Chapter 4

The man in the star-spangled suit landed just as Loki fired at the man and personally, I was grateful at the deflection. Loki was knocked to the ground and I was going to go and help him when a hovering craft emerged to point weapons at Loki. I went to reach for my weapons, intending to defend my best friend from the Midguardian's wrath but halted when I realized that it is for the best that they stop Loki's tirade.

After knocking Loki to the ground, the man stood up and his eyes fell on me. He frowned in confusion. "May I ask who you are, Miss?"

I frowned slightly and before I could reply, Loki spoke up. "She is none of your concern, soldier."

A woman's voice projected from the aircraft and I smiled at the technology. I love human things. "If she's with you, Loki, she must be taken down."

Their weapons turned on me and I took a shocked step back. "I am not here to harm anyone!"

They wouldn't listen. I've loved the humans and their world, but they did always favor war. I could hear the weapons charging and I went to cover myself but noticed Loki leap up to jump in front of me, shielding me from the assault. "Do not harm her, you inferior scum!"

I put my arm on his shoulder. "Loki, I will live. They have no reason to hurt me."

He ignored me and shot his scepter at the hovercraft which managed to dodge the blast. I made a noise of protest but it was unheard as the soldier tackled Loki and they began to fight. I decided to prove I wasn't of any harm and I lifted my weight off the ground and flew in front of the craft. I looked at the woman with short red hair in the pilot seat whom was looking at me curiously. "My lady, I am no danger to you or the other Midguardians. I assure you this."

She seemed to think over my request before lowering the entrance ramp. "Prove it. Come aboard and surrender quietly."

"And what of Loki?"

"Cap will take him into custody." I nodded, accepting that offer and I flew around to climb into the flying craft. It was bigger on the inside and I looked around with a giggle. I haven't been around human things for so long.

The redhead woman asked me to take a seat and sit quietly. I did so to please her, waiting patiently for Loki to come on board, probably in restraints. A song came through the speakers and I recognized it as ACDC, I had been to a couple of performances in my time, and a man's voice came through the speaker. "Agent Romanoff. Miss me?"

I gazed through the window and saw a man in a metal suit fly through the air and kick Loki directly on the chest. "Do not damage him!"

I was ignored, but I looked past to see Loki's armor disappear and his hands come up in surrender. They had stopped him and for this, I was grateful. Now to convince them that he needs to return to Asgard. The 'Cap' person and the metal man brought Loki on to the ship and strapped him across from me. I went to get up and speak with him but was immediately stopped by the two oddly dressed men. "Who are you?"

I looked at the metal man, who had removed his helmet and his face seemed familiar. The Cap was blonde and tall, quite attractive for a human. Loki was looking at me with soft eyes and I gulped before answering, "I am Cadence of Asgard. I am the Goddess of the Arts."

"Why are you here?" The blonde questioned.

"To retrieve my best friend from doing wrong. He does not have a bad heart; I need to prove that he is still the kind man I know." Metal man huffed and walked away from me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We can't let him go. He's our prisoner." I scowled; this is going to be more difficult than I thought.

"Can I at least speak with him? I have not uttered a word to him since he was temporarily King and since then I have not known happiness or light." The blonde paused for a moment, but then moved out of the way to let me speak.

I rushed over and knelt in front of Loki. He caressed my cheek with his chained hand and I began to weep. "Cadence, what is the matter?"

I knew everyone was watching me, but I did not care for them. "I thought you were dead. Loki, you locked me away and the next time my door opened Thor told me you had died…"

He began to shush me and pulled me onto his lap where I cried for what felt likes hours. He had lifted his arms so the chains could wrap around me and the tears fell freely from my face. "Were you alright?"

I shook my head. No words need be said for him to understand. "I missed you so much, Loki."

"Even after I forced you into your quarters and attacked Thor on Midgard?" I nodded, snuggling closer and I looked up to see the heroes staring at us.

I kissed Loki lightly on the cheek, an action I had honestly never even considered, and then got out of his grasp to speak with the Metal Man and Cap. They seemed weary of me but relaxed. "May I ask your names, please?"

The blonde smiled and it was a kind smile. The smile that could make a babe stop crying and to reassure someone sick or injured. "My name is Steve Rogers, ma'am. People call me Captain America."

I smiled gently and looked to the Metal Man. "Tony Stark. Billionaire, playboy yada yada. Also known as Iron Man."

I chuckled. "Midgard has such fascinating people. Having heroes in costume to look up to while Asgardians merely have the Royal Family."

