"This is the story of the forgotten king," Loki began after Natalia brought him a steaming cup of tea. The fire continued to burn, making the living room feel much cozier. Now that he had clean bandages and his favourite robe on, Loki was beginning to feel much more comfortable. He could easily ignore the slight pain after Natalia had taken such good care of him.

"Are you sure you don't need the book?" Natalia asked. She settled onto the couch beside him with a cup of tea for herself.

"No thank you. I have this tale committed to memory."

Natalia eagerly watched him, wondering what kind of a story he was about to tell.

"This story begins at a time when Jotunheim was a country all its own," Loki began in a distant voice. "The Jotuns were at war with Asgard, fighting for control over all the lands. Asgard's King, Odin, was leading an army against the wicked King Laufey. Odin fought valiantly and managed to strike down Jotunheim's King right before his very throne.

"King Odin had no regrets, for Laufey was leading his people down a path of destruction. Just before Odin could leave the palace, he heard the cries of a baby nearby. Unable to turn away, for he had an infant son of his own, Odin followed the cries until he found Laufey's wife dead on the ground with a stake through her heart, and a small basket housing a newborn baby boy. Odin lifted the newborn into his arms and knew that in his heart, he couldn't abandon it, so he stole Laufey's son and presented him to Asgard's Queen as a son of Odin…" Loki paused for a sip of tea, watching Natalia's face in the corner of his eye.

"Is that it?" she prodded.

"You wish to hear the rest?" he dismally asked.

"I've never heard this story before. All I know is that Jotunheim is no more," Natalia admitted.

Loki nodded, then chose to continue on with the story. "Years passed and Laufey's son has lived a normal, happy life with his brother and loving parents. All was well until an intruder barged in on King Odin and his family. The man demanded Laufey's son, for this intruder was Laufey himself. He cursed Odin for stealing his child and murdering his wife. Odin tried defending himself, swearing that he thought Laufey was dead and that his wife was no longer by the time he found her. At this time, Jotunheim had fallen. The battle years prior took a toll on its citizens. Laufey demanded his son back, for his country was suffering and all he wanted was his son back. Odin refused, claiming that the boy was his. He said that if Laufey truly cared, he should have come sooner. This led to a dispute between the two rulers. A guard arrived to lead the Queen and her sons to safety just as a fight broke out. However, Laufey's son didn't wish to go-he wanted answers. You see, Natalia," Loki continued, "Laufey's son was a bright young boy. His family, all blond of hair and blue of eyes, looked nothing like him. Seeing Laufey's dark hair and emerald eyes matched the small child perfectly. He knew that this man was his true father and this made him question King Odin's intentions. Why would the King lie to him for all these years?" Loki's eyes narrowed as he glared into the fire.

"To protect his son," Natalia answered.

"By hiding his true parentage?" he growled at the girl. "Odin had no right to! Do you know what he did right in front of the boy's very eyes?" Natalia opened her mouth to speak, but Loki wouldn't let her answer. "He killed Laufey. Off with his head! Right in front of a child!" Loki's volume grew louder, making the cracks in his voice more obvious. "A child that he called his son!"

Natalia stared into Loki's heartbroken eyes. The man was far too engaged in this story telling for it to be an old piece of lore… She set her cup of tea down before reaching for Loki's hands. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled. Loki scowled, yanking his hands from her grasp before limping towards the fireplace. Natalia didn't even bother asking for name of the boy in the story. She already knew… "Loki," she breathed.

"I don't want your pity!" he scowled.

"I'm not pitying you…" Natalia turned towards a window and saw that it was pitch black, but swirls of white danced in the air, drawing her in for a closer look. "It's snowing," she commented, trying to get a better look outside. There were a few white patches covering the ground, but Natalia knew it wouldn't be long before the entire ground was covered with a thick blanket of white.

Loki chose to stay close to the fire, allowing for his body to absorb the warmth.

Apparently, the distraction of snow wasn't enough to make Loki come around. Natalia didn't like the silence between them, so she decided to carefully approach him, both of their tea cups in hand. "Thank you for telling me that story."

A blue hand reached out to accept his cup. "It was my displeasure…" he retorted.

"Would you like for me to tell you a story now?" she wondered, returning to her place on the couch.

"Is it anywhere near as depressing as mine?" he asked, back facing her.

