Loki waited outside the building for Erskine to come out. Finally she heard him talking with another person as he neared. When he saw her he smiled at her and waved the other away.

"A message from Colonel Phillips?" he asked her.

She shook her head. "Just. I needed to talk to you about something."

"I also have something to talk to you as well." Erskine said.

Loki waved her hand at him. "You go first then."

His smile brightened. "Tell me, is Asgard as beautiful as the stories say it is?"

Loki froze, a million thoughts running through her mind at once. Disbelief, immediate desire to protest, to defend her past, to deny what he said, to do something that would help her in some sort of way.

However.

Staring at him, his patient and kind eyes. Eyes that weren't pushing the answer, that were willing to wait as long as needed to give an answer regardless of what it was. She knew that if she denied what he said at this very moment he would never bring it up again.

The true question was, did she respect him enough to answer truthfully? Did she respect him enough to not hide the real answer from him? Was she willing to swallow her guilt and her shame in order to properly answer him?

Did she respect this Midgardian, this mortal, enough?

The answer came surprisingly easily to her.

"More so." Loki finally said. "Stories very rarely capture the true beauty."

Erskine still had that same smile however his eyes were almost glittering. "Who are you, honestly?"

"I am Loki. Loki Odinsdottir." Loki said. "Daughter of Odin and Frigga. Sister of Thor. Princess of Asgard."

"And why are you here?"

She closed her eyes in pain. "Banishment. Repentance. For a crime I admit that I committed, which I gladly serve my penance."

"I feel sorry for the kid." Peggy confessed.

Loki glanced over her shoulder at the other woman before turning her attention back to the papers in her hand. "You don't think that he will be able to go through with the procedure?"

"I don't doubt his will." Peggy said. "It's his body that I'm afraid will give up first."

"Perhaps that will is all that he needs." Loki said shrugging.

Peggy glanced to where they knew Erskine was talking with Steve. Giving him one more chance to leave. Explaining everything that the experiment would do.

"I was stationed in Germany to help Erskine escape and be brought here." Peggy said quietly. "I managed to see their experiment on their man."

"Was it successful?" Loki asked.

Peggy looked torn before she shrugged. "I didn't see that part however from what I heard it was both a success and a failure."

Loki frowned. "How is that possible?"

Peggy shrugged once more. "I don't know, I'm just saying what I heard."

Loki turned to where Steven was with Erskine at the moment. "It's a bit more worrisome that he will die however." Loki asked. "What happens then?"

"He dies." Peggy answered simply. "But…at least he would able to do what he wanted. He gets to die in the service of his country."

Loki shook her head as her grip on the papers tightened slightly. "There are worse fates than death, my dear Peggy."

She had been selected to bring Steven Rogers to the area where the experiment was to be done for reasons unknown. They sat in an uncomfortable silence as they road in the vehicle. Loki watched through the window as the scenery flashed past them, enjoying the ride. Carriages were nice however this vehicle was much better in its comfort and its speed. The ones designed for the military especially were quick and easy to maneuver in places where even a horse would have trouble following.

Steven had also been looking out the window silently until he sat straighter in his seat suddenly.

"I know this neighborhood." he said, his eyes fixed on his own familiar sights. He lifted his hand and pointed "I got beat up in that alley. And that parking lot." He ducked his head downwards now, almost ashamed perhaps. "And behind that diner."

Loki watched him questioningly. "Did you have something against running away?" To tell the truth she never ran once she learned the proper magic, in retaliation to the attempts beatings that other warriors would do she would curse them in various ways. Her favorite had always been vanishing their manhood's.

However the punishment she would receive in return was harsh and her words that they had attempt to hurt her had always fallen on deaf ears. Even to Thor who would always be the first to defend her and attempt to avenge her honor.

"You start running they'll never let you stop." Steven said looking at her. "You stand up, push back. Can't say no forever, right?"

She gave him a small smile, noting the blush that spread along his face. "I know a little of what that's like." she confessed lightly to him. "To have every door shut in your face." Or to be turned away despite excelling at a certain aspect because it wasn't proper for the child of Odin to be a mage instead of a warrior.

"I guess I just don't, why you'd wanna join the army if you're a beautiful dame. Or a beautiful…a woman." Steven said. When Loki raised an eyebrow at his word choice he immediately back tracked and stammered as he said "An agent, not a dame! You are beautiful, but…" he trailed off almost helplessly.

"You have no idea how to talk to a woman, do you?" Loki asked in amusement.

Steven grinned sheepishly. "This is the longest conversation I've had with one." he confessed to her. "Women aren't exactly lining up to dance with a guy they might step on."

"You must have danced?" Loki protested, her mind going to the many feasts and balls her father had thrown. It had been a requirement for her to dance with certain nobles despite her protests. Nonetheless she had enjoyed dancing; the part with teaching Thor and having her feet nearly trampled in the process wasn't that pleasant however.

