Sanctuary

by amberthorne

All story start somewhere, and like all story, Loki's tale of his first step in redemption start like any other story. Except for the fact that it did not start with the generic opening of "once upon a time," or the shortened version of "in a kingdom faraway". In fact, his story started with two children, a gunshot, a song, and a threat of bodily harm.

3. Chapter 3

AN: Let the fireworks begins, keep the eye on the score. Loki =? VS Maiera =?

CHAPTER 3: MIDNIGHT CONFLICT

Maiera flinched when a vice-like grip tightened around her wrist; it was twisted painfully before it was yanked to the side. The sudden tug caused her to stumble forward which caused her to immediately extend her free hand forward, stopping her fall.

"You protest so much, darling," he chuckled evilly, his breath ghosting over her neck, making her shiver. "And yet here we are, you on top of me and me—well, I do admit that I do enjoy the view from down here below."

Mai turned her head to the side, letting her bound hair reach her free hand that was supporting her weight and deftly slide something out from the bun before sending a murderous glare to the man who was still gripping her wrist. She noticed that he slightly sitting, his back leaning on the headboard; the upper part of the bed was raised in an incline.

"Of course you would, perv," she replied, lips hooking up in a sweet smile, belying her true intention. "And if you won't let go of my hand, I'm sure the coroner wouldn't mind if she would receive a new addition for her morgue this late at night." To prove her point, she jab the end of the now free buyao at the man's side. It was made of silver with a carved peony flower made of lavender coloured glass with a dangling purple tassel.

The long silver stem of the hair ornament was carved with an intricate design, masking its sharp side, and at its very end was a curved hook with a very sharp tip. This was not a just a simple hair ornament, it was a weapon –a well-hidden weapon, and Maiera excelled in using it with quiet the efficiency, especially when it is used to defend herself.

"That could be arranged," Loki replied, "But I would assure you dearest that such a place will not be graced by my presence, you however would—"He suddenly stopped when the hooked end of the thing the woman is holding penetrated further into the cloth that was wound around his chest and torso and now have reached the skin of his side.

He quirked one perfect brow at her and smirked, eyes glinting with hidden amusement. "Careful dearest, play with fire and you might get burn?"

"Continue to assume sir, and I would personally deliver you to hell."

"What is going on around here," a voice rang out from the doorway, interrupting the stand-off. It was followed by click of a switch; bright lights soon flooded the once dimly lit room. "And what do you think you're doing young lady?"

Mai turned her head to the side and looked up at the nurse that was standing at the door. She was in the late fifties, steel grey hair in a severe bun, eyes sharp and accusing, and thin lips pressed hard in a line, full of censure.

Mai looked down on her hand, which she found out was resting on what she felt like a well-tone chest, and then looked back up to the silent nurse and was hit with the reality of what she and the man named Loki looked like; her, who is almost lying on top him and him –from the soft chuckled being emitted, was clearly enjoying the whole thing. Heat started to creep up to her cheeks; of course, she would just have to jump to that conclusion, wouldn't she.

Not skipping a beat, she retracted the buyao from Loki's side and plastered on a watery smile and somehow managed to even produce a smidgen of fake tears before meeting the nurse's suspicious stare, while secretly pressing her palm on Loki's injured chest. "Oh, I'm sorry, I just didn't know what to do," she answered, voice cracking. She slowly stood up but kept her palm pressing on Loki's chest "He was fidgeting, and mumbling a while ago, and I got scared. When he started thrashing around, I tried to calm him down but it didn't work, he just-just-he was really out of it, it was just now that he just opened his eyes. "

She even anteed up her act, and brought out the big guns, delivering a very moving puppy dogged eye act. "Oh dear god!" she exclaimed as liquid red petals started to blossom on the white bandage. "Nurse, please help, his bleeding again." This plaintive plea, immediately jolt the other woman to action, she hurriedly went outside the room and rolled in a cart. She pushed it forward until it was parked near the bed. She then looked down at the bandage that is now decorated with spots of red. With skills honed with both time and practice, she made fast work with unwrapping Loki's bandage.

Loki was enjoying watching how the woman delivered a pretty convincing act but it was soon became short lived when he suddenly felt pain on his chest Damn that wily little fox, he reflected half-impressed. By strategically pressing a side of his chest, it somehow force the wound to open a little, giving credence to her claim for assistance, whilst successfully cutting the issue of impropriety at the roots. Such thought was soon cut offed when he felt a warm hand touched his shoulder.

