye, the one I knew belonged to him and I ran to the edge of a small tide pool where I could see my reflection. It was happening again, my eye, his eye, had turned blood red. The sky was swirling with dark clouds, the wind was so strong I couldn't even stand, and it had started to snow. I could see his reflection on the pool that had now frozen over, two red eyes were staring above me, and he was yelling something; but the roar of the wind swept away his words.
I awoke, stumbling out of bed, alarmed that it might be happening again, but the reflection from the mirror above my dresser, showed one green eye and one brown. I got closer to the reflection, inspecting my face more thoroughly, scrutinizing my appearance.
My brown skin was flushed, a thin layer of sweat covering my brow. The mass that was my black curly hair threatened to swallow my small features; a consequence of going to bed before my hair had dried after washing it the night before.
My eyes, however, remained the same.
One brown, the color of cinnamon, one green, the color of peridots.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I sometimes wished it had all been my imagination, but had others not witnessed it, I would have written it off as a bad dream or as the aftermath of a month of little sleep.
There had been no pain, no warning as it happened, and I had only been made aware of it when Joe, a coworker, at the time, had gasped and dropped a test tube. I had been so distracted by my own work, that the sound of the shattering glass had made me jump an inch from my stool.
"What's wrong, Joe?" Kate, another co worker asked, but he was staring at me.
"Brielle…" He lifted a finger at my direction. "your eye…"
I raised my hand to touch my face, but I stopped, holding my hand still just a few millimeters from my forehead. The pungent smell from the latex gloves I wore stung my nose, reminding me it would not be wise to touch my face after I had been handling certain chemicals.
I ran to the mirror on the wall adjacent to my desk and gasped. My usually green eye had turned red, and not just the iris, but the sclera as well.
I immediately ran to the eyewash station, and shortly after, I had been rushed out by paramedics that Kate had called. I remembered noticing that my eye did not sting or hurt, and on the way to the hospital my eye right had turned back to its usual green color. The doctors had not been able to explain what had happened. Only suggesting it might have been an allergic reaction, or perhaps had been irritated by one of the chemicals I had been using. They had advised I return if it happened again, or if I had any discomfort.
A few days passed before it happened again. I had awoken late at night, my bladder almost bursting after drinking three water bottles after a late workout before bed. I was half asleep, and had dozed off on the toilet for a few minutes. When I went to wash my hands my reflection startled me again. This time, not only had my eye changed color, but the skin surrounding my eye, part of my brow and over my cheekbone was a worrisome blue color. I had dialed 911 with trembling fingers, missing the numbers twice on the smooth surface of my smartphone.
The doctors had no explanations, much to my dismay. After a few hours in the emergency room, and almost twenty doctors having poked and prodded at my face, my skin, and eye had gone back to their original color. No one could explain it, and since there had been no precedents of it happening to anyone before, no one could find any answers. The doctors had kept me in the hospital for another 24 hours, just to make sure it wasn't life-threatening.
I shook my head, bringing my mind back to the present. It had been six years since it had happened, and it had not happened since. I needed to stop dwelling on it, plus I needed to get ready for work. I grabbed my phone and groaned; it was so late I only had time for a quick tooth brushing. I had no time to blowdry my unruly curls but I did put on a dab of mascara and a bit of tinted lipbalm before heading out of my room. Living where you worked had its advantages, however, it also meant that you had no excuse for tardiness. I needed to hurry if I was to catch Ms. Potts for the approval I needed signed, and with any luck, she might even get Mr. Stark to sign off on it today.
I worked at what was now known as the Avengers tower, and had been here for almost three years. The work was demanding, but extremely exciting, not to mention the pay was excellent.
Donning a crisp white lab coat, black pencil skirt, white blouse, and black flats, I headed up three flights of stairs to the lab.
Lately, we had found a need for better insulation and protection for the current suits the Avengers team wore during their missions. My team and I had been working on polymer-based aerogels to try to solve the problem. Being the lead biotechnical engineer at Stark Industries meant my team and I needed to stay far ahead of modern technology. Just this week, we had made a few breakthroughs, building a lighter, stronger material that held up to extreme temperatures without transferring heat or cold to the wearer. We were ready to bring it into application, but we needed approval of the implementation plan, and that was usually handled by Mrs. Potts.
After picking up the files from the lab, I took the elevator to her office, only to be informed by her secretary that she was in the penthouse with Mr. Stark.
"Wonderful!" I said. "Maybe he can sign the plan as well."
Colbie, her secretary smiled as she picked up the phone, and after a quick call to Ms. Potts' cellphone, I headed to the elevator towards the penthouse.
I had to admit going up to the penthouse always made me a bit nervous. I had been up there before, and had met almost all of the Avengers themselves; and it wasn't at all that I was prone to fanaticism, but if I was honest, I was a little bit star struck every time I met another member of the team. Although most of the times I had been up there it would just be or Dr. Banner who I would meet, it was still exciting.
I ran a hand over the wild tangle that was my hair as I caught my reflection on the shiny elevator's walls, regretting not having had time to tame it this morning.
I quickly admonished myself.
I was acting like a silly teenager. I reminded myself that my hair, no matter how many battles and disagreements we had shared in three decades, was still beautiful in its natural state. Still, I ran my fingers through the silky curls once more before the elevator dinged and the doors parted.
The black marble floors were always so well polished up here, and the temperature always seemed cooler. The decor was so stylish and modern, with its black leather chairs with chrome metal accents, and the infinite amount of black marble and glass. I always approved of Mr. Stark's sense of style... or his decorator's, anyway.
"Good morning, Dr. Cordova, working so early on a Saturday?" Ms. Potts greeted me, giving me a warm smile as she set down a cup of coffee on the shiny black counter of the bar area. "Tony…" She called out behind her.
"Good Morning, Ms. Potts! I'm just excited to test out the new polymer." I smiled, handing her the clipboard. She quickly scanned the wording signing and initialing all five pages, before handing it back to me.
"Someone need me?" From the sitting area, where I noticed the whole Avenger's team was congregated, I heard Mr. Stark as he turned around. "Ah! Dr. Cordova, how can I help you?" He waved me towards the middle of the room, as he walked a few steps away from the team. I felt embarrassed and self-conscious, I had probably interrupted a meeting… and I had to pick today to not do my hair...
"I'm sorry for interrupting, sir, I just need an approval."
"Tsk, tsk, working on a Saturday..."
I was about to answer the same way I had with Ms. Potts as I handed him the pen, but my smile fell as a chill ran down my spine.
The pen and the clipboard fell… and Mr. Stark had said something, but I couldn't hear it.
Every noise around me had been muffled, every movement was suddenly slowed. All I could hear was my own breathing, too loud to my own ears. The rhythmic beat of my heart was so very loud and pounding in my ears. My brain was confused, I felt weightless, as though I was suspended in water, and for a second light seem to refract and blur.
Everything looked out of focus and too bright. A buzzing sound in my ears began forming a thin golden thread of consciousness.
And I realized, there was someone else's breathing, someone else's heart beating in my ears as well. A small whisper within that buzzing kept repeating my name over and over. I exhaled sharply and looked up, ever so slowly.