However then came that other man. That noble…

"Well, asking a woman to dance always seems so terrifying." Steven said. "And the past few years just didn't seem to matter that much." He then gave a shrug. "Figured I'd wait."

"For what?"

He glanced at her. "The right partner."

Loki was starting to feel slightly apprehensive for the whole ordeal. Despite Steven played brave and sure in his decision she was able to see his body shaking slightly. She squashed the urge rising in her to comfort him in any way, there were superiors watching at this moment and it wouldn't benefit him in any way if she attempted to comfort him.

Erskine met her eyes for a moment before he nodded. She nodded in return and obediently turned to join the other soldiers that were watching the experiment. She looked over her shoulder to where Steven was being strapped into the machine to where Howard was looking over the machines that powered the experiment before she continued upwards.

Erskine picked up the device that allowed his voice to be heard throughout the room and tested it. Loki smiled as some of the men winced at the sounds.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we take not another step towards annihilation, but the first step on the path to peace." Erskine begun. "We begin with a series of micro injections into the subjects major muscle groups." As he spoke the nurses and scientists began their work and placed the proper machinery in their places along Stevens body. "The serum infusion will cause immediate cellular change. And then to stimulate growth, the subject will be saturated with vita rays."

Loki watched as Steven was injected with something they called penicillin, she saw Erskine murmur something to him before stepping back and allowing the machine to come into its place surrounding him. Erskine knocked on the metal and said something, to which Stevens reply caused him to smile slightly.

He nodded to Howard and together they started to work at the machines. The other scientists and doctors fell into their positions and started their work.

Loki was barely aware as Howard called out numbers, going higher in their tens. She was barely aware of the soldiers and superiors around her that were watching critically. The only thing she was aware of was her own heart beating fast, her labored breathing, and Peggy tightly gripping her hand.

When Howard called out "Sixty" Steven started to scream in pain. Loki jumped from the sound and before she even knew what she was doing she had ripped her hand out of Peggy's and had ran down the stairs.

"Shut it down!" Loki yelled an order to Erskine who looked as if he was about to faint. He ran to the machine holding Steven. "Shut it down!"

"Steven!" Erskine shouted as he banged frantically on the metal.

"Shut it down!" Loki now almost screamed.

Erskine turned to where Howard was standing frozen; if Loki had concentrated on him she would be able to see his widened eyes behind the black plastic. However all of her attention was on Steven and his screams.

"Kill the reactor, Mr. Stark!" Erskine shouted to the frozen man. "Kill the reactor!"

Howard barely hesitated as he turned to the machine and reached for the levers. Before he was able to turn it off however Steven shouted "No!"

Their attention turned to Steven who was clearly in pain despite his protests.

"Don't!" he almost howled. "I can do this!"

Erskine looked as if he wanted to protest. He looked as if he so desperately wished to stop the experiment, that he regretted picking Steven for the experiment. Loki looked on helplessly as Erskine turned to Howard and nodded.

Howard continued on as if he hadn't stopped, calling out the numbers as he turned the wheel on his machine. As he called out "One hundred!" sparks flew everywhere. People ducked as the machines reached their capacity before they calmed.

Silence rang through the room as everyone's eyes fell on the machine holding the now silent Steven.

"Steven?" Erskine called. He turned to where Howard was. "Stark."

Obediently the machine came forward and opened to reveal Steven Rogers breathing heavily and covered in sweat.

However he was built differently, properly for a soldier. He appeared taller and broader.

The tension in the room loosened as one as everyone realized just what had happened.

The serum had worked.

As they watched as Howard and Erskine helped Steven out of the machine as he took a few stumbling steps forward.

Murmurs filled the room as everyone took off. The serum had created the super soldier that they had wanted. Loki pushed forward through the people to stand in front of Steven.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

Steven looked at her, still breathing heavily, and gave a small smile. "Taller."

"You look taller." Loki said returning the small smile. His new body, his built. They all reminded her slightly of Thor for a reason.

Loki turned to where Erskine was standing. Their eyes met and she smiled at him which he returned.

The next thing she knew was that there was a shot ringing through the air. Erskine was falling to the ground. Screams. Running. Pandemonium.

And blood. Blood was stained on the ground. On the machines.

Blood was everywhere.

She was wearing a formal model of the military uniform. She never had a reason to wear it before. She noted the collar was too stiff and was scratching against her neck.

She had watched as they brought in the wooden box expertly created down the middle of the room. These rituals were strange. They cultivated the body of those who were dead and buried them under the ground.

On Asgard funerals were more simpler, she mused, it would be a pyre with the body being surrounded by his friends and family that still lived. The body itself would be dressed accordingly. If he had died in battle then he was burned in his battle armor, the final decoration of a finely done cape covering the entire body labeling how high of a warrior he had been. If the man had died of old age the same would be done, however the cape would be in the color of gray instead of red. Then the body would be placed on a raft, lit on fire, pushed into the ocean, or nearest body of water, and the entire company would watch as the body burned.