He delivered a withering glare on the older woman whose hands were on his person as she started cleaning his wound. "Unhand me woman," He slapped the hand away.

"Don't you dare give me that tone young man," the woman scolded, hands still busy with her task. "Your wound has just reopened. Be thankful that it does not need any more stitching. I said don't move."

"I would move as I perfectly damn wish you pathetic quim. Such nuisance is not needed. I will not subject myself to your world's archaic form of torture that is packaged as form of healing. " Loki all but shouted his disdain, making the woman stop with equal measure of fear and anger.

It came to pass that anger won out. "Well, I never," she harrumphed angrily, hurriedly shoving, bandages, antiseptic, bandages and cotton balls to a tray. "I have never been insulted in my entire life."

"Well consider this your first notice of being promptly been insulted."

"Listen here son, let me do my job before your wound became infected." The woman tried to reason again. Sure she may be insulted by this ungrateful brat of a man but her oath still instilled the call to serve and help those under her care no matter how much she wish to flee from the place or snapped back at him with a few insult of her own.

A glint of anger flashed through his emerald orb's making Maiera who was standing at the side felt scared. The room started to become colder and suffocating. "Get out!" He growled out, "Get out before I will end your wretched little life. I'm not your son. What right do you have to call me that, you whose life is a meagre ripple in time, dare to place yourself on an exulted possession as my mother? Get out!"

Without a second thought, the nurse hurriedly flew out the room. Nothing could force her to remain back there. Just by looking at those eyes, eyes that were filled with so much hate and disgust, and a barely controlled volatile temper would give her nightmares on the nights to come. Those eyes held promise of death and so much more.

Upon witnessing the entire debacle, Maiera felt guilty as she slowly closed the door shut. She knew that the evening nurse would not return later that night, if ever at all. She turned back and faced the bed; she slowly let out a sigh as she gathered the different things that flew out from the tray when the older woman rushed out of the room. She couldn't blame the woman either; the man who is by now staring at the wall with equal look of longing and betrayal, was frightening a moment ago. The vitriol that was spewed from out of his mouth was uncalled for and unnerving.

She would gladly joined the nurse and flew out of the room and leave the man be, but seeing the still bleeding wound sent a rush of guilt flooding into her conscience. If it wasn't for her, the wound would not have reopened and there should not have been a shouting incident.

Careful as not to disturb the man from his train of thought, weary of another verbal beat-down, she slowly put on a pair of surgical gloves and started cleaning the wound with soap and water that was found on the abandoned cart. After cleaning, she gently applied antibiotic cream to stave of infection and soon wound a sterile bandage over one shoulder and around his chest and torso. She was careful to monitor his breathing, to indicate how much tight or loose she should wound the strip. If it hitches then she would loosen it a little—giving him a breathing room, but as she continued with her work, she noted that the man's breathing was steady and calm. With hands occupied with work, she let her mind wonder to a few moments back and suddenly remembered how the jerk assumed that she was something she was not. Irked with the memory, she accidently tightened the bandages before locking it in place, eliciting a sound from the person who she is tending.

"Dearest, truly your bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired." Loki chided with a smirk. It took a while for him to calm down, after all he was rudely reminded of what he just lost. Through the lies that have been woven during his childhood, he now lost what he closely holds dear, his mother. He might not be Od—the Allfather's son but he was Frigga's son, her favoured son. And through a fault not of his own making, he would lose such a rare relationship, ah sentimentality, what wondrous feats have you brews upon me.

"And you sir, should learn to keep your scathing opinions to a minimum especially if you are in a place where one slip could end your life,' she answered back.

"Such threat does not work on me mortal."

"So we are at this again, calling names!"

"Surely such anger does not stem from the reality that I just called you as what you really are. Be thankful that I just acknowledge you as such."

"Thankful?"

"Yes, Thankful. Although kneeling in reverence, supplicating to one who is above you, a god, is also acceptable."

"You are really full of yourself aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. I'm glad that you finally come to your senses and have come to acknowledge my greatness, mortal."

"Really now," she drawled, eyebrow raised "and yet who is in the hospital bleeding and almost died this afternoon."

"Your point?"

"Surely you would understand where I'm going with this?" she sassed back.

