You walked down the familiar halls, taking in every sight, wonderous as they were, although you had seen them your entire life. Your family was well-known in Asgard, and you had spent much of your childhood studying with the princes. Thor had always been foolhardy, hardly ever considering what he was saying, and how it would affect those around him. But this, this was going too far. Loki had a very close secret, one that he shared with no one, not even with you or Thor. You could not blame him though, Thor would yell Loki's preciously kept secret to all the 9 realms without a second thought. Thor knew of his secret, and how he valued it so, and attempted to pressure Loki into divulging it in front of everyone. As Thor forced Loki to back into a wall in an attempt to hide, you watched, fearing to do anything. You feared the brothers' anger, although they were your closest and oldest friends. To intervene would quite possibly evoke the Thunder God's anger. You watched as Loki's eyes brimmed with tears, carefully keeping them in check so that they wouldn't spill over in front of his pompous brother. In a moment, between blinks, Loki had disappeared! You silently laughed to yourself, as Thor's eyes fumed with anger and confusion, obviously not knowing where his brother had gone. You, of course, knew, as you had always been closer to the raven-haired prince. The anger at Thor welled up inside of you, threatening to blow at the next person you saw. You had to remind yourself that you were going to Loki. The anger would not ease the tensions, and would only make his problems worse. As you reached the end of a passageway, you glanced around to make sure that there would be no one watching. As you both were skilled in the art of seidr, the magical force that flowed through all bodies, you had created a magical door to a secret room that had not been used for years, save your's and Loki's hiding from the rest of the palace. With a flick of your wrist, the door appeared, and after you had closed it upon your entry, it disappeared once again. It was so cold and dark in here. Usually Loki would at least light a small fire. With a snap of your fingers a small light flitted across the room. It wasn't much, but enough that you could walk without stumbling.

"Loki? Loki, I know you're in here somewhere!"
Then the thought occurred to you. You were shivering. It was cold! You had noticed it before, but hadn't given it any thought. It was so warm and idyllic outside, a perfect paradise, but in here there was a bitter cold. It snapped at your fingers, nearly turning them blue with cold. You quickly breathed over them, restoring them to proper coloration. You hoped that Loki had something keeping him warm in here.
You called again, "Loki! Where are you? It's just me! No one followed me here. Please come out..." You finally heard a response coming from the shadows, forced out through sobs.

"I had hoped that you wouldn't follow me here. I suppose it was foolish to come to a place that you knew I'd be... just leave me be (y/n), please."

"Why? I came here to talk to you Loki. I fully intend of completing that goal." You heard him speak again, the tears gone, and his voice hollow and flat.

"Congratulations. You've talked to me. Leave me. Now."

"No. I'm not going."

"LEAVE ME!" His voice was forceful and full of emotion. It shook the roof above your head, and you flinched in fear. You saw a small smile come from his face in the shadow. It was not a smile of happiness, nor contentment, but as if he was affirming something to himself. He muttered something unintelligible, but then whispered something that you could barely make out. "So I was right. I am a monster..."

"What in the Nine Realms do you mean, 'I'm a monster'!"

"Ahhh, my loyal friend. Always protecting me, whether she realises what she's defending or not..." You easily found the hints of sarcasm in his voice

"I know quite well what I'm defending Loki! I'm defending you from, well, you..." Your voice was laced with confusion and anger. How could he think that he was a monster! He was as normal as the rest of the Aesir, well mostly. His innate gift of seidr was rare among the men, but he was one of the best in Asgard, his skills envied by the lesser informed. But his behaviour here was unthinkable. Loki, your best friend from childhood was no monster. "Why won't you come out of the shadows, Loki? Why are you hiding from me?"

"You know my answer."

"YOU'RE NOT A MONSTER! JUST COME OUT ALREADY!" Now it was your turn to shake the roof. A long sigh fell from his lips as he granted your wish and stepped out of the shadows into the small light that was illuminating the room. A straight face stared at yours, as you gazed with wonder at him. His voice was as cool as the air in room, and he spoke placidly.

"Now do you see (y/n) (l/n)! I AM a monster! Cower and fear the real me. No mask to protect you now!"

"Wha- Loki? You're a- a- Jotun?" Your voice was filled with disbelief. You couldn't take it all in. Your best friend, your Loki, he was a Frost Giant. No! The Frost Giants were horrid monsters. They were cruel, vicious, with no regard for life. How could he- his voice interrupted your thoughts.

"It makes sense now, doesn't it? All those years, you never understood. You will NEVER understand!" His words were spat with venom. You knew he was right, you could never understand. You would never know what it was like to be the outcast, you just couldn't even if you tried. Your eyes stung, and a lump was caught in your throat. The tears that were brimming on the edge of your eyes were screaming to break free, but you fought them with all your might. If you cried in front of Loki, especially like this, he would have won. He would have claimed that he was right. You fell onto the ground and put your head in your hands as you stopped fighting the tears. You just couldn't hold it back anymore. After what seemed like a forever, you looked up, with obvious tears stains on your face. Loki's face remained unchanged, the same cold face as before, his teeth gritted and skin blue. But as you looked at him there was something different that you couldn't place.

"So I was right. Not even my closest "friend" can stand before me now. But then again, why would a monster like me need any friends. None of you care anyway." There was a smirk across his face, and a dark expression behind it. The sadness that weighed heavily upon your chest felt as if Mjolnir itself layed on you. But added to the pain was a newfound anger. You looked up and stared into Loki's eyes. You stepped towards him, without breaking your gaze. A look of surprise shone in his eyes, and it just as quickly disappeared. As you stepped towards him again, you slowly raised your hand. Loki visibly stiffened at what he thought was coming. Thor, as well as Frigga, had tried the same thing. The tender touch of their hand was supposed to soothe him, and he expected the same from you. You, however had something very different in mind.