This was almost horrifying for her. Not only to watch as the men brought the wooden box that held Dr. Erskine but to open the top to show the body. Although he had been dressed accordingly to his profession there was no denying the wound that had ended his life. Erskine was not a well-built man, therefore it was hard to hide the wound, and it was almost painfully clear that he had been in severe pain at the time that he had died.

The next part was similar; thankfully, people stood and spoke in memory of Dr. Erskine. They talked of his good deeds and of his beliefs of the world. They spoke of his struggles and his triumphs. They spoke only that which was good of him.

Quite a bit of the attention, however, was going to the new Steven Rogers. He had been given a new uniform to fit his newer frame. Awkward and shifting in his seat, both because of the attention on him and his own discomfort, Steve reminded her of a boy going onto the road of manhood. Not yet used to his new body which had seemed to have grown overnight. He looked up once and their eyes connected for a moment.

Loki had turned away first, bringing her attention back to the person who was speaking.

The time between Erskine's death and what happened in the next hour were a blur and she was barely able to remember.

She remembered Steven running after the man that had not only shot Erskine but had attempted to steal the remaining serum. She remembered seeing the symbol that she was told belonged to their enemy called Hydra.

She remembered following to the best of her ability.

She remembered shooting her gun in some sort of an attempt to help Steven get the man that had dared to kill Erskine.

She also remembered the military bringing his the lifeless body of the assassin back. He had killed himself using a hidden poison.

She remembered watching as the blood was cleaned off and Erskine body was picked up and carried away.

She then shook her head. She could no longer bear simply sitting here as she listened to others speak. Quietly excusing herself she quickly and stealthy walked out of the room where the service was being performed and outside where she breathed in the fresh air thankfully.

When she opened her eyes she saw Howard standing a few feet away from her simply watching her. He seemed to come to a decision as he started towards her.

"Want a smoke?" Howard asked when he reached her, holding out what the Midgardians called a cigarette.

While cigarettes weren't known in Asgard plenty of others smoked pipes and various herbs that were found in all corners of the nine realms. She herself had never performed the act itself, it had been forbidden by her master in magic whom she held dear and close to her heart, and never been tempted by the disgusting scents protruding from both the pipes nor the breath of those who smoked.

"No, thank you." she said shaking her head. "I don't smoke."

"What a coincidence." Howard said dryly. "I don't either."

Loki stared at him for a moment before nodding. She extended her arm and took the offered cigarette in her hand.

Howard lit it for her however she couldn't bring herself to bring it up to her lips.

"It's alright, you know." Howard said without looking at her. "To feel upset. Erskine was a good guy. And now…now he's gone."

"The road we all must follow." she said softly. "Birth, life, death. This shouldn't come as such a surprise."

"None of us expected it however." Howard pointed out. "We didn't know the guy would be there and we didn't know that he would have shot Erskine."

She nodded her head. "True." she then started to bring the cigarette up to her mouth however brought it back down before she could place it on her lips.

"He was a good man." she finally said. She closed her eyes to hide the tears that were threatening to spill over.

In truth it was Erskine who had brought her to where she was at this moment. He was the one who found her and brought her to the military, claiming that she would benefit them all. It was thanks to him that she got a chance to be here.

Loki felt her lips shake slightly before she pressed them together tightly. When she felt that she was no longer in danger of crying she finally opened her eyes once more.

Howard had moved beside her without her realizing. He had placed his hand on her shoulder.

"He was a good man." she repeated in a shaking voice. The tears threatened to make another appearance.

Howard nodded. He didn't comment on her tears or bring up the fact that she was a woman and therefore 'more prone to emotional outbursts' as some of the other soldiers and men in the vicinity would have done. If anything he choose to simply look away and give Loki the few moments of weakness she needed.

She glanced at her from the corner of her eye. She choose to keep away from others on this realm, her time here was limited after all. However in doing so she completely cut herself off from the touch of another person. Erskine occasional touch of her arm or shoulder, Peggy hugging her sometimes was all she had to call touches of another person. Howards hand on her, and it staying there unlike the fleeting gesture of Erskine and Peggy, made her realize just how much she missed the touch of another person.

On Asgard she wasn't a physical person in the slightest however there was no absence of touching either. Thor was incapable of knowing or ever learning just what personal space was and would at all times drape himself on top of Loki. He would be the one who would mostly hug her and bring himself to touch her. Her mother Frigga would caress Loki's face or run her hand through Loki's hair.

Howard was the first one to offer not only a touch but a comforting touch. Loki swallowed the desire rising in her to bring herself closer to Howard and seek more.

Her eyes widened at the realization and she dropped the cigarette. The connections she was making at this time. The one she had created with Erskine. The one she has with Peggy, being created now with Howard, the one in creation with Steve. She had unknowingly and unwittingly created bonds with them. These people from Midgard. Mortals with short life spans. People who she would never see again once she returned to Asgard. Her eyes clouded with sadness as she realized just what had happened during the last two years.

"I've gotten too attached." she said softly. If Howard heard her, he didn't comment.

I own nothing.