Loki looked at the young woman who was verbally sparing with him. No one managed to stand toe to toe with him in any argument and remained unscathed; not his tutors, not Thor's bumbling friends, and not even the court. They would either categorize his words as scathingly true or a bunch of disgusting lies, there was no middle ground with them. This was refreshing, this mortal woman is not easily cowed down, she has a spine, and have hold up against him for a while now, she even threaten him with bodily harm three times, and actually delivered two out of the three.

"It's rude to stare at people you know," Mai couldn't help but feel that she was being scrutinized, like a bug under a microscope.

"I am not the only one guilty of such crime."

A soft glow of an attractive blush appeared on Mai's cheek. Busted. She couldn't help but gaze at the man on the bed. Sure he was handsome, but there was something more to him that meets the eye, something that intrigued and irked her to no end.

She witnessed how rude and callous he was toward the nurse. She knew that he is a flirt of the first calibre, using his honeyed voice in its full potential, green eyes alert and domineering, charm that would put a snake to shame, and something elusive and hidden. Something that would probably would cause her untimely death, if pursued without caution. And right now she has to be cautious with the dealing with this guy. She looked at her throbbing wrist and remembered what Carisi mentioned about what happened in the park made her more aware of what she should do.

"Dearest, it would be benefiting your mortal life span if you would stop this tedious habit of gazing over my head, and just simply say what you want to say."

Loki just smirked when the young woman pinned him with a glare, amethyst orbs glaring with annoyance. Aside from the woman's fighting spirit, what intrigued Loki, was the woman's eyes. As far as he knows Midgardians have only four eye colors: brown, blue, green, and black, and such colors differ in shade that would result to a different range of hazel down to steel-grey, but he never heard of them having violet-colored irises. This woman is just full of surprises.

"How about we do a do-over?" she offered.

"Pardon?"

"Let's start this over again," she explained, she was now setting on a chair next to the bed, facing him. "Let us introduce ourselves to each other."

"I agree, the first time I met your acquaintance my dear, was thru your slap,"

"Only because you deserved it, why would you think that I am some kind of a trollop?" she demanded, eyebrow raised, hands folded over her chest.

"Forgive me dearest, but from where I came from, a woman who visited a man's chamber in the middle of the night is usually seen as having an affair with such man."

"From what backward century did you come from?" she asked incensed. To think that the reason why she went to this guy's room is to honor her promise to her niece was now twisted into something sordid is beyond her.

Upon looking at the young woman's frowning visage, he couldn't help but feel a fraction—a fleeting of sense of guilt. I raised you better than to become a judgmental idiot my son.

"Really woman, such concept shouldn't be alien to you."

"Of course it's not. But I just can't stop myself from thinking as to why the heck do you jump to such conclusion about me, I don't even know you, hell, I'm not even dressed like one."

"Fishing for compliments, dearest?' He asked mockingly. He looked her over and smirked. The mortal maybe beautiful and alluring if given time to pamper herself but right now with the garment she is wearing she looks more like what the bifrost have spit out after Heimdall have a very long night in the tavern. "Forgive me luv for assuming you as such, but I simply must admit that what you say is true, you look devastatingly out of place for such scintillating job for carnal pleasure."

Eyebrows twitched in annoyance. "You can shove your compliments where the sun won't shine."

"I'm merely jesting with you, I am truly sorry for my earlier behavior."

Mai just simply raised one of her eyebrows to another notch. She was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. With this guy, you might never know what would come next. "Take my apology woman for I'm not known for giving one."

And there it is, the other shoe has finally dropped. "Thank you and I am really sorry for slapping and stabbing you." She raised her hand, and smiled tentatively. She just had to ignore all his egotistical tendencies and move on and she might walk out this room without having a coronary. "Hi, I am Maiera Shen nice to meet you. You can call me Mai if you want, and can you please stop using this dearest for calling me. Just Mai is fine."

Loki looked at the offered appendage and tentatively took it. "I am Loki of Asgard, Loki Laufeyson, and it has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he answered in return, see mother I am not a lost cause. "You can call me your highness, my lord, or my master, take your pick. And I would extend my regrets in advance if I would not heed your suggestion about refraining from using such endearment, your reaction is simply amusing dearest, and I intend to enjoy it fully."

The hand that Loki was holding suddenly shifted, it has changed position now tightening around his fingers. "Watch it Laufeyson, don't get smart with me. This is a do-over, so please leave your entire ginormous ego out of this."