When my eyes caught sight of him, he was surrounded by a bright golden light. His form, tall and lean, broad shoulders and a proud stance. His hair, black, slicked back and straight. His complexion pale, made more noticeable by his black leather ensemble, highlighted with green fabric and golden metal. He was staring at me, as intently as I was him…. and his eyes… The moment our eyes met, we both gasped in unison.
The bond.
We drew breath at the same instant, our breathing aligning just as both our heartbeats steadied to the same rhythm. His eyes matched mine perfectly for just as second, before my right eye became slightly tingly, the sensation making me blink rapidly.
When I stopped blinking, I wasn't looking at him anymore. I was looking at myself through his eyes, and my eyes were now both brown. I blinked again dazed by the strange out of body sensation as I came back to my own body. I was staring at him now, and both his eyes were now green.
The sound of a cup smashing on the tiled floor brought me back, someone gasped and I could feel my heart began to pound hard against my chest, as in an effort to escape.
"Soulmates…?" Someone spoke, but I couldn't tell who.
"How can this be?" Thor, who stood besides my soulmate, spoke.
The man... my soulmate... opened his lips to speak, but the words were cut off from his mouth as his face twisted in pain, his cuffed hands reaching towards his eyes.
I was frightened for a second, before it hit me. The pain that exploded on my right eye left me dazed and clutching at my own head. I felt to my knees as the painful stab smashed at my skull. It dimly registered that the marble floors were not cold as I fell and I began to scream, each blast of pain making my whole body shake.
He could hear her screaming. The woman, the unassuming woman in a white coat, who he hadn't been able to stop staring at since she had stepped out of the elevator.
The pain was unbearable. Slamming into his head like a sledge hammer, repeatedly blasting his right eye, making him groan in pain.
He could hear her screaming and he felt a compelling need to go to her, to help her, but it was difficult to think as his vision blurred and black spots swam in front of his eyes. He fell to his knees as well, groaning in pain. He had seen her fall as the pain they were both experiencing, brought her down as well.
"Brother? Brother…" He could hear Thor next to him. "Brother!" He sounded more alarmed now, which prompted Loki to open his eyes quickly. Though the pain was relentless, he saw it, his cuffed arms were turning blue, he knew the rest of his skin was as well, yet the skin near the cuffs was still that light beige hue.
He understood.
"Thor…" He managed, no more than a whisper as he thrust the cuffs at his brother's face, willing him to understand. Loki could almost hear the wheels turning in his brother's head. A look of indecision crossed Thor's face as he realized what was happening.
It irked Loki, and had he been in less pain, he would have ripped his brother's head off, but he pleaded as he heard her scream in agony.
"Please brother…" he managed, "I need to help her.."
Thor did not doubt a moment longer, quickly unlocking the golden cuffs that fell to the floor with a loud clank, breaking the marble floor underneath them.
Loki was more thankful to his brother than he had ever been in his whole life. Not only because the pain had instantly vanished, but because he knew the pain had also stopped for her.
"Thank you." He gripped his brother's shoulder, and Thor's face lit up.
"Do not make me regret it, brother." He warned as he also gripped Loki's shoulder and helped him up.
"What's going on?" Stark's woman kept asking in a shrill voice, Loki ran to their side behind the couch.
The woman… my soulmate… Loki quickly corrected himself, was curled up on the floor, her whole body shaking, as she cradled her head between her knees.
His heart hurt for her, and he felt a pang of guilt ache in his chest. It had been his fault that she had experienced this.
"Wait!" Stark reached a protective hand around her as Loki moved closer.
"Please…" The words did not come from him, although he had meant to speak them, but from his brother. Again, he felt thankful to his brother.
Slowly, and with a very distrustful expression, Stark moved away from the woman… from his soulmate…as he kneeled in front of her. She was sobbing quietly, still trembling, and he noticed his hands, now fully blue, were shaking as well as he reached for her. He hesitated for a moment, would he hurt her if he touched her? He pulled them back on to his lap.
"Cordova? Is that her name? I heard you speak it." He addressed Stark's woman, as he painfully refrained from touching her.
There were tears on the redhead's eyes, and her voice shook as she answered him, she was still running a soothing hand on the woman… his soulmate's back.
"Brielle… her name is Brielle. Cordova is her surname."
"Brielle…?" He said her name, it shook on his lips, and he was only slightly embarrassed of his own doubt. "Brielle?" He said it once more, more confidently this time.
She unfurled slowly, her whole body still shaking. As she tried to straighten herself, she brought trembling hands to her face, wiping away tears and smearing the black cosmetic from her eyelashes.
Her eyes fell on him and she practically jumped where she sat, startled, more tears welling up in her eyes.
He almost cringed, and looked away briefly, feeling ashamed and disgusted with himself. He knew what he looked like.
A monster.
The tears ran down her flushed cheeks once again, and he noticed the dusting of freckles on her tanned skin as he looked back into her now brown eyes. He tightened his grip on his legs, it was all he could do to prevent himself from reaching and wiping those tears away. The room was so quiet, nobody breathed as they waited.
"It's you." She whispered, aghast.
She smiled at him, the tears running down her cheeks and on to the white blouse she wore. He held his own breath, not daring to breathe.
"It's you…" She said again in disbelief, the smile making her eyes sparkle and his heart beat faster. "You're the one from my dreams."
She threw her arms over his shoulders in a tight hug. She had moved so quickly, he had almost fallen back. He released the breath that he had been holding, and in an effort to hide the moisture in his own eyes, he circled his arms around her, burying his head into her perfumed hair, and the crook of her neck.
A rainbow of color exploded in my mind as we held each other. I noticed the scent of leather was prominent, but his own spicy and cool scent was mixed in as well. His shoulders were wide and strong and he held me so tightly, I could almost melt into him. There was that buzz again, in my mind, a golden thread that I could almost grasp, but was too distracted by the warmth emanating from him to pay much attention to it.
It was him. I recognized him, I could remember him now. Every time I had dreamed about him, every time I had seen those red eyes. It had been him...
"Ahem…" Someone cleared their throat breaking me away from the warm, safe, and calm place I had been in.
We had probably been hugging for a long time, which he seemed to notice as well as he regretfully pulled back from the hug. My face burned with embarrassment, briefly forgotten by the questions that began building in my mind. I pulled myself away, still disoriented from the previous and very painful experience. The pain was gone now, but I was still shaken. He rose first, holding out his hand to help me up, and I was thankful I had worn flats this morning, as my knees threatened to buckle underneath me. I looked up, embarrassment making my face burn red, everyone looked so worried and on edge.
I turned to look at him and was surprised once more, noting that his skin had changed back to the normal light beige tone from before. His eyes were green now, no longer red. I was about to ask him how, but was distracted by just how tall he was. Standing at a scant five-four, I barely reached his shoulder. That was not all that had stopped me from asking, however, his face seemed so familiar. I could swear I had seen him like this before today, but how could that be possible? I recognized him from my dreams, but only as that red-eye blue creature that he had been seconds before. But like this, he also looked so familiar.
He was apparently an alien, but I didn't care to process what that meant for any future together at the moment. Yet he seemed very much like a human, and he did not look grotesque or scary, even with his blue skin. He realized I was staring at him and he gave me a smile, a smile that made my heart begin to race and my cheeks burn hotter. I smiled and looked away as he guided me to one of the chairs.