Steve looked to Loki and then back at me. "Are you a part of the Royal Family? Loki's girlfriend or distant cousin or something?"

I blush and awkwardly laugh out loud. "Nothing of the sort. Some of us are just born into our roles and grow up noticing our differences until Odin gives us our name. So I became Goddess of the Arts."

"Do you choose your title?"

"No, you earn it by your actions. I am the epitome of entertainment and I used to dance and sing everywhere I went. I also love to paint and draw. It's easy to assume what Loki was like to aspire to the title of God of Mischief and Lies."

Loki snorted lightly and Tony stepped forward to gaze at me questioningly. "You said used to. What the hell happened?"

I dipped my head in sadness. "I believed Loki dead. He fell from the Bifrost and Thor approached me with the news. He was my favorite companion… my best friend. He was upset over his heritage. I understood and he locked me away to protect me. I wish I could have saved him."

A single tear fell from my eye and I wiped it away quickly, taking a deep breath. Steve placed his arm on my shoulder in comfort, yet I chose to sit down on my own to be with my thoughts. Tony and Steve began to idly chit chat and I did not have the strength to look at Loki in the eyes. I know what I feel for him. I know he doesn't feel the same. One can only hope, but my hope died hundreds of years ago.

I felt a tingling in my mind and began to panic. Loki's in my head. He heard all of my emotion. He knows I love him. I was going to apologize when the sounds of lightning and thunder erupted from outside. "Oh, gods…"

I looked up at Loki who noticed what I did and Steve smugly said, "Afraid of a little lightning?"

I stood up, grabbing their attention and braced for impact. "I'm not overly fond of what follows."

You could hear the worry in his voice. Of course he wouldn't want to face Thor. There was a loud thud on the roof and then Tony opened the door. "Tony, do not approach him!"

Thor came through the door and smacked Tony away before looking at me and hesitated. He grabbed Loki and turned to me first. "Return to Asgard, Cadence before you fall into deeper trouble with Odin."

He flew out the door with Loki and I ran after him. There is no way that he is going to take Loki away from me. I charged out, ignoring the yells of Steve and dove toward the ground. I stopped halfway and hovered in the air, searching for Thor and the glint of his armor caught me.

I sped towards them, my desperation fueling my flight and I caught up to them in seconds, seeing Thor toss Loki to the ground on the edge of a cliff face. "Thor!"

He turned to me and stormed towards me, but I held my ground. "My Lady Cadence, I told you to return to Asgard. You are not permitted to be here and I would hate to see you punished for Loki's actions."

"No." He frowned at me, but turned away to approach Loki.

Loki chuckled. "How much dark magic did Odin need to send you here?"

Thor ignored him, but I stepped forward confused. "Why would you not use the portal as I had?"

He grunted and turned red. "I did not know the way to operate it and Odin wanted it destroyed after you had departed, My Lady."

I ground my teeth together. "I am just about sick of Odin."

Loki tried to calm me. "Do not speak ill of him, Cadence. I will not see him take action upon you because of me."

"I came here to stop you from murdering, Loki. He should not punish me for that."

"Then clearly, you do not know Thor's father."

Thor stood in front of Loki, now incredibly angry. "You listen here…"

He was interrupted, swept off the cliff by Iron Man and I watched as they went colliding into many trees. "Impulsive oaf."

"He is still your brother, Loki." He surprised me by shoving me to the ground, now hovering over me and I have to admit. I was frightened.

"He is not my brother, you… You…" He face was contorted, trying to think of an insult. But he could not hurt me. "Cadence… You must understand that he is not my brother."

I touched his cheek with my hand and he leant into the touch, absorbing the feeling of my skin. "I've understood you more than anyone. But this, I cannot accept."

He shook his head and sighed. The sound soothed me and my hand drifted to his hair. One of his hands trailed to my waist and I began to get nervous. I have waited for similar actions for countless years. "I know what you were thinking in the craft, Cady."

He hadn't called me Cady since we were teenagers and that was over a thousand years ago. "And you are not repulsed by me?"

"My lovely lovely Lady, I have been waiting for this for centuries…" He leant down and his nose brushed mine, the affection seeping from his breath that fanned my face. Oh, gods.

His soft thin lips barely brushed mine before a surge of energy sent us flying, causing my back to slam into a rock. My vision went fuzzy and only a moment later did I black out, cursing whatever that was that interrupted Loki kissing me.

You all thought I forgot about this story. I just had major writing block that lasted for way too long. For that I apologize!