"As you wish dearest," he answered with a challenging smirk. Her gripped may not make any lasting damage on his person but he allowed her to think that she have won this round. Riling her up is so much fun. Maybe being exiled in this accursed realm would be a tad bearable compared to the last place he just stayed.

And as usual she just tuned out the last part of the sentence; there is no point on wasting energy over a trivial matter. After a few second, something click within her mind, did I just heard right? Or am I being-"Wait did you just say Asgard?" her interest was piqued.

"Yes, Asgard, the realm of the gods,"

"So that makes you a god?" she asked. "Wait, are you and the rest of the people in Asgard the same set of people that the ancient people of Scandinavia revered and worship?"

"I am starting to doubt your intelligence pet, did I not just told you what I am the moment you barge into my chamber?" he answered with a sigh. "Some of us visited your realm for over a century for sport, and might have fostered the idea of worshipping us as their gods and protector. Are you sure that you are alright?'

"oh hush you," she shushed him as the cogs in head started turning. The squad did say that he was dressed up in a weird get up, plus the fact that he lifted a guy up while chocking the life out of him, and coupled with the egotistical tirade he just exhibit, mix them all together and-oh my god, I just threatened a god-or a person who is suffering from a severe case of schizophrenia on grandiosity. "Hey what do you think you're doing," She tried tugging her hand free from Loki's grasp but he did not let go, instead he placed his palm over her throbbing wrist. A tingling sensation slowly travelled from the tip of her fingers and slowly moves up to her wrist, until the acute throbbing stopped. She looked down on her rest and witnessed that her wrist was no longer swollen.

With another tingling sensation, she found out that her disarrayed hair suddenly braided itself and was coiled up on her head in a coronet with her buyao resting to the side, tassel dangling. And when she looked down on her lap, she was suddenly shocked when she found out that she was no longer wearing her comfy sweatshirt, but was now wearing a long light green lace night gown that reach her ankles and was cinched at the waist. It has bell sleeves with embroidery of curved vines at the cuff and a scooped neckline. The material was soft and light and the entire thing was beautiful.

"Wow this is—it is-"she bumbled along as she tried to construct a coherent sentence, in short, this is the first time that night that she was rendered speechless.

"Miraculous, divine, otherworldly," Loki offered nonchalantly as he gazed down on the mortal's face as it displayed varied form of emotion, from disbelief, to fright, to wonder, and now gobsmacked. He never knew why he did a little magic just to make her believe in everything he was saying but he was not complaining on the effect of his brash action. "And with that my pet, I could now assure you that I am truly a god and not a man suffering from any illness of crippling delusions."

A pair of phoenix eyes glared up at Loki. "Did you just read my mind?"

He only shrugged his shoulder and smirked. Huffing her annoyance, she started to look down on her wrist. She tried moving it around, looking for some tenderness or quick shot of pain, but found nothing. It was completely healed. He might be the greatest jerk she ever has the misfortune to meet today, but said jerk did manage to save her niece and nephew from harm, so anything short of murdering him is out of the question. First, she is in his debt for saving the children, and second and most important is the fact that this insufferable ass is a god, an honest to goodness god. So is there a proper way of conversing with a god? With this guy, I think I would need a thick manual, a very thick manual to get through his egotistical self and changing moods. Well I guess, I should just do what I have been doing for the rest of the night, just roll with the punches his giving and dish a few of mine own, besides I'm still alive aren't I.

"Thank you," she softly said, giving him a smile. She was determined to make this whole conversation a little less awkward and as much as possible on equal footing, with an ego like his, being subservient is not the best way to go; it would just inflate his ego more. "I mean aside from healing my wrist, I would like to thank you for saving my neice and nephew this afternoon."

"So there is really a reason for you to be here and I thought it was for something else."

"For the last time, I am not here for that kind of thing," she said in exasperation. "Kindly pull your head from the gutter, and be serious." Who is she kidding, this idiot is really driving her up the wall, god or no, and she just about had it with his assumptions.

"I made a promise to Beth that I would check on you because she is worried that her new friend would have a hard time sleeping."

Loki slowly shifted in his bed and looked towards Mai. He suddenly remembered the incident at the park, his fist slowly curled up in anger when memories of what happened flashed through his mind. The panic, the mindless killing, and the fear of the two children he was trying to protect flooded back to him. "And where we you when all hell broke loose, that those children became dependent on act of mercy from a stranger? From what I can see, you care for those children but why were they alone in the park."