"No," she softly smiled. Loki hobbled back to the couch and took a seat, propping his injured leg up on the coffee table. "This one's about a little girl," Natalia began. "She lost both of her parents in a terrible fire." Her eyes glanced from the red and yellow flames to Loki's face. "Her parents were a young couple, both very happy with their newborn daughter… Neither of them knew what started the fire. It was assumed to be just an accident. Maybe the girl's parents were just ditzy," she added with a forced laugh. "They probably fell asleep with the stove on because the fire engulfed the whole first floor, leaving the parents and baby unable to escape. The girl's mother threw open the window, clutching her crying daughter and screaming for help. A crowd had gathered with buckets of water to try and help put it out. The mother grew even more desperate to have her daughter saved. Luckily, a man opened his arms, promising that he would catch the baby. He did, and the girl's mother thanked the man. Unfortunately, the house's structure gave way…" Natalia tightened her grip around the ceramic cup.

"This man is Ivan, correct?" Loki asked. He didn't realize how rough Natalia had it until now. Like himself, she had lost her parents. Although they were different circumstances, the two shared a mutual understanding. "I see why you care for him so much."

Natalia nodded and stared into her nearly empty cup. "He saved my life and raised me, giving me everything I could ever hope for."

"He raised quite the young woman, then," Loki told her with a smile.

"Loki?" she suddenly asked. "What happened to the little boy in your story after Laufey died?" She didn't want to address Loki by name in fear of upsetting him again. "You don't have to answer, I'm just-"

"As I told you before, my story is that of the forgotten king... The child ran away from Asgard and journeyed to what was once Jotunheim. There, he found the castle belonging to his parents. On that day, Laufey's son inherited the King and Queen's home and all the riches that came with it. There, he was King, honing riches beyond imagination and everything he could ever need to live happily. Even though he was alone-Jotunheim's people no longer lived within the city- the boy was happy simply being free from the traitorous Odin…"

"Is the town we visited today Jotunheim, then?" she wondered. Natalia had read books about the city that no longer existed, but none ever mentioned a Laufey or wars. All she knew was that King Odin declared it to be a lost city, just like the people who once lived there.

"This is Jotunheim," Loki assured her. "Not even Odin can take this from me. It is the only memory the world has left of what once was. If not for Laufey's journals, all records of Jotunheim would be lost."

"Has King Odin ever visited you? Or his Queen?" she prodded.

Her comment made Loki cackle. "They want nothing to do with me anymore! I've made my choice, Natalia, and it involves living here as a God-awful monster!"

"Don't talk like that!" Natalia sternly warned him. "Yes, you've acted horribly-that I know from how you recently treated me-but there's still some good in you…" She softened her tone. "You need to show people that."

"We've been over this," he droned, "people are too thick-skulled to see past what I've become."

"Something tells me you weren't exactly a saint before you were blue," she hinted.

"I was far from it," Loki promised with a smug grin.

Natalia was beginning to feel like this was all a game to him. "I think a cure for this curse might be to act a little nicer to everyone."

"Believe me, it's not," he snorted.

The red-head shrugged. "You've actually been nicer to me today. It won't hurt to act nice towards others, either. And don't you dare mention how your 'different looks' are going to scare them away, because it's not working on me."

"That is because you, Natalia, are not like most people," Loki smirked, staring into her bright green orbs. "Feisty, strong-willed… Never change. Promise me that, darling."

She rolled her eyes before finishing up her lukewarm tea.

"Tomorrow, we can read a proper story, if you would prefer that…" Loki hopefully stared in her direction.

"Why not?" she shrugged. "The snow looks like its sticking. By tomorrow morning, it just might be up to our knees," she mused.

"Do you like the snow?" Loki asked.

Natalia rested her cheek against the couch's cushioning. "It's pretty, yes."

Loki hummed in agreement, smiling as he noticed Natalia yawn. "Promise me that you will stay, snowed in or not. Just one more day."

His desperation was something she couldn't say no to. He was just like a child. "Sure."

"Thank you," he mouthed with a genuine smile.

"I'm going to bed now," she announced. "Do you need help getting up the stairs?"

"No. Please, you've done more than I could ever hope for. You deserve your rest." He took the empty tea cup from her hand. "I will be off to bed shortly."

Natalia nodded as she stood up. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Much better. Thank you." He watched her walk towards the staircase, only to stop and turn back around to face him.

"Good night, Loki."

"Good night, Natalia."