"Ok...can somebody explain what just happened?" Mr. Stark asked, as everyone began taking a seat. "I have witnessed many recognitions, but never anything like that."
I silently agreed with him.
Someone handed me a cup of something hot. The strong herbal smell made me scrunch my nose, I looked up and saw Dr. Banner giving me a worried look as he signaled for me to drink up.
"The cuffs." Thor was explaining as he picked gold cuffs from the broken spot of marble floor.
I took a sip of the tea, burning my tongue in the process but cinching my brow for another reason.
The cuffs. I had noticed the cuffs. Why had he been cuffed?
"They are enchanted to prevent the wearer from channeling any magic." He went on. "And they were apparently preventing the bond from taking place as well."
Prevented the wearer from channeling magic…So my soulmate could use magic but was not being allowed to use it… Why?
"What I don't understand…" Natasha Romanov spoke in a low and serious tone from across the room, her arms folded across her chest, her stance rigid. "is why Loki's eyes were not mismatched before the bond?"
Loki… my soulmate's name was Loki…
I gave her a questioning look. "They were…" My voice broke and I cleared my throat. "I saw them change… one brown and one green... they matched mine before the bond."
"Impossible!" Thor sounded incredulous.
Loki… Loki… that sounded so familiar...
"My brother's eyes have always been green."
"I have a theory..." began Loki…
"Wait!" I stood up to face him almost spilling the tea over myself, the realization of exactly who he was finally dawned on me..
"YOU'RE LOKI?!"
"Yes…" He shifted on his feet, but looked at me steadily as he said so.
He was Loki.
The monster that had attacked New York five years before and had destroyed half the city in the process. The murderer that had caused the death of hundreds of people. The alien who had tried to enslave humanity. He was Loki… and he was my soulmate...
"I'm gonna need something stronger than this." I threw a hand up in the air and handed the cup of tea over to Dr. Banner.
I moved away towards the bar area, breathing fast. If I didn't calm down I would start hyperventilating.
I couldn't look at him anymore. I couldn't process it all. I needed time, I needed to think, I needed to breathe, but it all seemed too difficult at the moment. I leaned against one of the barstools, feeling dizzy and disoriented once again. My head felt as thought it would explode. It was all too much to handle…
This was not how it was supposed to happen… What did one do when their soulmate was a murderer?
As much as I tried not to focus on it, I had to admit I had always fantasized about the day I would meet my soulmate.
We'd laugh and joke about how I was never very punctual, so it was probably my fault it had taken so long for us to meet. New tears began welling up in my eyes. Someone placed a glass and a bottle in front of me. I looked up to find Mr. Stark pouring me a drink.
"Best medicine I can recommend." He said simply.
I laughed through the tears.
"Tony, we've got a threat…" Agent Hill had come in through the elevator, but she stopped as soon as she saw everyone. "Am I interrupting something?"
I laughed bitterly, downing the shot in front of me, choking and coughing at the burning sensation. I wasn't used to hard liquor, but it had managed to calm my frayed nerves.
I put the shot glass down, and turned to Ms. Potts. "I… I can't… I'm…I need to breathe..." I said quietly picking up the clipboard that someone had placed on the bar area.
"Let me go with you..." Her voice was gentle but firm.
"I'll be fine…" I said, quietly walking out as fast as I possibly could. I didn't even look back at him… Loki.
What was the point? It all made sense now, everyone's edgy mood, the cuffs... Prohibits the wearer from channeling magic.
Especially if the wearer was a psycho killer.
I went downstairs, thinking of going into the lab, but heading to my room instead. It was all too much… I still felt like I couldn't breathe… I barely managed to close my door before I collapsed, leaning against it, letting sobs tear through me.
It wasn't supposed to be like this…
All this time waiting, hoping, dreaming…
How could we ever be together? Aside from him being an alien and whatever that entailed, he was the murderer that had tried to enslave humanity. How could anyone forgive that? And even if I could… he would probably be a prisoner for the rest of his life. How could we make a life together like that?
I laughed at myself as I imagined myself in visiting him in a prison once a week, being allowed conjugal visits. All my life working so hard to get out of the L.A. slums only to end up the wife of a convict anyway.
Wasn't life ironic?
What was more pathetic was that, as crazy as the idea seemed, I still felt that if I were given the chance, I would do it…
Pathetic...
How would that ever work? Just leave the planet? Just leave my friends, family, work, all of it behind trying to chase after a slight chance at being happy for the man that was supposed to be my lifemate. .
I sobbed again.
It just wasn't meant to be… At least now I knew. I knew that there had been someone that had been meant for me. At least now I could move on.
But why hadn't he made better choices… I suppose that was what hurt the most, the thought that my soulmate could be so selfish… That he hadn't thought about the future. Our future…
I remembered what Agent Romanov had mentioned, that his eyes were both green before… what had she meant?
Does it matter?
Even through the disappointment I wondered if I could see him again… What was he doing back on earth? Would he be imprisoned here? How long would he be here? There were so many questions in my mind. A part of me wanted to just let it all go. It was impossible… but my heart… My soul yearned to see him again. To speak to him, to be near him. It had been less than an hour since I had left the penthouse and all I could think of was if I would see him again.
Why? Why him?
"The reason we are destined to be with someone, the reason for the bond, is so that person can bring out the best in us and so we can bring out the best in them." I remembered my grandmother's words. I had been only four years old when she had explained it, I didn't understand it then, but I knew she was right...
Her words resonated in my head now.
Could I? Could I try? If I did… would he want to try as well?
"Ugh!" I lifted myself up. Angry at myself for running away. If I kept over thinking I would drive myself mad.
I needed to talk to him…
He caught himself pacing.
Everyone had left and he had been locked away. The cell was no more than a bare white room, a white bench bolted to the floor, and a clear glass wall as an entrance, very similar to the ones in Asgard, perhaps not as fancy but just as secure, he was sure. At least back in Asgard he had distractions, books, neighboring cell mates to irritate. Here, he had been left alone with his troubled mind.
He had witnessed the bond in the past, it wasn't as common in Asgard, but he had seen it happen. Still, he had never expected it would happen to him. Just like his brother had said, his eyes had always been green… Except when they weren't. He wondered now, why it had never occurred to him to look at his own reflection when he was in his natural state as a Frost Giant. Well, he didn't question it too much, after all, who would want to look in the mirror only to find the monster they had feared as a child staring back?
That had been the reason he had never known that under Odin's magic, a brown eye, the eye of his soulmate, had been hidden.
If only I could speak to her… but would why would she even want to speak to me?
She hadn't even looked back at him as soon as he had found out his identity… yet she hadn't been disgusted or scared by his appearance as a Frost Giant.
"It's you...You're the man from my dreams…"
Hearing her speak those words in that melodious soft voice had made his heart soar.
The memory brought on even more questions, and anger boiled inside of him. Even after his death, his father… Odin... still managed to make his life difficult.
Had he done it on purpose?
Had Odin hidden the eye knowingly?
Had his father thought that since he was taking a child away from his birthplace the chances of finding said soulmate were so small that it did not matter if he hid it?
"Argh!" He felt the wave of power raise within him. Rage and raw magic, trying to rise out of him in an attempt to soothe his temper, but he managed to hold it in. It would not be beneficial to waste his magic or lose his temper like this. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, reminding himself to keep a cool head.
