A/N- Ummm... so, my dad waged war on the plastic container of a charging cord (you know, the stupid, impossible-to-open things?) meaning I got to see the big knife in the truck.
Is it bad that I had a bloodletting/vampire dream after that?
Because I feel like it is...
I feel like it means I need psychiatric help. (Which I probably do, you know.)
...Anyway... Reviews!
Wait, I didn't get any, other than a PM from GenderbentDragonRider.
Feeling the love, guys. XD
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel.
When I returned to the tower, I emerged from my room, making my way downstairs as if to appear that I had simply been holed up all this time. The only ones down there, however, were Tony and Clint. The former was in the mini kitchen pouring a drink, while the latter was lounging on the couch, flipping through the channels on TV. Tony glanced up and, upon seeing me, finished pouring his drink, before leaning casually against the bar. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
I ignored his sarcastic comment, instead brushing past to grab a bag of frozen blueberries from the mini fridge. I took a berry out of the bag, rolling it contemplatively between my fingers but not eating it. Sighing, I popped it in my mouth before setting the bag down on the counter. "Can I ask you guys a question?"
Clint glanced up from his channel surfing, intrigued by my inquiry. "Sure, why wouldn't you?"
"I mean without you guys freaking out on me or anything," I elaborated.
"Why would we freak on you?" Tony asked. He smirked. "Oooh, what did Nikkie do this time?"
I glared at him. "If you want your tongue to stay attached to your mouth, rather than serve as a gag to finally shut you up, you will not call me Nikkie ever again." Tony held up his hands in surrender. I sighed, shifting my gaze to the floor. "What did Loki do?"
Both men seemed startled by this question, and Tony nearly choked on his drink. Clint sat up, turning to face me. "That depends. What brought this on?"
I shrugged. "Thor. Earlier, he mentioned his brother, Loki. Said he did bad things, and that he was in prison now, but he didn't elaborate. But, when he said his name, it felt like I knew him."
"So, you triggered a memory?" Tony asked.
I shook my head. "Not quite. It's not that I remember him, or anything about him. It's kinda like I know him, and I know that I know him, but I don't know why or how I know him. But, that doesn't answer my question. Why's he in prison?"
"He tried to take over Earth," Clint answered. "Brought a whole alien arm and everything. That's why us Avengers are together. Fury brought us all in to fight Loki."
I frowned, furrowing my brow. "That doesn't seem like Loki." I muttered.
"Hm?" Tony had gone back to his alcohol, not paying much attention to me anymore.
I shook my head. "Nothing. Listen, I'm going back up to my room, see if I can figure anything else out from this memory I seem to have of him. I just wanted to come down to show you I was alright."
With that, I made my way back to my room. I thought about going to see Loki, but decided against it, at least for now. I had questions, and he had answers. For now, though, I settled for simply laying in my bed, trying to sort through the many thoughts going through my head.
The next morning, at breakfast, it was easy to tell that I was a bit out of it. Even Steve, who, kind-hearted as he was, was a bit oblivious, was able to see.
"Nocte, what's wrong?" he asked.
I glanced up, snapped from my stupor. "Hm? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Why do you ask?"
"Because you're a bit spacey," Tony replied. "Like, more so than usual."
I rolled my eyes. "I just got a bit on my mind. It's not a big deal." Not in the mood for any more interrogation- and I knew it was coming, based on the unconvinced looks I was receiving from the others- I simply grabbed a granola bar, before making my way out of the kitchn. "Listen, I'm going to my room. Don't disturb me."
"I think you're disturbed enough as it is," Clint snorted.
I rolled my eyes, but didn't reply, instead heading back to my room. I didn't want the others coming after me, because I wasn't going to be here. After all, I had promised Loki I would come back.
Now that I knew the location of his cell, Loki was much easier to find than the first time. The god didn't seem all that surprised to see me back so soon, simply standing from where he was and making his way to hover at the glass, staring out at me. He was obviously waiting for me to make the first move.
I took a deep breath, unsure of how I wanted to proceed. "I want to know everything."
Loki scoffed. "Well, that's quite a lot. You may want to narrow it down."
I rolled my eyes. "I want to know everything you can tell me about me. What was I like? What happened to me? Who am I fighting? Why did Mortem just desert me, for months on end? I want to remember, Loki. There's so much missing, and I want to know what it is."
"Well, there are some things about your story that I don't know, but I will tell you what I can," he replied, the sarcasm now gone from his voice. "Can you enter the cell? This will only work if I can make physical contact."
"Can you make a bigger shadow?" I asked. "It's bright in there, so I won't be able to get in without a strong enough shadow."
Loki complied, and the shadow he created was just barely big enough for me to make it into the room. Once I was standing before him, he reached out to touch my temples. "I'm going to show you some of my memories of us from when we were younger. Hopefully, even if it doesn't trigger your own memories, it will give you some of the answers you were looking for."
I gasped as pictures flew across my vision, images of a younger Loki and a girl who looked quite similar to myself, only with minor variations. Longer hair, shorter, paler skin, and though she was smiling, her eyes held a deep, battle-hardened sadness.
A young, dark-haired boy was walking through a vibrant garden, flowers in full bloom, their fragrances filling the air with a heady scent. The air was warm, and the sun was shining. Perfect weather for curling up outside with a good book.
At least, that's what the boy was planning on doing, until he saw a flash of something dark up ahead, past a flower bush. Curious, he made his way to where it was, careful to not make a sound and scare away whatever it was. What he saw when he approached was a young girl, about his age, with waist-length black hair, creamy skin, and dark eyes. She wore battle armor, though she carried no weapons, and seemed to be talking to herself, searching for something.
