14
Luna: Silence took the both of them once again, as they both seemed to be in a mood rather pensive - which Luna assumed was Loki's natural state - both ridden with thoughts of their own. Perhaps the thoughts were even similar, but she would never know. Neither would he, for that matter. Her mind was slowly beginning to come out of the shock that grasped her and jarred her to tears - at that thought, she nearly pulled away and crawled behind one of the boxes, simply to escape from her previous actions - and now the thoughts came more slowly, but in a number so very high. For a while, a thought entertained her - she was by his side, speaking with him most politely and gently, even seeking comfort from him, even though he was the one to bring her to such a breaking point to begin with - by a very familiar way of threats, intimidation, manipulation and pain.
She truly, genuinely considered the fact that she might just be mad. And yet, in the silence that distanced them, their current state and their contemplation held them where they were. There was small solace in that, if not entirely peace. There was much yet to be done, and so she remained in this moment, for she doubted one much like it would arrive any time soon. As impossibly strange as it was.
Loki: The girl seemed to be calming down, the way her eyes were less distanced, less imbalanced were her words. So his "comfort" had helped, though he wondered why in Yggdrasil would he even be capable of such a thing. He continued glancing down at her, her warm cheek still pressed into his cold shoulder, and he had not grown uncomfortable from the warmth. Her touch did not hurt like the many other touches he had received before arriving to Midgard the first time. "Is all well?" he asked quietly.
Luna: His quiet voice brought her out of her thoughts rather gently, for which she was thankful; she did not like to be startled out of her mind, out of the silence. She gave a small quirk of her eyebrows, as the question took some more thinking to answer. "Relatively..." she said quietly. "More or less.." she added as an afterthought even more quietly. Then, she looked up at him again, her eyes remaining full to the brim with the ghosts of the thoughts that had been traversing her mind before he brought her back. Rather, the thoughts were more questions than anything else, and the rest were her own blind guesses at the answers. Was any of this going to succeed in any way? Would he cast her away the moment he saw it fit, the moment he felt that she was, in fact, much too hefty a burden to drag along? Why did she even accept any offer she was given…? Her lips pressed slightly together as the thoughts still affected her as she gazed at him, for a second distantly, and for another one, quite directly. "And with you?"
Loki: He watched her eyes go once again in the distance and then come back to her as if just remembering that this discussion was happening now, and that she ought to participate and respond outside of the confines of her mind, as well. She was so very... lost. He knew it was his courtesy more than anything that rendered her as such. "That is a silly question," he muttered, knowing that she should very well know his present state of being. Or his present state of being at any time. It was most obvious. What was she even thinking of that would cause her to drift off and then come back again interchangeably?
Luna: "You're the one who asked it in the first place..." she retorted and lowered her head, her cheekbone resting on his shoulder for several moments before she shifted to a position more comfortable. There were bits of daylight coming through the still-open window, and though the light was entering the room during the day, it was still insufficient at times, and a lamp would not go amiss. She reminded herself to call her brother soon and ask him to meet her. It could only be here, as she doubted Loki would allow her to exit anywhere at this point. At that thought, her stomach churned slightly; just as slightly, she grew a little rigid. It was at that point that she realized that he was not as stiff as he had been when she first leaned against his shoulder. Did he get used to it?
Loki: He smirked. "Yes, but I believe I have made my impression quite clear and you seem to be still within some sort of thought process, although you are no longer crying. And yet, you are still upon my shoulder," he looked down to her and then looked back up, towards the dimming light through the window. He wasn't going to push her off, but if she stayed much longer, he would become curious as to why she would want such... silly bits of contact. It was only his shoulder, after all, not any other parts of him. She was rigid, herself, and for some reason, he noticed that he wasn't... and she seemed to take notice of that, as well. He gave an awkward glance in her direction before inadvertently causing himself to be stiff once more, in realization of what was happening.
Luna: This set the questions in motion once again - if he had not pointed out that she was still upon his shoulder, would he still have stiffened much like he did now? Or was it because of her own body's reactions to her thoughts? She exhaled slowly as she scrubbed a hand through her hair and the inside of her wrist against her temple, and she remained where she was. If he wished for her to back away, he would have done something about it by now; he hardly ever waited for her to realize anything before he acted upon his own wishes. "I am, yes. And I suppose I ought to thank you for it," she muttered her manners, and she was rather irked that the damned man actually helped, even though it was utterly and entirely his fault that she came to such a state in which she needed the help to begin with.
Loki: He was hardly ever one to be thanked. At least, of one's own accord, not because it is required of them because it's respectful of them to speak to a Prince in such a way, but because they truly meant it, because they chose to say it... He continued to look down at her, his brows furrowed. "If you so wish it," he replied briefly, looking from her to the ground before them and then her again.