Perhaps after all this was over, he could ask to see her.
Which brought him back to why he was back on earth. It had slipped out of his mind as soon as she had stepped out of the elevator. He had been unable to tear his eyes away from her. There had been a bright white aura surrounding her and it had left him stunned as he understood what it meant. He couldn't stop staring at her. Inside his chest, his heart had begun beating so fast as he felt the connection begin to build. He noticed the way her smile touched her eyes, making them sparkle. He noticed the way her long curly hair framed her small face, her small nose, her full lips.
His heart clenched in his chest. He yearned to see her, to touch her once more, but what then…?
What would he offer her? What could he offer? He had nothing, not even his own freedom.
The urge to be near her was almost crippling, however. He had gone his whole life, without the thought for such a connection. Never even considering the possibility, all his connections to women having been temporary, serving the need to satiate his curiosity when he was young or as a rare pleasurable pastime as an adult. Perhaps this had been the reason he had never felt the need to pursue anyone romantically. Now that the opportunity had presented itself, he would not let it go.
But what of her? Would she be willing to grant him the opportunity? After all, all she knew of him was the monster who had killed and destroyed her people, her planet.
That had changed. He had changed.
He had made better choices after the death of his mother. He had even gone so far as to try to mend things with his father before his death. The relationship had been beyond repair, but Odin had asked to see him as a last wish on his deathbed.
Odin had asked for forgiveness for all his faults as a father, but he couldn't blame his bad choices on the man. He knew he was personally responsible for letting his own blinding insecurities lead his actions. And he had worked so hard the last four years, convincing his brother that he could be trusted.
This mission back to earth had been another one of his brother's tests in trust. The team had found a magical relic, Thor had mentioned, that perhaps Loki would be able to help with. None of them could touch it, and they had witnessed that any humans who touched it would vanish. With all his knowledge in magic, Thor though Loki might be able to help them gather the object, and help them safeguard it.
He had promised more leniency as well, to shorten his sentence, and to make sure the people of Asgard learned he was reformed and willing to help.
He smiled, even through his dark mood, as he sat down on the bench stretching out his long legs, feeling physically tired although he hadn't done much today. If his brother granted him any more liberty he'd be running the kingdom in less than a year.
A chuckle escaped his lips as he rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes.
He understood what his brother was trying to do. He was attempting to show the people of Asgard that he could be trusted. Still, he could not understand why his brother hadn't taken the throne already. Their father had died almost two years ago, but even now, Asgard still remained without a king.
"You know, when I helped design this cell, I never imagined I would be visiting its first prisoner."
It was his turn to jump startled, almost falling off the bench. He hadn't even heard her come in.
Brielle...
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." I bit my lip trying not to laugh, and shifted my gaze away from him, taking interest on the small cell-holding.
I remembered designing the transparent mesh that covered the glass as well as the polymer coating. It helped conduct electricity, without compromising the reinforced glass, but it didn't seem to be powered at the moment. A soft golden glow would tint the edges of the cell when the power was on.
Brow furrowed, I ventured a quick touch of the glass surface.
I raised an eyebrow.
Nope, it certainly wasn't on. It couldn't be a mistake, could it? Without power, the cell was no more than an oversized display case. A sturdy display case, but a display case nonetheless.
"Admiring your design?" He asked. His hands behind his back, he stood straight regarding me with hooded eyes, a small curved smile playing on his lips. My heart leapt inside my chest once again, and I briefly wondered if he was always so confident.
Wow...he's so handsome… It was all I could think for a moment, and after staring at him for too long, I remembered I had come searching for answers, not just to stare.
"Umm...what?" I asked, a stupid smile full of admiration on my lips.
His smiled widened, and he looked away briefly, clearly enjoying the effect he had on me.
"Not just admiring your work, I see."
My cheeks burned with embarrassment, now. How could this man be such an infuriating flirt and why was it that I found it so infuriating sexy.
"Yes… I was…" his right eyebrow shot up. "No… I mean… I was admiring…" If my face got any redder it would catch on fire. "The cell… I was just admiring the cell…"
How had this man managed to turn me back into an inarticulate teenager.
"It's quite alright." His voice had taken a silky tone, "I was admiring you too."
I didn't think I could blush any harder, even my ears burned, but I needed to put a stop to it. As much as I was enjoying the banter, I had questions, important questions that needed answers.
"Stop it," I held up my palm, and looked down at my feet, attempting to recover. "Stop flirting with me, I came here to talk…" I looked back at him, that devilish smile still playing on his lips. "I need to ask you... questions."
How ever did he manage to turn me, an adult, well-educated woman, with years of public speaking experience, into an maundering idiot.
He raised his shoulders slightly.
"Ask away."
"Um.. Well… It's not that easy…" I stumbled with my words again. Hadn't I rehearsed what I would ask and what I would say when I found him? What had happened to all that? I suppose I hadn't taken into account the way he would make me feel. The way my heart would race and my pulse would pound every time I laid eyes on him. I really did not consider that my legs would turn to jelly when he was near and that it was a struggle not to open the cell door and fling myself into his arms. This link between us… It was just so powerful. Nothing I had ever experienced even came close to it.
"What would you like to know?" His calm demeanor was just as irritating. How could he be so calm when I was turning into a horny puddle of incoherent and inappropriate thoughts?
I took a couple deep breaths before continuing. I needed to keep a level head, be brave, and just ask away. I mean he was my fucking soulmate for crying out loud… FUCKING soulmate…. Stop it! Concentrate!
I should be able to open up to him and be vulnerable with him more than anyone else right?
"What are we gonna do?" I finally began.
He only tilted his head slightly.
"I mean… You're an alien to begin with, and I don't even know if the bond even means the same to Asgardians as it means to us earthlings. Does it? Because if you find your soulmate here on earth it means that person is your destiny, that person is your life-mate. You go on to marry and have a family, and everything's supposed to click and work out, and make you a better person… But whatever, is it the same for Asgardians? Wait, are you even Asgardian?" I narrowed my eyes, remembering his blue skin.
I noticed a small twitch in his forehead and his smile faltered for an instant. Instead of feeling embarrassed for asking him something he clearly disliked however, I felt better, more relaxed. He wasn't the cool, confident, flirt he wished to portray, and I could read him. We were on level footing.
It took him a bit to answer, measuring his words before doing so.
"Yes, it means the same to Asgardians." He folded his arms across his chest and turned away slightly. The smile had disappeared. "Perhaps not as simply as you put it, but yes. Finding your lifemate through the bond is very powerful magic that links two souls together. Those that are gifted through the bond are bound forever and it is an unbreakable bond that is often found to be beneficial to both parties."
"You sound like a textbook." I noted dryly.
"It's not very common in Asgard, but you do see it." He continued, turning back to face me, "As to the meaning of the bond to the Jotunn race, I cannot attest to. I was brought up in Asgard and have very little knowledge as to their customs or practices." He had leaned a hand against the glass, bringing himself as close as possible to me, I leaned closer as well.
Jotunn… So he wasn't from Asgard…That brought on so many more questions, but that seemed to be a touchy subject, I would store that information for later...
"I see…" my voice quiet, I looked up at him through my lashes. "So… how does it make you feel, then?" I bit the corner of my lip.
