Athena opened her eyes.
It took her a minute to remember where she was. In Loki's cell.
She smiled when she felt an arm around her waist, and she turned her head to look at a sleeping Loki.
His hair was ruffled, and he looked so peaceful.
Athena smiled. She shifted over to her other side, so she was staring at Loki.
He felt the bed shift, and one of his green eyes opened.
Athena chuckled. He looked so tired. He was not a morning person.
His other eye opened and he smiled. "Morning."
Athena laughed softly and leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
"Morning." She replied with a smile.
He lifted his head and rested it on his hand, and Athena did the same.
He was watching her.
Athena blushed and looked down. "What are you staring at?"
His other hand came up to her chin, and lifted it back up, until her eyes met his.
"I'm looking at how beautiful you are." He replied, his voice husky.
Athena blushed deeply and buried her face into the pillow.
She heard him chuckle and he nuzzled his face into her neck.
She smiled.
"I love you Athena."
Athena looked up in surprise. His gaze was serious.
Athena felt her body freeze in shock.
He loved her.
Then, she smiled and kissed him.
He brought his hand up to her face and kissed her passionately.
When they broke apart, Athena whispered, "I love you too."
Loki looked at her happily and smiled.
"This was the second time I told you."
Athena paused. "Second?"
Loki nodded. "You didn't hear the first. I said it to you, but you were unconscious."
Athena wondered when this happened.
"It was right after the accident. When I was waiting for you to wake up, I talked to you. I hoped you could hear me. I thought you were going to die. So I told you that I loved you. And I promised myself that if you woke, I would tell you." He looked down. "It took longer that I planned."
Athena was speechless. He had confessed his love for her before.
Then she smiled and dipped her head to meet his gaze. "You told me now. That's all that matters." She smiled.
Loki smiled and kissed her forehead.
Suddenly, a thought hit her.
Freya!
Athena gasped and threw the covers off.
"Freya will be wondering where I am! I must go back!"
Loki looked upset.
Athena stopped and gave him a small smile, before going to him and kissing him deeply.
"Don't worry. I'll be back." She promised.
He smiled and whispered in a husky voice. "You better." It sent a shiver up her spine.
Athena laughed and grabbed the tray with stuff she barely even used, and left.
When she made it back to the Healing Ward, Freya was waiting for her. Her arms were crossed and she had a look of disappointment.
"How could you do this Athena?" She asked softly, her eyes clearly showing her disappointment.
Athena stopped. "What do you mean?"
Freya huffed. "Don't play games with me Athena. You know exactly what I mean. Loki was not it that bad of shape that you had to stay overnight."
Athena put the tray down and faced her mentor. "Then why didn't you stop me?"
Freya had a sad look. "Because I thought you would be smart enough to know what you were doing. Apparently I was wrong."
Athena looked down, then back up at her mentor, with a surprised look. "You know who I was going to see?"
Freya looked at her like she was foolish. "Of course I knew! Why else would I have sent you alone?"
Athena stopped. It had seemed weird that Freya let you go alone.
Then the doors opened and Odin stepped into the room.
Freya and Athena both stopped and bowed respectively to Odin.
Odin nodded curtly and looked at Freya.
"Did she do it?" he asked, with a glance at Athena.
Freya sighed and nodded. "She came back this morning."
It hit Athena that Freya had told her what she was doing.
"I thought she was smart enough to come back, but she didn't." Freya said with a glance towards her.
"You told him?!" Athena cried.
"Of course. It is my duty to report these kind of things to him." She said calmly.
Odin looked at her calmly. "Did you spend the night with Loki?"
Athena opened her mouth to deny it, but she knew it was dishonorable to lie of the Allfather.
She bowed her head in her answer.
Odin nodded slowly. "You are forbidden from ever seeing Loki again."
Athena stared at him in shock.
"I understand that one day you will be the Senior Healer and you will probably have to deal with him. But by that time, you will have learned to control your emotions and that will not be a problem. If Loki ever needs to be tended to, Freya will do it." He looked at Freya and she nodded.
"You can't do that!" Athena cried.
Odin looked at her, shocked.
"Athena!" Freya shouted at her. "Apologize immediately. You will never speak to your King that way."
Athena bowed her head and closed her eyes, the tears forming behind her eye lids.
"I know that you love him, Athena. But you are a Healer. Healers, cannot love and have a family. They must focus on the welfare of Asgard. Love blinds you. You cannot be blind. All of Asgard is your family." Odin said quietly, in a way that almost sounded like he was upset by saying this.
"I only became a healer because I'm crippled! I wanted to become a warrior, but you told me it could never happen!" Athena cried angrily at Odin.
He nodded slowly. "I said that for you. If I let you become a warrior, you would have been killed in the first battle."
Athena shook her head. "You don't know that. You didn't want a cripple warrior for the rest of the Nine Realms to mock you for. You were ashamed of me, so you didn't give me a choice!" She shouted at him.
"Athena, Silence!" Freya scolded. "He has his reasons, and you are not one to question them!"
Odin stared at her in shock at her words.
Athena expected him to explode.
But he just looked at her calmly and said. "Did you really expect him to love you?"
Athena froze. Even Freya stopped to look at Odin.
"He is the God of Mischief. Master of Lies. Did you really think he loved you?"
Athena felt her eyes sting from the tears.
"You were so naïve that you let him win you over. He didn't love you. He never has." He said, his eyes never blinking.
Athena tried so hard not to break, but his words shattered her defenses. She let out a sob and ran out of the room, her face buried in her hands.
Freya watched her leave sadly, before turning to Odin. He too was watching her leave.
When she leaved the room, he sighed sadly. "I had no choice. If I didn't say something, she would never let him go. It was the only way to keep her safe."
Freya nodded slowly. "She really loved him though."
Odin nodded slowly. "He really loved her too."
Athena ran to her room and began crying.
Was Odin right? Did he really not love her?
She lay in her room sobbing for days. No one disturbed her.
She was completely alone.
She had determined that Odin was right. Loki didn't love her. But she loved him. She would never stop loving him.
Reviews are appreciated!