"Ugh, why did Mortem send me here?" she muttered. The boy had no idea who she was, though he recognized the name Mortem, both from the songs sung in the dining halls, and from some books he read. He was starting to get a sneaking suspicion he knew who this girl was. "There's nothing here that could help, no clues as to where they are or anything!"
"What are you looking for?" the boy asked, revealing his position from behind the bush.
The girl gasped and spun to face him, two long, dark swords appearing in her hands. She held one out, keeping the boy at a safe distance. He held his hands up in surrender, showing he meant no harm and was unarmed. "Who are you?"
"I'm Loki," he replied. "I know this place well. I live here. Perhaps I could be of assistance?"
He didn't know why he was offering to help. After all, it wasn't really like him. He was more likely to cause mischief, intentionally hiding or cursing whatever item the other person was searching for. However, if this girl was who he thought she was, it would be much more beneficial to be in her good graces.
The girl eyed him warily but seemed to decide he wasn't a threat, as she sheathed her swords. However, rather than sheathing- as she had no place to hold them- the swords simply dissipated into shadows. "I doubt it. I'm looking for any sort of clues as to where some people I've been fighting have gone. There's not much you could do to help."
He tilted his head, considering her words. "Perhaps not. But, I know someone who could help. Besides, the library in the palace is quite expansive. You may be able to find something useful there. Or, I may be able to use a spell in order to help you locate them."
She thought over his offer for a moment. She stuck her hand out, which Loki shook. "Yeah, that would be great, thanks. I'm Nocte."
"You can't let anyone know I'm here," Nocte said, following Loki through the hall of the palace.
"Well, Heimdall knows you're here," Loki said. "But that's because Heimdall sees everything. He won't rat you out so long as he doesn't deem you a threat, and Odin doesn't ask. Other than him, though, no one will know."
"Wait, where are we going?" Nocte asked.
"To the library," he answered. "We might be able to find some information on your parents, or a spell that could help me locate them."
They slowed as they neared a doorway, Loki looking in to make sure they wouldn't be seen as they went by. The only occupants of the room were a few guards on break, obviously a bit tipsy from ale. They were singing a song of three warriors, older than the universe itself, yet eternally young, forever locked in a never-ending battle with evil and chaos. Nocte had a sad look on her face, and Loki turned to give her a curious glance.
"Are the stories true?" he asked. "You, Mortem, and Bellum have been fighting them since before the universe even began?"
"Yeah," she replied, a melancholy and tired look on her face.
"Doesn't it ever get old?"
She laughed without humor. "Oh, it got old a few billion years ago. But, it doesn't matter. It's not like I can just stop fighting. I'm the only one strong enough to actually kill them, and if we stop fighting then they'll take over. You think the Dark Elves are bad? They've got nothing on my parents."
"Well, why don't you ask for help?" Loki asked. "If it's as bad as you say, then the Nine Realms would help. Well, maybe not Midgard or Svartalfheim, but the others surely would."
Nocte grimaced. "We can't. This is our fight, not yours. We're here to protect the Nine Realms, not endanger them. We couldn't possibly ask you all to fight alongside us."
"But don't you think that, with the help of so many, that you could finally end this war?" Loki pointed out.
"No," she said, a note of finality in her voice. "Loki, we can't. I shouldn't even be accepting help from you. As soon as I get the information I need, I'm leaving. Now, stop with these questions, and please just take me to the library."
He sighed, but didn't press the matter, instead leading the Primordial to the library in search of the answers she needed.
The two sat in the library, pouring over the texts as they had done countless times the past month. They found nothing new, though they tirelessly continued. Loki had done his best with multiple different spells, even asking his mother for assistance, without revealing what he needed the spell for. Nocte had softened considerably, breaking out of her hard shell and actually showing her true colors. As it turned out, she and Loki had much in common; intelligent, clever, as quick with their wit as they were smooth with their tongue, even sharing in a mischievous and rebellious streak. The duo became fast friends, and were near inseparable, though Nocte remained unseen in the shadows.
In truth, both were dreading the day Nocte found what she was looking for, and had to leave.
Nocte looked at Loki, a deep sadness in her eyes. "I don't want to, Loki. I really, really don't. But, I have to. I found the lead we needed, and now I have to go with the others to follow it."
"I know," the god said quietly. Years had passed since the two had first met, and both had grown into young adulthood, Nocte a beautiful woman that, under other circumstances, would have men falling at her feet, and Loki the handsome prince vying for the crown of Asgard. They had remained each other's closest friend, though it was hard to tell if there was anything more blooming.
Nocte had, of course, had to leave before, as had Loki. This time was different, however, as she wouldn't be coming back, at least not for a long, long while. She had finally found information that she and the others could use to locate her parents, and had to go fight her never-ending war. The time had finally come for the teary goodbye that would separate the inseparable friends. Had the two been any different, there would have been tears. But, neither was prone to showing weakness, though you could hear the heartbreak in both their voices.
Nocte hugged Loki, neither wanting to let go, but both knowing they had to. Before she did, Nocte squeezed him tight, whispering her final goodbye in his ear. "I'll come back someday, Loki. I promise."
"I'll be waiting," he whispered back, before stepping back and watching as his only friend was whisked away by the shadows.
A/N- Well, now you know some of Loki and Nocte's past! Question is, what will Nocte make of it? Will her memories come back, or will she be more confused than before?
Until next time, fave, follow, review, and PM me!