Shame and angered rolled and coiled around her stomach. "I was not with them because I just flew in from another country but believe me when I say that I will make the lives of the people who have hurt those kids and many others too, living hell. I care for those children, so don't judge me from a just a few moments of being absent. They were not alone when they were at the park."

"I may be hurt at that time woman, but I was not blind. Long before that pathetic excuse of an organism started shooting, those children were wondering around the park without a chaperone and don't tell me that that poor excuse of lump of flesh who was busy with desecrating her body and mind with those unholy substance is what you constitute as an appropriate guardian to your family."

"That poor excuse of lump of flesh as you accurately put it was not my idea of a chaperone," she answered hotly. "That was my brother-in-law's decision."

"By Odin's shield, your realm is blight on all the realms. How on any realms could it be acceptable for a father to intrust his son—his heir and his daughter to someone who is blatantly incompetent as that"

Maiera rubbed her forehead in frustration. "Oi! Don't you dare lump me with that man," she exclaimed as she massage her throbbing temple. "At least we could agree on something. My brother-in-law's parenting skills or lack thereof."

"You are right." He looked at her as she continued massaging her temple. With all the hype that happened in the past few hours, Maiera is sure that she was going to suffer the mother of all migraines tonight. "Come here," a voice cut through the throbbing pain, but she did not move. She was suddenly tugged forward to the edge of the. When she was about to sound out her protest, soft cold hands started to massage her temple. The movement was practiced and gentle, making her relax a bit. The pain slowly subsided. "Feeling better?"

She nodded in reply. "Good, for I don't want to be accused of molesting you when you would succumb to the pain and faint on the floor. I may have made and committed many a crimes, but molesting one of the members of the fairer sex is one that shall not darken my door."

Maiera chuckled silently and shook her head. This guy is perplexing as always. Rude yet a gentleman in his own twisted kind of way. "The kids are fine you know, they are now resting across from this room. Beth's operation was a success and Tom's arm would mend."

"Good. The little ones should be sleeping and I hope that they would not suffer any effect of what they witness in the park." He knew for a fact that all warriors, no matter how strong or seasoned have always have a breaking point, but for children who are more fragile, this would create havoc on their psyche for a long time. "Do you have healers of the mind?'

Mai was surprised with the question and it took her a while to understand the full meaning of the statement. "Yes, we have. I already called someone to look in with the children. I know it would be hard for them, but they will not be alone to face such reality anymore."

"And how about their parents?"

"What about them?"

"Surely dearest that any of the two who managed to create such wonderful creatures would be there for them."

"Their mother, my sister can't be there for them," she answered simply. "She is battling another problem, her health is deteriorating fast and she hadn't much time, hence the availability of mind healer at single notice. This is not the first time that the children's lives have not been thrown as sundered nor it would be the last. I'm just hoping that it would not affect them that much."

"And the father?" he gently prodded. He knew that the man in question would not win any award for being the best parent, but even Odin who was busy, strict, and hold as many secret as the grain in the sand in an hourglass, still has the time to be good father to both of his son. Although Loki would later admit, that the Allfather was blatant with his favouritism with Thor, he did not abandoned him when he was still a young child, he was there, supportive but distant, but was a constant fixture to the boy's years that they felt secure that no matter what trials and mischief that got themselves into both Odin and Frigga would be there for them, one who disciplines and the other to console.

"Is still being contacted, he has gone missing. Authorities are ready to give him a piece of their mind with the stunt he just be pulled, that is before they would march him down to jail where he rightfully belongs. Whether he is here or not, it doesn't really change anything. He is far to focus on himself than to what is happening to his children."

"They will be staying with you?"

"They will be." It was a short statement but it carried a weight of promise. A promise of security and care for the children, and a promise of bodily harm for those who wants to hurt them. And the young god knew that this petite woman would deliver such threat with certainty.

"Can you tell me something?"

He raised an eyebrow, before smirking. "Anything dearest." And in three, two, and one, and just like clockwork, the woman shot him a glare that was so potent with anger. "I told you I have a name, do use it."

"I am god, yet I'm still waiting for a smidgen of reverence from you."

"I gave you an apology and I am trying to have a descent conversation with you, can you just have it at that?"

"If I must," he smiled down at her, eyes a light with mischief. "Honestly woman, you're just too easy to wound up. So what do you want to know?"

Mai took a deep breath and concentrate. It's true, the moment she stepped in this room; she just can't seem to find a place to be calm and indifferent like always. She felt that she constantly being tested, for what it is for she doesn't know but it is clear that it all boil down to other person in this room. "Why did you save them?"