He leaned down closer, there was something predatory about the way he looked at me, his voice had become deeper and lower.
"When you bite your lip like that, it makes me wonder when it'll be my turn to bite that sexy lower lip of yours..."
The sound of the front door sliding open startled us both.
Agent Hill stepped in and I quickly turned, suddenly interested in the control console to the side of the cage, all in an effort to hide my face.
"Brielle, the team will be back in five minutes," she told me. I only hoped my burning face wouldn't be too telling. "Thor will want to talk to you."
I nodded and she left just as quickly as she had come in. Why did Thor need to talk to me?
The previous moment gone, I cleared my throat and kept studying the control pad, wondering again why it had not been powered on if he was so dangerous.
"Your brother must really trust you, huh?"
"What makes you say that?" His response was clipped. Probably just as annoyed as I was at having been interrupted.
"I see your cuffs are gone."
When I looked back at him, his expression had changed, he was studying me.
"How much stronger than the average human would you say you are?" I narrowed my eyes, making calculations in my head. I was quickly distracted by his smile and the small twinkle that appeared in his eyes. I had always liked the color of his green eye, but both of them on him were hypnotizing.
He got closer again, his voice dropping an octave. "Why? Do you wish to join me in here?"
His suggestion made my breathing quicken once more, stirring thoughts and feelings inside of me that prompted my cheeks to begin burning again.
"Or we could run away together..." I suggested jokingly, turning back to the small control console, still trying to decipher if the power had somehow malfunctioned, but attempting to hide the blush on my cheeks as well. "I guess it all depends on how difficult it would be for you to break through… say 10 inches of reinforced glass?" I pressed a few buttons. Everything seemed to be in order. I looked back at him a minute later when he didn't answer.
His expression had become analytical, gone was the flirtatious curved smile and the suggestive eyes. He turned his head a mere millimeter. "I see… my brother put you up to this."
"What?" I asked confused, my smile faltering as I dropped my hand away from the console. "Put me up to what?"
"Is this another test of his? Is he still trying to determine wether I'm trustworthy?" He walked closer to the glass, his smile had turned sinister, and it made me take a step back. "I have to say, I'm not surprised that a Midgardian woman would stoop so low as to try to use the bond for trickery and dishonesty." His voice had turned harsh and cold when he spoke again. "Well, you can assure my brother that I would not consider 'running away,' even with you."
My throat had gone dry and I felt as though my stomach had dropped to my knees. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to get away. He was dangerous and frightening… And had he just suggested I had planned his escape with his brother, as some sort of test? He was insane… I was only joking… How could I have even contemplated sacrificing my daily life for him just minutes before…
Bring out the best of him... I'm sorry Granny, I can't do it…I thought to myself.
I felt tears of fear and disappointment dot my eyes again, but I stood my ground.
"You know you're right… Well, half right. The one that was trying to determine if you were trustworthy was me. I guess I was just hoping that my soulmate, the man I was destined to be with, was no longer the monster that attacked my planet five years ago. As to running away, I was only joking, I was just trying to figure out why, when you're sitting in the most secure prison in the planet, no one had bothered to turn it on." I turned my gaze back to the console, swallowing hard, urging the tears to retreat, and hating myself for showing weakness when my voice broke. "But thank you. Thank you for destroying that hope and confirming that it was stupid of me to even think we could have a future together."
I pressed a button on the console, the electricity crackled, making a dim buzzing sound, as the mesh lit up and began glowing yellow. I didn't even glance back at him as I turned and left.
Outside the cell, Agent Hill took one look at me, frowned slightly and said, "That bad, huh?"
Fool!
If there was a crown for the king of fools, he was the most deserving.
He should have known the prison hadn't been powered…
"Ugh!" He kicked the bench, but it didn't give way.
He had just lost his chance to speak to her, probably the only chance he would ever get, and he had ruined it because he hadn't trusted her… because he had been a fool and jumped to conclusions.
Loki Laufeyson, King of fools. It sounded more than suitable. Now he couldn't even attempt to go after her, since she had made sure to flip the switch and power up the prison. He collapsed on to the uncomfortable metal bench.
Oh, he was an idiot…
His heart jumped when he heard the front door slide open a second later. He sat up quickly, but was disappointed to find Stark walking in.
If he wasn't a changed man, he would punch the smugness off the human's face…
"Hey there Champ," Stark greeted with that mocking tone, "heard how bad you struckout."
He clenched his fists on his sides, perhaps he wasn't a changed man… It would bring him so much satisfaction…
Stark fiddled with the console, the cell powered down, and the glass began retracting to the side.
"C'mon, loverboy, we need you upstairs."
He clenched his fists at his sides, and released the breath he had been holding…
Loki Laufeyson, King of fools...
In the end, he hadn't done anything to Stark. He had just followed the shorter man like a well-trained dog. It just hadn't been worth it, and he took some solace in the thought that his mother would have been proud.
The whole group awaited them upstairs. Apparently, the previous threat had been resolved quickly, and they were ready to put the morning's plan back into motion.
As they boarded the large aircraft, Loki chose a seat at the very back, waiting for his brother to inevitably join him.
A few moments later, Thor sat, groaning loudly as he did so, and folding his arms on his chest.
"Tell me brother, do you believe you will be able to helps us with this task?"
Loki found it even more difficult not to punch his brother. He ignored the question. Thor knew he was more than capable, otherwise they would not have come to him for help. Instead he got right to the point.
"Was it some sort of test?" He asked simply.
Thor had the gall to look confused.
"Don't act as though you're ignorant."
"Ah...well," he began scratching at his beard. "The team just wanted to make sure they could trust you, so they left you in a prison that you could easily escape." His brother managed to sound apologetic.
"So, did I pass their little test?"
"With flying colors, brother." Thor gave him a hard pat on the back, Loki hardly flinched.
"And the woman?" Voice clipped and calculated, not wishing to give a hint of too much emotion.
"You mean your life-mate, brother?" Thor smiled at him, but Loki's face remained impassive. "She was never part of the test. The "threat" we had to face was only a device to lock you up and watch you."
Loki took a deep breath; losing his temper would not be of any help.
"When your life-mate asked to see you, Stark approved it. He thought it would be a better test." He chuckled. "We were actually worried she was going to attempt to break you out." He quickly waved his hands in front of Loki. Apparently he wasn't doing that good of a job at hiding his anger. "We were just watching, we were not listening to your conversation… so when she began fiddling with the console, Stark got worried and sent Agent Hill in and turned on the sound in the room. When she suggested breaking you out we weren't sure if she was joking, but Natasha urged us to wait."
Loki sank lower into his seat, resting his chin on his thumb and forefinger…They had heard the worst of it.
"You were unfairly severe to her, brother."
Loki took a deep breath again, running a hand through his hair.
He knew he had managed to fuck up, grandly.
"Did you speak to her afterward?" Loki asked after a long silence.
"No, but I will speak in your favor after we're done here, brother. We were all unfair to her, I apologize."
"Why did you need to speak to her?" Loki narrowed his eyes.
"Do not be distrustful, brother, we only wished to know if she would help us."
"Help you?"
"Stark wanted to bring her in out into this little excursion."
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow.
"The team felt it was a more effective way to know they could trust you."
"By threatening her life?"
