What Do I Have To Do- Stabbing Westward

You make it hard to breathe, it's as if I'm suffocating

And when you're next to me I can feel your heartbeat through my skin

It makes me sad to think this could all be for nothing

I wish there was a way, a way for you to see inside me

I've never felt this way about anyone or anything, tell me
What do I have to do to make you happy?

What do I have to do to make you understand?

What do I have to do to make you want me?

But if I can't make you want me, what do I have to do?

Alex arranged the large bathroom as best as she could to trim Loki's long dark hair. A quick request to the house staff and she was given a pair of the finest scissors in Upstate New York. She decided right there that it was good to be rich. If only she had been born a Stark. Shereached in her her small toiletry bag she'd brought from her room to grab the jar of Tiger balm to massage into her shoulder. It would help with the ache until bedtime when she could have a Vicodin.

Loki moved slowly into the warm bathroom . She continued to move around arranging her workspace, occasionally pausing to massage her shoulder. She must have been lost in thought, because she turned startled, almost ready to pounce when she realized someone was behind her. Whatever she was holding in her hand flew onto the floor.

"Oh my God..you scared me. I didn't realize..I mean thought it was..."she shook her head as if to clear it "Nevermind."

""And if you had. Would you have thrown me off the terrazzo?" he said in an uninterested tone as he seemed to look her up and down.

"Maybe. " she replied "If I thought I could get away with it."

He laughed internally at her response and managed a half smile. "Not today, I'm afraid. But perhaps you could take your place at the end of the line of citizens of Asgard who'd like the same pleasure."

"I'd say that's what you get when you try to kill the future King of Asgard." She replied non chalantly, as she walked over to retrieve her ointment from the floor, replacing the lid and placing it back in her bag. " "Sit. I want to wash your hair first."

"I did so already in my morning bath." He said sitting down.

"Yeah but there's like nothing better than having someone else wash your hair." She said as she moved to grab the shampoo.

He couldn't argue this point. It was one of the pleasantries of being a Prince…never having to lather his own hair if he didn't wish to.

She leaned him back toward the sink, in her makeshift, salon setting. She started the water and lifted a cup to fill it. She poured it over his dark hair. He winced at the heat.

"Sorry sorry!" she panicked adjusting the temperature. She filled the cup again and when she poured it over his head, it was just right. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to think of Asgard. He missed everything about it..he even missed his brother..probably most especially his brother.

He relaxed as he felt her small, nimble fingers work the shampoo through his hair. Massaging his scalp…temporarily erasing the empty feeling in his chest. If he could just keep his eyes closed, he could imagine that he was home..in his own chambers, having his servants do what this woman was doing. She rinsed and dried his hair slowly, as if there was no need to recognize time. When she was done, she placed a large dry towel around his neck.

"Ok, let's see if I can remember how to do this." She smiled at him and even though, he wanted to return it, he couldn't bring himself to smile back.

She chattered incessantly about different topics trying to coax him into conversation but he was too lost in his thoughts to respond. She snipped and trimmed carefully. Occasionally she moved closer to measure lengths and he was forced to look at her..her small hands..the smooth skin of her fingers and palms. She kept her nails short and without any color, unlike the maidens of Asgard. Usually he liked color. His gaze slid to the delicate blue veins of her wrists. She was so close at times that he could press his mouth to the inside of her wrist if he wanted. So close that he was surrounded by her natural scent. It was kind of flowery and fruity, just like her.

"The view outside these windows is spectacular." She said as she leaned even closer, weighing the sides of his hair. Her soft breast brushed the back of his head multiple times. He felt a weight in his stomach and if he didn't know better, he'd suspect that he was getting aroused.

"I have seen better." He replied in low voice.

She laughed next to his ear as she snipped a few stray hairs, a soft breathy sound that tickled. "I'm sure you have."

He wondered if she was doing it on purpose. Women had been pressing and rubbing up against him since he had hit puberty. Letting him know in not so subtle ways that they wanted to bed a Prince. But he didn't really think she was doing it because she wanted him to push her down on the counter and have his way with her. Or did she?

"I think we're pretty much done here." She said as she combed through his much shorter hair. "Not fancy but workable. You look good."

Loki felt a flicker of contentment stir in his chest but he decided to smother it. He didn't want to feel anything warm for this woman. She was a SHIELD agent not a potential friend

"You know, you can stop pressing your body to me at any time. I have not quite reached that level of desperation yet."

Her eyes rounded with surprise "What?"

"You are not my type of woman, so rubbing yourself against me will not gain you favour or information."

Her eyebrows crashed together, which he knew from experience spelt trouble. "I didn't rub against you," she said is a steady voice.

"You did." He accused "I am quite sure that some men might find you alluring, however, I am not one of them so you can refrain from doing so again. No offense meant, of course."

Her mouth fell open "No offense? You've been trying to 'offend' me since I first walked in here."

He simply stared at her..her words were true.

"You're actually working on it overtime right now."

No he hadn't. If he'd been working overtime, he would have said "Don't get angry..I just find it hard to be attracted an ordinary mortal woman. It's totally and completely out of the question."

She blinked. He'd shocked her. He expected her to storm out at any minute.

Instead a smile curved her pink lips. "That's a relief. You don't know how many times I've had to brush off the sexual advances of the men I work with and you wouldn't believe the situations I find myself getting into. "

Actually he probably could. Men in all realms were fairly predictable. And while men and some women were fairly predictable, she was not. She didn't react like he expected..she wasn't offended by his remarks or his rebuff at all.

"It's a huge relief to know I never have to worry about that with you. And since we're being totally honest, I just have to tell you that I don't find you the least bit attractive either."

"Praise Odin." He said through an expression as dull as the ache that settled in his head. This conversation wasn't going where he wanted. She was supposed to be getting mad and he was supposed to be laughing as he watched her walk out the door.

Alex looked at the tall arrogant man in front of her as he stood. He scowled at his reflection in the mirror. The jerk didn't like the taste of his own medicine.

"Really, I'm glad we have that out in the open." She added "And in the future, if I accidentally touch you outside of the boundaries of doctor/patient, I promise you, it's not on purpose. Although I'm sure lots of women would kill to touch you."

His brows lowered over his green eyes and Alex was reminded of how attractive he really was. "Just not you."

"Of course. Not me." she said with a forced grin.

Loki took in her innocent expression. Her ability to pretend she wasn't here on a mission was dangerous. He needed to stay alert at all times.

"Hey, I've got an idea." She said as she turned away to clean up her mess. "Let's take a walk. It must really suck to stay in this room the whole time."

He stood and brushed hair from his shirt with his left hand. "I find it to be quite restful."

"Don't you want to get outside? See the sun? Feel the wind?" she asked curiously

Loki considered. He'd spent most of his life on the training fields of Asgard and he did enjoy it. But Earth certainly was not Asgard. "I believe I would prefer to sleep."

She laughed as she continued to straighten up. "That's because you've been doped up on painkillers. Hopefully now that I've lowered the dosage, you'll stay awake. Besides you snore."

"I do not." His mouth gaped.

"Do, too. I've heard you."

"Do not. Someone would have told me."

"I'm sure your many lovers didn't want to be kicked out of bed. Seeing as all those women like to touch you and all." She laughed as she walked away.

Just want to say a HUGE thanks for those who are reading and reviewing and for sticking with it! You are all the bestest!