"Because I was there, and those little ones gave me something that a few have given freely."

"You simply save them because you happened to be there?" she scoffed in disbelief.

"Is this how you usually treat people that save your family?"

"No. But this is the first time that a god helped my family," she replied, looking at him straight in the face. "And god or not, I learned the hard way that nothing is for free. When in debt with a man, one knows that he is after power, money, or pleasure. When in debt with a god, I felt that I am clueless with how to settle the account."

Loki cocked his head to the left; he studied the woman sitting beside him. Puzzling over what this tiny mortal is thinking. "For a mortal, whose very bedrock of existence is to believe that there is still goodness in his fellowman, you my dearest is a rare gem."

"As I said, I am just a realist. I know that action has an equal reaction. And everything is not what it seem. I just want to be prepared."

He nodded his head in agreement. He too likes to prepare, to plan ahead, to make contingency after contingency. To make sure that his interest will always be protected. But for such a young mortal to have a jaded view of the world is quite distressing. What could have pushed her to be cynical?

"It was I who is debt to your family and saving the little ones was my form of payment."

"Forgive me Laufeyson, but as far as I could tell, no one in my family came from Scandinavia, half of my family is practicing Christianity, the others Buddhism and Shintoism, and the remaining few are too stubborn to believe in something invisible and has power over all things, so in which part of my family's confusing religious practices did you gain a debt with us."

"It was from the same children that I saved."

"What?" she asked, feeling confused and then alarmed. "Did they err…summon you here or something, Save you, or how about freed you from something."

"None of those I'm afraid, although let me state again woman that I am a god and I am not some domesticated canine to be summon on a whim," he snapped his reply. He find her amusing but like everything else his patients has its limits. "The children gave me something far more precious than what any of the nine realms could offer."

"And that would be?"

"This." He simply waved his hand indicating her, him, and the entire room. "Like you, those children gave me a chance to be me. I was a stranger and pose a danger to them but yet they accepted me without fear, they trusted me for what I am, although in your case dearest, you did try to kill me first before hearing me out, but still, you like the little ones gave me a chance. And that is all I ever wanted."

It was Mai's turned to be puzzled. "You're a god, you have millennia to be who you are to be. You have all the time to be revered, feared, and accepted all in the same time. You live in Asgard, do you not? You have a family there."

"Not anymore." He answered bitterly, hands clutching the blankets with force. "A truth hidden from the moment of my birth has changed all that.

"You've been with them for entire life, they just can't simply throw you out for a truth that if I should guess, was hidden by your parents."

"They already did. Although my mother is the only one who would mourn for me," he finally admitted. "She was the only one who sees me as something worthy."

"Laufeyson, what did you do?"

"if we are going to have this conversation, I would greatly appreciate it if you could just call me by my name which is Loki. The other one leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth if uttered."

"As you wish," Mai conceded, she knew that names hold great importance to people, and based from the studies she have made in her work, some countries would even have two names, to protect them from evil spirit. It was rare for someone as ancient as this man to give permission to any mortal to know and use his name.

"To answer your question, as to what I purportedly do to force my mother to mourn for me, was nothing really. I just did what I was asked to do. To lead and rule Asgard, while the Allfather was having his Odinsleep. He has to recharge his power. I ruled the realm in his stead. I ruled it in a way on how my mother trusted me to be. I made plans to secure the safety of the people of Asgard while my oaf of brother was send to your realm in exile to learn. But he never learned. He still thinks that every things was easily given to him, he was still brash, and unprepared. While he dallies with a mortal woman here in your world, Asgard was threatened with an old enemy. I made mistakes, for deep down I know that my brother was not yet ready to be king, but I had made peace with the mistakes I made, and I used it to settle the score between Asgard and Jotunheim once and for all. Sacrificing more than they could ever imagine, but it the end it was always been for nought. It is always my brother who would be hailed as a hero, and I as the villain, man dwarfed over by the shadow casted by the golden son."

"What happened Loki?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what you told me must be the one that broke the camel's back, but what did you do after."

Loki at Mai again and realized something. This woman has the same talent as his mother. The uncanny way of making him feel that it was acceptable to talk things out in the open, the ability to voice out what is really there without fear of being rejected. "I just simply gave up." He looked away from Mai and stared instead on the window. "What's the point of grinding yourself against a stone, to flow against the river, to fly when you are bound, only to be disappointed, judged, and rejected time and time again?"

