~ Chapter 11 ~

With a strong breath, Loki pulled the smoke from the cigarette and into her mouth before exhaling almost just as fast. The smoke stung her split lip, making her winch, but it didn't stop her from taking another drag and repeating the action. Her lip came out to lick the patch of torn skin and blood. The tangy taste almost sweet over the bitterness of the tobacco.

At that moment the wind decided to join her and pushed her hair into her face. With annoyance she pushed it away as she lowered the cigarette, her fingers folded into her palm with the burning paper roll between her middle and forefinger.

The fabric of her school uniform was for once clean except for some tiny drops of blood on the area just under her split lip. A bitch slap which she had gotten by one of the seniors. For some reason, but not surprisingly, Thor had avoided her for the past two days and that gave her tormentors the green light.

One of the guys had made a crude comment to her which she ignored, but then his girlfriend or whoever the slut was, got hotheaded. It didn't take long before she took the slap, the ring on the seniors finger cutting her lip in the progress.

However; for some reason, the pain had made her lash out in return and she hit the girl with a fist in the gut. For the split moment before the girl bend over and puked at her feet, Loki felt like she had been standing on the top of the world. Like she could do anything.

But as soon as the moment passed she heard a teacher at the end of the hall and she made her timed escape to the roof where she was enjoying a cigarette that she swept from another student.

Loki knew that as soon as she came down she would have to answer for what happened. Like a good girl she would have to bow and say sorry. Then a report would reach all parents involved what had happened and she would take the blame for everything.

Fuckin' school.

They could all-

She cut her thoughts short as she felt the shadow shift behind her, solid like a real person. Taking another breath from the cigarette, she exhaled and let go of all her thoughts.

It was better not to think.

If you didn't think then you wouldn't get expectations. If you didn't have expectations then you wouldn't get hurt.

"What are you doing up here? The teacher is looking for you."

Loki looked down from where she was sitting on the edge of the generator room up here, a square box with a single locked door and warning sign, to see Thor standing there slightly out of breath. His blond hair escaping from his pony tail and the wind played with it.

"Yeah, I know." Loki said indifferently.

"Did you really hit someone?" Thor stepped closer and tilted his head back to get a better look of his sister. "What happened to your face?" he hissed when he saw the dark spot and abnormal rouge on her cheek.

"The reason I hit back. Felt damn good too." Loki took another drag and flickered her thumb to remove the ashes from the tip. "It will heal."

"That's not the point." Thor growled darkly. "They dared to touch you after I warned them. I-"

"And what are you going to do about it?" She challenged him with a glare down at him. "You're not a hero that everyone will listen to just because you say something. It was only a matter of time before they started again. Nothing you can do will ever change that."

Thor's fist clenched as he grit his teeth. "You are my sister."

"It doesn't matter."

The words shot him straight in the heart.

Loki's gaze softened for a moment as she witnessed the pain in Thor's whole face before she erased all emotion from her face. She looked away as she repeated. "It doesn't matter."

Thor looked down at the ground before raising his eyes to say something when the words died on his tongue. He stared up at Loki mesmerized by her silhouette. The sky framed her as she sat with her ankles locked, making her legs seem longer from where her white socks ended to where her skirt began. Not to mention a skirt which had rolled up when she no doubt climbed up there. Her white shirt was being pressed against her body by the wind as it and her neck tie had been loosened at her throat to reveal a hint of skin. The profile of her face and throat looked like it had been cut from marble and shaped by a master sculpture.

He wanted to hold her. To hug her. To make sure she was safe and he wanted to ki-

He paled before he looked away and cleared his throat. This earned him the attention of his sister who was looking down at him curiously.

"You are important to me. Isn't that enough?" he said in a soft voice. He wouldn't have known if they had been heard if it hadn't been for the red blush which rose on Loki's other cheek. "You are not alone. Not anymore."

Not sure how to handle this situation, Loki took one final smoke before she crushed the tip against the concrete roof, flicked it away and leaving the rest of the package and lighter before jumping down to stand on the same level as Thor.

Brushing her hands down her clothes, Loki adjusted her tie and buttons until she looked presentable and according to school regulations.

"I shouldn't keep the teacher waiting."

This close to each other Thor's eyes was drawn to the cut on her lip and he felt anger boil in him. "I'll follow you."

Loki glanced at her brother before facing forward. "Do whatever you like." When she opened the door she was being followed by her monster leering after her, but it was the presence of Thor behind her that made her heart flutter like a butterfly.

Every step seemed awfully long and she became more and more aware of Thor as they walked toward the teachers lounge. But what shook her the most was that she didn't feel nervous or uncomfortable like her attraction had made her feel until now.

It was more like a familiar comfort of just knowing. She knew in that moment, without a single doubt, that what she was feeling was far deeper and truer than any agony or fear she had lived through her life.

Her very soul was connected to her heart and left her with a warm feeling of peace.

The moment they stepped through the door to what would most likely be a witch hunt, Loki knew she was just not attracted to her brother on a level where she only lusted after him.

She was completely in love with him.

TBC