"Never, brother! I would never allow your life-mate to be in peril."
"Then how would her joining us, help?" Loki asked.
"Because then you wouldn't be able to lie to the team."
Loki just narrowed his eyes.
Thor gave him a quizzical look.
"Do you not know, brother?"
He raised an eyebrow at that, what could Tho know that he didn't?
"The Bond prevents you from directly lying or tricking your lifemate."
Loki's mouth dropped open. He was about to ask something else, but the Captain interrupted.
"We're here." He said simply as the aircraft began its descent.
Having only traveled for a very short time, Loki knew they were still in the same city. As he had been informed, the object was located in a building, in the middle of the city, making it even more dangerous. It was an older building, he noted, one that had been cordoned off and had been evacuated.
As soon as they had landed, he donned his disguise. They had supplied him with a team uniform, to his great horror. After he had politely refused it, he informed them that he would simply use his magic to hide his appearance. He managed to look like any other unassuming agent, short hair, a black suit, and sunglasses. Just like the ones he had seen walking around the Avenger's tower.
It was the middle of the day, and a crowd was beginning to gather as the ever famous heroes landed.
He was briefly distracted from his dark mood, as he noticed some younger women yelling for Thor to pay them attention. Some of them went as far as to throw his brother their undergarments. He almost laughed, a group of younger boys were holding up small mechanical devices, yelling after the group, asking for "pics". The team ignored the bystanders and quickly entered the vacated building.
They had to climb fifteen flights of stairs to get to the locked room. Before they had even arrived to the correct floor, Loki could feel the dark energy emanating from the object inside.
"Ah!" He said quietly, as they kept climbing.
"What is it brother?"
"I think I have an idea of what might be behind the door." He answered with a smile, as he let his disguise disappear.
"Care to share?" It was Barton who spoke. He felt a pang of guilt every time he would see his solemn face. Apparently he had not yet, and perhaps would never, forgive Loki for having enslaved him.
"If I'm not mistaken, there is dark energy emanating from the room."
"Let's hope your magical skills are sharper than your romantic ones?" The purple-clad human noted.
"Why? Do you wish to be courted?" Loki raised an eyebrow.
"Play nice, children." Stark warned them both, but Loki noticed the small smile that quickly vanished from Romanov's lips as Barton threw her an annoyed look.
Their door, an unassuming white door exactly like the others they had passed, stood at the end of the corridor. A red line had been painted on the wooden floor about ten feet away from it. Stark who was in the lead, was careful not to cross it. Apparently, anyone who would step further would trigger the door and vanish.
"What's your conclusion, brother?" His brother seemed too large for the narrow corridor. Looking around, the whole team looked too large for the corridor.
"Dark energy such as this one can only be used for transporting someone, or something to other realms. You know this from experience, Thor."
"Yes, father used it to transport us from one realm to another after the destruction of the rainbow bridge."
Loki nodded.
"So you think whatever's behind the door has been taking its victims to other dimensions?" It was Romanov who voiced the question.
"Yes, but it's not very strong." Loki explained.
"How do you know that?" Romanov again.
"Its reach is limited, as the door still stands."
"Why hasn't the door been sucked in?" This time the Captain was the one to speak.
"Whoever left the object in there, also enchanted the door." Loki answered simply.
"Will you be able to open it?" The Captain asked.
"Yes… but everyone should take cover in case it's stronger than it seems."
They opened the doors on the sides of the corridor for safety.
"Barton." He called and the man turned, giving Loki a skeptical look.
"Yes?"
He handed him a small vial filled with small white crystals.
"If you could use one of your arrows and shoot these at the object, I'd appreciate it."
Giving him a curt nod, Barton grabbed the vial and prepared one of his specialized exploding tips. Once Barton was aiming at the door, Loki extended his arm, allowing a thread of golden magic to touch the door handle.
It slowly spread over the handle, began spinning rapidly and was flung back at their direction, dispersing into a rain of golden sparks as Loki held a halting hand.
"Well that was useless…" Stark began, but gasped after Loki stepped over the line.
The door flung open.
A whirlwind of air created a bright vortex around a small object floating in midair just a few feet away from the door. He was being pulled, someone grabbed him by the arm, and he floated parallel to the floor for a second. He wasn't worried, however, he had felt the arrow as it grazed his cheek and buzzed past him before he was lifted parallel to the ground. It exploded before it hit the target, the white crystals surrounding the object in a perfect circle.
His back hit the the floor with a thud, and he laughed as he looked up to Stark, who had been the one to grab his arm.
"Did I not say I would get it open?" Loki's voice was full of mirth, yet no one had found the stunt as funny as he did, and after assuring them that the crystals would neutralize the power from the object that now lay on the floor, they all stepped closer.
The small room was devoid of any furniture and seemed colder than the rest of the apartment complex.
The pristine white circle of small white crystals now encased the object that had fallen to the floor.
A highly polished white silver chain held a small golden square pendant with a smooth circular gem. The gem was a deep royal violet that seemed to vibrate even while lying on the floor.
"Now that it's been neutralized, what's the next step?" The Captain, who had been walking around the room asked. "I assume you can find a way to contain it?"
He only nodded his head, as sat near the circle.
"What I want to know is, who put it here?" This time, it was the doctor, Bruce who had spoken. "What was the point of sending people to a different dimension?"
"Do you recognize it? Loki?"
Having been transfixed by the vibrating gem, Loki snapped out of his train of thought.
"Um… yes, I do know it." He tore his sight from the gem and looked at his brother. "The object is called the Amulet of Agamotto, and it is used as a gateway between dimensions."
"Is there a way to bring back the people that vanished?" The Captain asked.
"No," Loki said quietly as he formed a glass vase with his magic. It was clear for a second, then began glowing golden with the enchantment he began carving into its surface, only to turn clear an instant later. "I'm afraid the pendant has been transporting its victims to Hel."
I had gone back to the lab for the rest of the afternoon. It was a bad habit of mine when I was upset, the only way get it out was by working.
I had sat on that hard stool for five hours, working out new formulas, measuring and testing out small samples. The soft knock at the door did not surprise me, however, as I instinctively knew someone would come to find me. That and I had heard the heavy footsteps down the corridor as they approached.
It did surprise me, however, to find Thor squeezing through the door as I called out the invitation to come in. I clumsily closed some containers and peeled off the gloves from my hands. The man was simply stunning to look at. I could see how a primitive society like the Vikings would have worshiped him as a God.
"Umm… Hello…" I began awkwardly, hiding my cold hands inside the pockets of the lab coat. I exhaled loudly.
Fuck it… If this man was to be my brother-in-law I needed to stop being so timid. Well, the way things stood, the bond with Loki might not mean anything anyway, so Thor might never really be my brother-in-law… I shook my head.
"Um… Hi…" I extended a hand. "I don't think we were really ever properly introduced, I'm Brielle."
"An honor to meet you, milady." Instead of shaking my hand, he leaned, taking my hand to his lips and kissing it.
That made me blush.
"Um…" I took back my hand, hiding it back in the pocket. "Um…" What did one say to that?
"I am Thor, son of Odin, and Prince of Asgard." He bowed slightly. "It is a true pleasure to meet my brother's life-mate and his future bride."
That made me stop squirming with embarrassment. Whatever gave him the idea that I would be Loki's bride, I didn't know.