"So you exiled yourself to this backward realm to escape it all.'

"I did not choose this poor excuse of a planet to be my temporary home, it just simply a healthier choice from where I was stuck after I let go of Asgard."

Mai offered him a smile when he finally looked back at her. She took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "In that case, I would welcome you Loki of Asgard to our mortal realm," she greeted him warmly. "I hope that you will find what you are looking for in this realm or the next."

Loki looked at the woman and shook his head in disbelief. "You are far too trusting for your own good," he scolded. "I might have spun lies to get you comfortable with me; I might be a murderer, a sociopathic killer, and I may be a god aiming for earth domination."

Mai raised an eyebrow at him and glared. "I 'am no idiot Loki, I know you are dangerous, no god in history has a clean hand, they have blood on them one way or the other. Either by their own act or through the acts done in their name, all have had blood and death in their hands." She squeezed his hand again. "Consider this a payment for saving my niece and nephew. I don't want to be in debt with a god."

"As you wish dearest, but don't come running away from me if I had the urge to burn and create havoc on your tiny little realm. I am a god of mischief and lies after all. I do enjoy having a few chaos once in a while."

"We are not as pathetic as you may think, Loki. You might be surprised with the things we could do."

"I highly doubt it."

"So we will just agree to disagree then."

Loki just nodded his agreement, and opened his palm and with a shimmering light a book appeared on his once empty hand. "Close your mouth human before flies will take up residence in it."

"Cut me some slacks why don't you. This is the first time that I actually see something this out of the ordinary."

"If that is the case then basked in my glory, mortal"

"I was referring to the book," she retorted, eyes gleaming with excitement as she stood up and scooted over the bed and tried hard to read the contents of the book over Loki's shoulder. "Don't you know that book is very hard to come by? Only three were ever printed. One is in a private collection; the other one is in the library but it would take forever to get a chance to conduct a study on it, and the third was lost."

"It was not lost; an Asgardian brought it back to Asgard and donated it to the palace library where it stayed there until now. This is just but a copy of that book"

"Here take this." He handed the book to Maiera who was by now grinning from ear to ear. "Read it there on your chair and be quiet. I will just open the door of this room so that you can still keep watch with the kids from across the hall. Besides I don't want to have a repeat performance with you and your hands as you try make a convincing lie to escape the issue of impropriety with the workers of this building."

Maiera just waved her hand to indicate that she heard and promptly returned to her seat. Her nose was now buried halfway in the book. A flash of a smile ghosted over Loki's lip before it suddenly disappear, if I only know beforehand that the only way for me to shut you up is plying you with books then I would not have sacrifice my dignity and be disrespected with the nurse.

Shaking his head, he conjured another book and started to read but not before he opened the door that lead to the hallway

A few minutes passed, and each occupant of the room was happily ensconced in their own private little world. Both were content with the silence and the air of companionship each felt from the other. But the bubble of contentment was disrupted by very loud boom of thunder and the crackle of lightning from outside. The storm has not eased a down a bit; instead it became louder and frightening.

"Damn it," Loki cursed loudly, slamming his book on the bed.

"What's wrong does thunder and lightning bother you?"

"No, I just don't fancy what comes after it."

"Oh." She looked over at Loki and saw that the god was tensed, the hand that was holding the back was stiff and the knuckles were turning white, his breathing was fast as he watched the display of raw power of Mother Nature out of the window.

With without saying anything, she carefully closed the book she was reading and stood up. She slowly walked up to the window while humming a familiar tune. When she reached the window, she yanked the curtains from the side and pulled it to reach the other side, completely obscuring the electrical display outside. After securing the curtains, she slowly walked back to her chair and sat down.

She reopened the book she was reading and returned to the paragraph that caught her interest. "Thank you," voice called out from person on the bed. She just nodded her head in response.

