Loki was woken up abruptly and pulled from his dream. He heard yelling.
"No! I have nothing to say." He heard Anika shout. He jolted off the bed and looked to the chamber beside him. Two guards were trying to grab Anika. She shoved one against the bars, as the other shackled her hands, dragging her from the cell.
"We're going to have fun today in the oubliette." Said the guard who now had scorch marks marring his back.
"Unhand her this instant." Loki bellowed, to the guards. They continued walking, ignoring him completely. As they passed his cell her eyes locked onto his. Her eyes were hard and defiant, but hidden to all but him there was an underlying sadness. Their eyes stayed locked until a door shut, blocking her from sight. Loki screamed and raked his hands through his hair in frustration. In his fury furniture went flying around him, causing a whirl wind of destruction. He wanted to break out of his cage. He wanted to save Anika.
Anika shut her mind off from the rest of her body. She told herself once Thor returned she would get her retribution against all that had wronged her. As soon as Thor had left the All-Father had fallen into his Odinsleep. With no one left to protect her she had been grabbed and ended up in the dungeons. People were so sure she knew of Loki's betrayal long before he executed his plan and they wanted her to suffer.
She felt another bone break, but didn't flinch, being a warrior she had faced many injuries and in a fight you can't stop and nurse a wound. As her mind drifted she thought of Loki's eyes and the chaos she found there. She knew it ate at him that he didn't have the power to stop the guards and she knew he was plotting something as he sat and strewed in his cage. After what seemed like hours the guards stopped abruptly and dragged her back to the cell. As she was dragged past Loki's cell he watched her, she knew he was trying to assess the damage. She smiled a bloody, unsettling smile, before dropping her head. She felt weak and denying the guards the pleasure of seeing her suffer was wearing on her. They tossed her in the cell, and she stayed crumbled on the ground. Weak and wounded and nearly unconscious. She felt a hand on her back and she flinched away, turning to look at its owner. She looked to Loki shocked. He kneeled down beside her, concern written in his eyes.
"How did you?" She asked quietly, unable to finish her thought.
"I talked with mother and she demanded that the bars be removed." He said quietly, searching her eyes. "I'm sorry Anika she is not able to get you out of here." He said, looking down, ashamed that he could not give her, her freedom.
Anika dragged herself up in a sitting position, leaning again the wall behind her. She reached for his hand.
"Loki this is not your fault." She whispered, looking deep into his eyes. His eyes were hard, but softened at her touch.
It was his first human contact in months. Her hand was small and soft and felt very warm to his cool skin. She closed her eyes and smiled at the familiarity of his touch. His eyes started to water, at the contentment he saw on her face. Anika had never thought him a monster and obviously still didn't. He turned his head to the side, trying to regain his composure. Once he was sure there were no signs of tears he sat down beside her, pulling her body against his, resting her head against his chest. He stroked her hair as he slowly began to heal her broken body. He heard a sigh of relief escape her lips as he felt her snuggle closer to him. He kissed her hair and rested his nose against her head. He could smell blood and sweat, but underneath those scents he could smell her. She always smelled of apricots and rainstorms. He felt the turmoil in his heart lessen and the chaos in his mind dull. As he healed her she inadvertently healed him. He hadn't realized how much he needed her until she was ripped from his life through actions of his own.
"Anika do you forgive me?" Loki whispered in her hair, his eyes brimming with tears. If she hated him he knew the fragile workings of his mind would shatter.
"My Prince do not fret. You are still the most important person to me. You will always have my love and loyalty." She said, lifting her hand to grab on to the front of his shirt. Her strength was returning, but she didn't want to let go of Loki. It had been too long since the last time she heard his heartbeat beneath her ear. They stayed like that for hours, completely content in silence and each other's arms. Anika moved first, and with her departure he felt cold. She had turned to sit in front of him.
A/N: Thanks for reading. I'd enjoy hearing what you think!