Luna: She was uncertain whether she was in any fit state to have her brother over right at that moment. She felt rather tranquil momentarily, but who knew whether or not she would simply have another… situation… as she has had with Loki a very short while ago? She could absolutely not let Zane be aware of to just which degree Loki was forcing her into this. She thought she would have to show at least some initiative, herself, some own free will, make it appear as best as she could that at least part of the entire ordeal was of her own accord. Otherwise, she doubted Zane would react as agreeably... He may not agree with it either way, but she had to take a chance, as the alternative was much too horrid for her to even consider. Subconsciously, her head weighed down a little bit more upon the man's shoulder; it was as if she were unknowingly seeking support from just about anyone, as if it were not Loki at all.
Loki: He shifted his weight slightly, feeling her head being placed more upon his shoulder, as if just begging to be noticed. Why? She was in thought once more, as he knew she rightfully should be. She had a lot to consider; the fact he was forcing her to run away with him, to learn magic, and to help him in the ways of Midgard, and now she had to tell her brother that she was running away with a man who had killed more than several of her race. Yes, there was quite a bit for her to ponder. He considered how it would have happened if he simply killed her and left right after finding out how to escape the house...
He would be on his own upon Midgard, running and finding ways for himself to survive past the curse that had been placed upon his magic until he found some means of transportation... But why was there such dread at the fact that he was going to be alone? No one but other mortals to speak to, but even then, he would be – even unwittingly – manipulating them. Nothing to make decent conversation with, as he lacked both the partners and the proper physical state… He suspected he would be in too much pain in a separate form so he could walk about with the mortals without being questioned... He would be alone as he always was. As he almost always wished to be. Why should it bother him now?
Luna: Oh, but how irritated she was at the fact that there actually was reason for her not to be irritated with the god. Drawing in a sigh, she finally parted her head from his limb and rubbed her face wearily. Time was a matter so abstract that she could not truly pinpoint when everything would be set in motion, and for that reason, she had to tie off the loose threads while she still had the chance to do so.
She squirmed slightly, making as if she were going to sit up further and, in fact, rise and call her brother over, yet she stopped not even halfway - she knew that this was not something one was ever prepared for, and that if she waited for the time in which she may be readier, she might just let the opportunity pass her by. And yet, she could hardly will herself to get up.
Loki: He looked over to her curiously, a brow raising as she pulled away from him, trying to get herself to stand up. "What is it?" he pressed, wondering if by her calling her brother, she meant to do it that very day... immediately after she had such a breakdown, even. But what was it to him? It was her choice... As long as she was not sounding it as though she planned on going back on the arrangement he had made, as long as he does not tell S.H.I.E.L.D. all about their plan... As long as he lies for her sake. His eyes widened slightly, knowing Luna was putting a bit more trust into her brother than he would like.
Luna: In a way, she was glad that he spoke to her; it gave her an excuse to remain sitting for a while longer - though she wished to postpone phoning Zane, and thus postpone the inescapable pain, a part of her still wanted to get it done while it could be done. If, due to her own irresponsibility and foolishness, she neglected to settle matters down with Zane while she could, she would most likely provoke Loki to the point in which he killed her for certain. "I need to call him, but I... I don't know if I..." she shook her head, the proof that she might not yet be entirely capable of this laying in her chopped up words.
Loki: He frowned, knowing he was right about what lay on her mind. "You do not know if...?" he pressed. If she was so uneasy with speaking to him, how would she be able to put on a facade that she was leaving with him of her own accord, and assure him that all will be well? "Are you sure it is wise? Can this not wait?"
Luna: She turned to face him more directly, her eyes flashing with indecisiveness and discomfort. "Can it wait, Loki?" she asked in return. It had to be done. Perhaps not right this moment, but by the time the day had ended...
Loki: "Can... what wait, specifically? Your speaking to him? If it is so important to you, then should you not do it soon? You simply are... less than stable. Are you sure you are capable of convincing him in such a state of mind? To sufficient a degree that, once we are gone, he does not speak to your organization?" He was wary, and even that was an understatement. He did not like knowing there was a third piece in the game, another mortal to rely upon. But he could either take her kicking and screaming, or he could take her with her peace... No matter how much he enjoyed the former, the latter seemed to appeal to him in much greater levels.
Luna: "He won't tell them. He knows... me, he knows me and if I can just get everything out in such a way that I lead him to comprehend..." she spoke more quietly, convinced that if only she guides him in the proper direction, he will accept it, if not truly understand it. But who was she to speak of understanding, when she, herself, had difficulties grasping certain matters? "I do not know when. It's not like I can divine when I'll be feeling in a state fitter than this."