Loki took a deep breath and exhaled. He never liked thunder or its partner, the crackling lightning. It was just another reminder of what he was and what he wasn't. He would always be the one planning and strategizing on how to make a mission a success, to make sure that all of them could go home in one piece, but no matter how good the plan, Thor has always knows how to bungle it all up, endanger the lives of many for his idea of heroics. And it was always up to him to find ways to haul up their assess in one piece back to Asgard. And like thunder and lightning, Thor would always have the attention of many. It was not just the attention, the oaf, embodied the two elements characteristics, loud, brash, uncaring, and without control. He prefers to use brute force on everything, enjoying the spirit of battle as it last. His brother is not a savage, but one could not deny that the golden prince of Asgard was yet immature and unfocused. Never seeing the bigger picture, always too happy to end almost all dispute with a swing of his hammer, Loki all felt pity for those who would have the misfortune of meeting the golden prince, the hammer of Asgard, for his brother never give quarter. He should know, he has been on the receiving end of his older brother's wrath especially during military drills, training, and war plans, many at times, that he wouldn't wish it to some people who just wanted to talk, to be heard.

The rugged breathing was still present even if she drawn the curtain shut. Maiera all but wanted to ask as to why Loki was having a hard time calming down but think better of it. He will tell her if he would deem her worthy of such information, besides all of us demons or two that would keep us awake at night, what more of a god.

She turned the page of her book, but could not concentrate on what she was supposed to be reading when Loki is clearly having a difficult time dealing with his demons. Maiera sighed again this would be the second time she would be singing, all thanks to a blasted thunderstorms.

Nothing's gonna harm you
Not while I'm around
Nothing's gonna harm you

No sir, not while I'm around

Demons are prowling everywhere nowadays
I'll send them howling, I don't care, I've got ways
No one's gonna hurt you
No one's gonna dare
Others can desert you
Not to worry, whistle I'll be there
Demons'll charm you with a smile for a while
But in time
Nothing can harm you, not while I'm around
Being close and being clever
Ain't like being true
I don't need to, I would never
Hide a thing from you
Like some
No one's gonna hurt you
No one's gonna dare
Others can desert you
Not a worry, whistle I'll be there
Demons'll charm you with a smile for a

while
But in time
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around

Loki was snapped out from his dark musing when he heard the same song being sang. He looked at the woman seating on the chair beside his bed. She was still reading the book that he lend to her and was thoroughly enjoying it but at the same time was still singing the same song that he heard late that night.

He knew what the young mortal was up to and he was not a cold hearted bastard, as what others suspect of him to be, and not feel a sense of gratitude to what she just offered. He was used to be left alone to deal with the bout of jealousy, insecurity, and self-pity that he would often encounter every end of a mission. And he was not a selfish bastard to demand that their mother should favour him and his need. Thor was also her son, her true son, so he would just smile and hug his mother and let her go, while he went to his room and deal with issues alone.

He let the song washed over him it lyrics warming his soul, for once he just enjoy it and made peace with himself. He closed his eyes and relaxed, letting the song carry away his anger and fear. When the last note was finally song, Loki opened his eyes and looked at the woman.

She was rubbing her eyes and was trying to stifle a yawn. It seems that I'm not the only one affected with the song.

"Go to back to your room and sleep dearest, you certainly need it."

The woman gave put an exasperated sigh. "I told you my name, just use it will you. You're giving me the creeps with all the dearest you've been spouting."

Maiera just be thankful that it was not precious, then you will not just have the creeps but a bloody nightmare.Loki smirked evilly as he watched the young woman placed the book on the bedside table. "As you wish dearest, but I would certainly find a new name for you tomorrow…how about-"

Maiera's eyes widen a fraction before glaring down at the man on the bed. "Don't you dare, Loki Laufeyson," she pointed her finger at him. "So help me god, I'm going to murder you in your sleep. And stop prancing around inside my mind."

"Is that a plea for divine intervention dearest? It would be difficult if I would help in my own untimely demise, but for you I will try."

"Oh you're impossible." She stormed of the room and slammed the room shut.

He just chuckled as he watched the young woman marched out the room. He was grateful for the help that the girl gave but he just couldn't help it, she was just to fun to mess around. From what he gathered from the conversation that he heard before he went to sleep, Maiera Shen would have plateful of grievances on the morrow. He could only offer her a few time to blow off some steam and find a moment of peace, before she would find herself in the eye of the storm, alone, and fighting.

He glanced down on the book that was left on his bedside table. A slow smile appeared on his face. He gently waved his hand and let the book appear beside the young woman who is by now sleeping on her bed from across the hall. "Consider this a gift little ones, I always keep my promise."

AN: so what do you think? Okay who is keeping up with the score, who won? And what did Loki mean by the last line, any guesses (^_^).

Just a heads-up, I'm going to post new chapter between Friday-Sunday of each week, that is my job in the real world wouldn't give me any problems.

Thanks for reading. Ciao.