Chapter 7: Loki

Ava stopped in front of a square hatch that was embedded in the ground, it's metal rusted, the handle chipped at its middle. The rubble surrounding it, enough to keep it hidden. Ava kicked some of the debris away with her boot-clad foot. The feigned Steve came up beside her, placing his hands on his hips and smiling down at the mini door.

"Let's see what's under door number one, shall we?" He crouched down grabbing the handle and opening the hatch without a single sign of exertion. Dust and a horrid smell that burned the nostrils rose up from the opening. Inside were stairs which led deeper into the dark abyss that could have been considered abandoned. "Are you sure he is here?"

"Yes. I am positive." She pinched her nose and began stepping down the stairs, her boots clanking against the metal as she went. What little sunshine leaked into the simply small area. There was torn up papers scattered across the floor, a broken table and a couple of dirty plastic chairs sat in the corner. A bookshelf against the wall across from the staircase, symbols and words written in white were all over the cement walls.

"Sounds like he isn't here. Maybe we should get going?" He suggested about to walk his way back up the steps.

"No. I will do everything in my power to get my magic back. It is all I have left." She stepped over to the bookcase and began reading the many titles that scattered over their binds.

"What are you doing?"

"I know that Eric must have had something around here that disclosed the locations of all portals. If I find the right one, it can take me to Asgard."

"And what will you do once you get there?"

"Find Loki. He took everything I have. I would do anything to get it back." She considered for once in telling him that she knew, but figured Loki was too prideful and if she spoke good of him, he would eventually reveal himself. "You know..." She turned around and leaned back into the bookshelf looking at him. "I realize now I was wrong to have resented Loki." His eyes flashed with something she would have assumed was mischief, but his expression remained blank.

"Is that so?" Maybe she wasn't really lying, maybe her words could be truth, but she wouldn't allow herself to believe that. Wouldn't allow herself to say that she was Loki's Persephone, that he was her dream knight, that he would save her from the poverty she was born in.

"Yes. Like Hades, he stole me, offered me care and protection. I think I love him... I would give anything to tell him that he was..." She paused to think of the correct word, not breaking eye contact with the feigned super soldier. "Right." She saw a give in Steve's expression, his eyebrow raised and jaw tensed.

"Really? Would you say that he is the love of your life despite what he had done?"

"Yes... Despite what he had done."

"Then he forgives you." The supposed Steve finally transformed back into Loki, who was more than willing to take her in his arms as she went to him. For now she could deal with his frigid body temperature and calculating gaze, because although she was only using him to get her magic back... She wanted to what know it felt like, it felt like to be held and talked to into the early hours of morning. To have someone there for you, even when you hated them.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and she snuggled her head beneath his chin, nuzzling into his neck and purring almost like a cat. He wove his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead.

"I was not expecting you to be so submissive upon realizing your mistake."

"I know now Loki that you were always there for me. Take me back to your palace of dreams, return my magic to me, and we shall live together with forever happiness." He cleared his throat, then retreated her body from his shaking his head. He looked down at her with a puppy dog face and caressed her cheek with his thumb, his hand cupping one side of her face.

"I am afraid I can't do that love. You see, if I return my magic to you, you can leave and I may never find you again. I must be sure that the words you speak are authentic."

"But Loki, don't you trust me?"

"I do, Love. I'm just being on the cautious side. I can't seem to be without you ever since I found your existence."

"I am not her..." She mumbled, feeling envious of the woman he places his emotions with when looking at her. His muscles tightened under those words, his thumb stopped smoothing over her skin, and his eyes pierced her soul with a thousand apologies. "I want to make that clear."

"It is made clear then."