"Ok, let's make one thing clear." I took my hands out of the pockets and crossed them on my chest.
"Yes, milady?"
"First of all, please just call me Brielle." He raised an eyebrow. "Really. And second of all, I'm not going to be your brother's future bride."
"But you share the bond, mi… Brielle."
"Yes…" I sighed, feeling a bit disappointed at the thought, once more. "We do share the bond...but that doesn't mean that we will be together…"
"Milady…"
"I'm sorry, Thor… I don't wanna discuss this." I turned away.
"Would it help if I could assure you that my brother is not the same man that attacked your planet years ago?"
I looked over my shoulder, giving him a small smile. "Are you being honest? Or are you just trying to help out your brother?"
"I am always honest." He gave me a smile and I almost believed him. "My brother has even earned the trust of my teammates "
"I… that's not the only issue…" I sighed, sitting back on the stool and rubbing the ache that was beginning to creep onto my right temple.
"Please, I beg you to consider an audience with him, before our departure."
"Departure…?"
"We take our leave tomorrow morning." Thor began tentatively. If he thought he would change my mind… he was almost right… I felt a painful clench in my chest at the thought of never seeing Loki again… But what had I expected? Of course he'd have to go back to his home planet...
"I…" I shook my head. "Thank you… really, thank you, but I don't think… I think it's best to just cut ties like this..." I swallowed hard.
It was for the best.
"Well, if you change your mind, Brielle. My brother has been transferred to one of the member rooms upstairs. If you'd like to speak to him…" He dropped an access card on the counter. "This is the key to his corridor."
He turned and left before I could answer.
It was almost one in the morning and I was still awake, sitting on the bed, staring at the card in my hands. I had planned to sleep, to forget the day had ever happened, but that had been impossible. The questions and what-ifs would not allow me to rest.
I kept turning the card between my thumb and forefinger.
Leave it alone... it's not worth it… if you go see him things will only get more complicated and it'll be harder to forget him. I was trying to be logical, to listen to reason, but the thought of never seeing him again made me nauseous.
There's nothing left to say, you saw the way he reacted this morning. My mind kept reasoning. He's dangerous. He's a murderer. You can't trust him. Plus, what's the point of going to him? Are you really gonna drop everything and leave the planet? You're just setting yourself up for more disappointment and heartbreak.
I took a deep breath. The yearning to see him was too great, however, and no matter how much I tried to reason, I knew I would still end up going to see him.
I need closure. I told myself as I got up and put on the plush bathroom robe over the sleeping shorts and tank top.
Excitement and nerves began bubbling inside of me leaving me almost breathless. I found a pair of flip-flops, pulled my unruly curls into a loose bun. I exhaled loudly and tied the bathrobe, not forgetting to put the key-card in one of the deep pockets.
I was doing this… I just need closure… I kept telling myself.
I paced around the lobby as I waited for the elevator. The mixture of nerves and excitement forced me to keep taking deep breaths. I needed to keep calm. It wouldn't be good to expect too much. It could go as badly as it had in the morning.
The elevator dinged.
The inside was white, polished marble, a gold rail on each side and another set of doors at the other end. I had never had reason to use this elevator, so I was surprised by the lack of buttons for floors. Instead there was a key-card slot was with a green light next to it. As the doors closed and I inserted the key, the small light changed to red and a gentle female voice said to remove the card.
I barely detected the movement of the elevator, and the doors behind me opened a second later.
The long corridor was empty, same white marble floors, bare white walls, and a white door at the end of it.
I stepped out of the elevator and was startled by how quickly the doors closed behind me. I moved forward slowly, my feet had suddenly turned into concrete as I had lost my courage. I swallowed hard, more nauseous with nerves than excitement now, and I could feel cold sweat beading on my brow.
You need to do this! I told myself. You need to be brave!
I exhaled loudly and walked forward, extending my hand to knock, but stopped at the last second.
I was about to turn away, but stopped, startled by the sound of his voice coming from inside.
"Please come in..."
He had stopped pacing as soon as he had heard the elevator doors close.
Relief washed over him and he put a hand to his chest, taking a deep breath to try to calm his fluttering heartbeat. Happiness, a feeling he seldom felt nowadays, warmed his insides and a wide grin split his lips.
He had feared he had missed her while he showered. He had wondered if he should ask where to find her, so he could go see her, but it was so late now, and he doubted anyone would help him after the way he had spoken to her that morning.
He had dressed quickly after his shower, a simple grey shirt and black pants that had been left for him, and he had waited, at first sitting on the sofa in the minimally decorated sitting area. But he had been unable to keep still. So he paced the length of the room, walking back into his room and out over and over again.
It was such a relief that she had come, and he had been prepared to wait all night for her. All that mattered was that she was here…but why wasn't she knocking? He heard her move slowly through the corridor, stop and then walk a few more steps, but no knock came. He could sense her, he noted, could sense her hesitation, could hear the nervous fluttering of her heartbeat. She was scared, it made his smile falter a little, but he understood. Their previous encounter had not been the most encouraging.
"Please come in…" He whispered hopefully to himself.
She must have heard him, because the door creaked open a second later, and she stepped in.
It wasn't often he found himself breathless, but it would seem the sight of this woman would always have that effect on him.
She was dressed in a simple pink bathrobe that almost reached her knees, and matching plastic sandals. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, but some of the curls were loose around her forehead and on the sides. There was nothing impressive or intricate about her outfit or hair, yet she was the most alluring woman he had ever laid eyes on. Even in the dim light, and although she hadn't looked up to see him, he noticed the blush in her cheeks. She busied herself by placing the white keycard on the small table next to the door.
She closed the door behind her and pushed herself against it. He felt a pang of guilt and sadness, that she was not coming closer, but he figured she must still be afraid of him.
He would change that.
"Look I'm just…"
"I am so pleased…"
They both spoke at the same time but stopped, the blush burned darker on her freckled tanned skin as she bit her lip and finally looked up to see him.
He felt his breath catch in his chest one more.
"Sorry, you should…"
"I'm sorry, please…"
They both smiled at that, but he continued.
"Please, continue."
She lowered her eyes at that, biting her lip harder before taking a deep breath.
"I just… I just wanted to say goodbye…" She said softly.
"Oh…" He was a master of hiding his emotions, but this time the disappointment in his voice was evident. He leaned back, sitting on the back of the sofa in the sitting area.
She took a step forward but faltered and leaned against the door once more. He was briefly hypnotized by the way her hands began fiddling with the belt of her bathrobe.
"Um…" She struggled with the words, as he looked up at her face. She avoided his gaze, looking down to her hands instead. "I just.. I think it's for the best… you know?"
He took a deep breath. He understood, but it didn't mean he wasn't disappointed, or that he hadn't hoped that somehow… No, it had been foolish of him to hope. Life had taught him to know better.
Standing tall once again, he willed his voice to become less emotional, detached.
"I understand." He said firmly, which made her instantly look up.
As she looked at him, she seemed to shrink into herself, wrapping her arms around herself.
He hoped the pain he felt was not evident in his face.
"You're human after all." He managed to smirk. "How long is a lifetime for your species?" His brow furrowed trying to remember the right number. "Eighty? Ninety years? It wouldn't have worked out."