Loki: He retained his frown, not wishing to threaten her, not wishing to tell her that it better work, that everything that she is about to do will not ruin what he has worked for; and if it doesn't work, then they might as well forget it, and she might as well pay for what she had put him through. But, alas, he knew threatening only got him so far, so he chose to simply mention a lighter version of the threat. "I should hope that he, as you say, comprehends it," he replied stiffly.
Luna: "He will," she said, forcing some determination into her voice, trying to convince the both of them that her attempts will be no less than successful. She didn't need much convincing to understand that there were no other options but to tell Zane - it was the only way, she believed. And if she failed to convince Zane, then the both of them would.. She shook her head and rose to her feet slowly, the top of her head brushing the ceiling. There were consequences just as grave as Zane believing her dead, were she to fail.
Loki: He watched her rise and then did so himself, his eyes narrowing, knowing he would have to be very careful with her telling her brother. If she failed... He dreaded thinking of it. He would not allow her brother to leave until he was certain he was convinced, be it through means of magic or otherwise. Loki would have to try his best. He could not believe he was allowing the girl this option...
Luna: She let the door to the attic drop and unfold the staircase, down which she came with steps quite cautious. She knew that Loki was right behind her, but she pretended as if she did not notice, or, at the very least, as if it did not bother her. She continued down the second staircase and then took the phone; she dialed the number she knew perfectly and a voice she knew just as well answered. She walked slowly around the living room, meandering between the couch and the armchairs, in front of the fireplace, staring at the floor and at her feet as she put one in front of the other and spoke with Zane of him coming over.
No, she could not meet him outside; it might be nice for him to see where she lived now, perhaps it puts him more at ease. No, Loki won't be a trouble - yes, certainly. On and on, she assured him for several minutes he agreed to be on his way.
Loki: Loki listened intently to her conversation on the phone, lingering closely about the living room, pretending to look upon books within the bookshelf, but in actuality he was listening to her speech, listening closer for the boy's reply simply to reassure himself that she was not calling for S.H.I.E.L.D, that this was yet another lie. He would be better at seeing through such a lie, he knew, so he had a sliver of trust within the girl considering he had no other choice if he wished to be somewhat... comfortable with her. When she ceased talking upon the Midgardian device called a phone, he sat across from her, looking dimly into the unlit fireplace, his eyes distant and in thought.
Luna: She paced the living room slowly, her eyes touching upon various parts of it, seeing that everything was rather clean, that she had kept it so regardless of the situation; there was nothing for her to do around the apartment to shorten the time before he arrived, and so she continued pacing, this time including the kitchen area, as well, knowing at once what to offer to Zane - not as much to ease him into a good mood, but simply because she knew what he might want upon arrival. Her fingertips brushed along various surfaces as she walked around - the counter top, the wall, the back of the couch, the mantle of the fireplace, the curtains - while she formed her thoughts, so as to deliver them as well as she could.
Loki: He remained silent as the girl seemed to be deep in thought, so he thought it best not to interrupt, as she needed to be calm and collected when speaking to her brother... for both of their sakes. He watched her walk across the room for several minutes, her eyes distanced as she did so. He pressed his lips together, leaning back upon the couch, simply waiting in silence; the only sound were her footsteps and the sound of her fingers being dragged across various pieces of furniture in the room as she thought until what seemed like far too long, there was yet another knock upon the door. He arched a brow and looked pointedly to the door, simply remaining in his spot upon the couch.
Luna: With all the time she spent concentrating on not messing this up, the moment she heard a knock, her heart jumped up to her throat and she she felt she had to focus more upon maintaining her breathing balanced and even, much like the rest of herself.
"Coming," she exclaimed as she strode towards the door. Hesitating for a fraction of a heartbeat, she then opened it, and could not help but give a smile to her brother.
She threw her arms around him and pulled him into an embrace while propping up on her tiptoes; it felt better than she dared admit, after not having had much of any sort of physical contact in over a week. Zane was, naturally, taller than Luna, having the exact same shade of hair and of eyes - something the both of them inherited from their mother. She pulled away after several long seconds, during which Zane murmured a small greeting before letting her go. He looked somewhat tired - she thought he might have worked the late night shift at the hospital lately, for this was not the first time she has seen such an expression etched into the lines of his face. She closed the door behind him, for a moment forgetting that Loki was present; she couldn't deny that she was happy to see Zane, though she knew in the back of her mind that it was quite possible that it would be the last time she does.
"Sit, sit. I'll go get you something to drink," she said as she gestured to the living room, before dashing over to the kitchen. She knew that the two men didn't need her to introduce them to each other.