"Yea…" Her voice broke slightly and she looked down. "I just never thought my soulmate would be…"
"A monster?" He supplied for her. The look she gave him was one of pure hurt and it made him swallow hard.
"An alien…" She finished quietly. "You're nothing like what I had imagined… but then, I'm sure I'm not what you expected either…" She gave him a sad smile.
"To tell you the truth," his tone was still cold. "I was not even aware that I was destined for a life-mate, so I never hoped for anything, but I have to agree that you're hardly my type."
"Oh…" The sound was so quiet and so full of pain that he wished he hadn't said anything, but it was best to cut ties with her now, remind them both that nothing could come from this.
Still, he felt guilty to be purposefully hurting her, and if he could admit it to himself, he'd known he was trying to bait her. Her anger would be easier to deal with than the sadness in her voice. She stayed silent for what seemed an eternity, her lips parting a few times but no words would escape them.
She shook her head, took a deep breath, and stood straight, turning to face the door.
He almost reached out, almost stepped forward, almost uttered a word to stop her. Instead he tightened his hands into fists, short nails biting into his palms.
She reached for the handle, but didn't open the door.
"I'm still glad I got to meet you, though." He could hear the tears in her voice. "At least I won't be waiting forever now."
He was a disappointment to her, and yet she was still glad their lives had crossed paths. He could only remember one other moment when he had felt complete regret for his past decisions, and that was the day his mother had died.
She turned the handle.
"Wait…"
I froze.
I didn't want him to see the tears in my eyes, but I couldn't move.
I could feel him walk up behind me. I could smell the familiar scent of the shampoo he had used in his shower - the same designer shampoo that all staff found in their own bathrooms. I could almost feel his breath on my back. It sent a chill up my spine and made me sigh out loud. My stomach clenched and I felt butterflies for the first time.
Long, warm, fingers wrapped themselves around my right wrist, raising my hand, bending it gently at the elbow. He opened my palm and placed something cold there, pressing it shut with his own hand.
"It was my mother's." He began, no more than a whisper, but he continued when I began to protest. "I will not allow you to refuse it."
"I..."
"Please…"
I nodded slightly, still staring at the golden door knob, and wondering what the gift could be. I was entirely too aware of how close he was, too aware of his touch, the way his hand was holding mine so gently, his breath on my neck. I noticed the buzzing sound in my ears again, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.
He set my hand down on my side, but his fingers lingered there for more than a few seconds.
I shut my eyes tightly, swallowing hard, as he ever so softly trailed his fingers on the back of my hand as he moved his hand, but he didn't step away. This was it. I tightened my grip on the item he had placed in my palm, I needed to turn the handle now. I needed to leave.
I couldn't.
This would be the last time I saw him.
My soulmate, the person I had been waiting for my whole life. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I had hoped for so much, dreamed about a future, but it was all gone now. And this would be the last time I would see him.
I turned abruptly, wrapping my hands around him in an awkward hug. It made him step backwards slightly.
"Thank you." I whispered against his chest.
I felt his chest rumble as a small chuckle escaped his lips. I sighed loudly, melting into his chest, his scent overwhelming my senses. Gently, as if not to startle me, he peeled his arms out of the hug and wrapped them around me. I noticed our height difference, the top of my head barely reaching his shoulder. He brought one of his arms around my waist, the other one wrapping over my shoulders. He held me so tightly, lifting me to my toes. His scent, his warmth, and that calming buzzing that grew louder in my ears began to engulf me.
My face fit so perfectly against his neck, and as he lowered his face so that his cheek rested against mine, the need to turn my head and kiss him overwhelmed me, so I buried my nose deeper against his skin.
The feeling of comfort and sense of belonging was so strong.
How would I be able to give this up? How would I be able to go a whole lifetime without feeling this again?
I turned my head slightly. He did the same. Our lips came in contact...
There it was again, the buzzing sound, so much louder, except it wasn't just buzzing, there were sounds, voices, words.
My life-mate…
My soulmate…
Yes…mine…
Mine…
Mine…
Can't let go…
Can't give her anything…
He tightened his arms around me, he seemed to notice it as well. He gasped silently against my lips, his breathing stilled for a moment.
Mine… I can't give her up…
Am I… ?
Are you…?
It was his voice, and my voice, but neither of us were speaking.
Loki… ?
His name didn't come out of my lips, yet the sound echoed in my head, in his head.
I gasped, pulling myself away, and bumping against the door in the process. His eyes went wide, his face more pale than before, and I knew my face mirrored his.
Scared and confused, my brain went into fight or flight mode.
I ran.
I couldn't remember how I got to my room, much less why I was sitting in an empty tub, cold and shivering.
I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself, and trying to make sense of what had happened. However, no matter how many times I went through it, I could not decipher if it had been real. It seemed like a dream.
Was it all a dream? Had I imagined it all?
The pain in my right hand, was clear proof that it had all been real. I opened my palm. The metal edges of a pendant had bit into the skin.
Highly polished silver, no bigger than a quarter, with intricate stonework that resembled flower petals surrounding a large green stone.
It was beautiful.
I traced my finger around the small glittering stones of the six petals, trying hard to ignore the fact that the green stone in the middle resembled the color of his eyes. The color of the eye I had lived with for more than thirty years.
I stood on wobbly legs and got out of the tub, walking unsteady towards my dresser to find the small white and blue jewelry box I had inherited from my grandmother. There I found a silver chain, a bit tarnished from lack of wear.
I walked back into the bathroom, placing the pendant on the chain and looking up at myself as I tied it around my neck.
I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. It was funny, the color of his eyes would always be with me, even now that both my eyes matched. I traced the green stone now, admiring the cut of the stone and the way it caught the light and sparkled.
"It doesn't have to be the end…" A voice whispered.
My eyes opened up wide and I jumped back, removing my hand from the pendant and looking around from the source of the voice.
The words had been so clear, but I was alone.
Had it been Loki? After what I had experienced just few hours ago, I wouldn't doubt it, but it hadn't sounded like him. I looked around the room and the bathroom again.
Maybe I was just too tired. It was past four in the morning and I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I could have imagined it…
Still…
I went back to staring at my reflection in the mirror. Hesitating at first, I bit on one of my long nails, and after gathering my courage, I touched the pendant again.
"Loki?" I asked, my voice no more than a whisper. I didn't want to seem crazy, but knew I pretty much was to be asking a question to a pendant.
There was the distinct sound of laughter, which, if I had been less tired, would have really pissed me off. Yet, what caught my attention was that it sounded clearly female.
"I'm afraid not, my child…" She said, the mirth in her voice very pronounced.
"Um…" I was a little disappointed it wasn't Loki, but in the back of my mind I had known it wasn't him.
Whatever had happened earlier with Loki had felt different. The way his words or thoughts, or whatever I had been in my mind had been as if it had been my own thoughts. This was different. The voice was clearly coming into my ears, but sounded very distant.
"Then, who are you?"
"The sun will be rising soon. We have enough time for me to either explain myself, or to help you be with Loki. It's your choice."
I frowned at that.
Trust the incorporeal voice from the pendant and somehow have a chance to be with Loki or let it explain who or what it was, and lose that chance.
I played with the pendant for a second, caressing the green stone, as I bit my lower lip.
"Tell me what to do."