Zane complied, his dark eyes inspecting his sister's new home as he took a seat upon one of the armchairs, before finally looking directly at Loki. "Hello," he said. "My name's Zane," he said and leaned forward slightly to extend his hand to the odd looking man seated upon the couch.
Loki: Loki did not turn to greet the new man within the room, a somewhat friendlier face that made it obvious that he was directly related to Luna, the same facial structure, the dark eyes and the dark hair. He pressed his lips together as the brother of the girl walked into the living room area as Luna scurried about fetching a drink. He looked upon the other man's hand as he offered it to him, his expression very stolid as he observed him, the way his eyes were gentle, a sort of boyish face, but at the same ridden with a specific amount of stress from the day. He looked fatigued, as well – darkness circled his eyes and they seemed to sink in slightly more. He did not reach to touch the other man's hand, his focus going from that to his face, to his clothing. "Loki," he replied shortly with a nod.
Luna: "Rude, you," Luna noted aloud as she walked back into the room, handing Loki a bottle of water as she, herself, had one. She turned to Zane. "The coffee will be ready in a few moments."
He did truly look as if he needed it. Luna, herself, seldom drank it, but there was some wherever she lived, lest she had company who did. A brief flashback appeared in her mind when one night, while studying, Zane inadvertently knocked over his cup of coffee, sending the beverage to drench many of his papers. She had a difficult time calming him down after the small incident, as he was frustrated and stressed enough as it was. She gave him a smile as she perched herself upon one of the arms of the couch, on the opposite side of Loki.
Zane gave her a slightly confused look before glancing back at Loki; she spoke to him like that? Was that wise? He was not offended by the man and his refusal - somehow he expected it - his offer was testing, at best.
Loki: He rolled his eyes as he took the bottle of water from Luna, glancing at her before looking back to the new human within the room. He ignored her critique, focusing only upon the issue at hand. The boy was less demeaning than the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, he noted, but, somehow he could tell he was a Midgardian healer, as he supposed all healers went under the same category in the types of being within the universe. A blessing they were, he knew, as their special talent saved his life at least once or twice within his existence, with neutral kindness. Perhaps, knowing that, he would almost guess that this should go over easily, if he ignored the look that her brother often passed his way. It was to be expected.
Luna: Luna noticed the inquisitive look in Zane's eyes as he looked at her, as if checking up if all is well with her; his eyes quickly scanned her, and his features softened as he concluded that all was well with her, physically - save for the signs of fatigue that he took notice of immediately. That made him slightly wary as he took another glance towards the long haired, bitter-looking man. He was nowhere near fond of her decision to step up to meet S.H.I.E.L.D's demands, and he was evidently worried for her well being. It seemed to him, at times, from the weariness of her eyes and the small slouch to her shoulders that was hardly there before, that it might be more stressful than she initially believed. "I can't stay for very long, by the way, I need to get to work. My shift doesn't start until 1 in the morning, but I'm covering another one," he explained.
"Oh, that's alright, though you look like a herd of elephants stomped all over you…" she pointed out and earned a small laugh from Zane, which, in turn, made her smile.
Loki: Loki sat in silence as he watched the exchange between the siblings, the way she spoke so easily to him, and the way he replied with a laugh and she with a smile. She was quite... lovely when she smiled... Her entire face lighting up, the way her skin wrinkled slightly to accommodate her full smile. He realized he rarely saw such a thing unless she was laughing, but that was so very rare, as well. She was pretty... In her own, human way. He could tell, however, there was a sort of unease between the both of them, a sort of disapproval from him and a blissful ignorance from her. It seemed that Zane was never truly set with ease with Luna's decision to watch him, as he seemed to be slightly more reasonable... It looked as though they were very close, a sort of look that Thor and Baldur seemed to have had... both of them looking like they belonged within the same family. He almost despised it at the very thought.
Luna: "There's not much I can do about it, it's a busy place," he gave a shrug and leaned more into his chair. "Don't forget about the coffee," he reminded her, knowing that she seldom needed such a thing, but there were occasions... He chuckled as a brief look of concern flitted across her features.
"Yes, yes.. Coffee," she rose and strode over to the kitchen, where, just as he had rightly assumed, the coffee was just about done.
"How are you two getting along?" Zane asked Loki while Luna was clattering gently with the dishes in the kitchen.
Loki: Loki arched a brow, wondering why in the nine realms he would ask such a ridiculous question. He held back the temptation to smirk at the man, watching as Luna nervously flitted out of the room before returning his attention to her brother. They might as well be twins. "Well enough," he replied quietly. "She is quite... hospitable."
Luna: "Thank you," Luna said to Loki as she made her way back to the living room, balancing a small plate and a cup of coffee upon it, her steps slow and careful so that she would not spill; she was so very grateful that her hands were not quivering. She set the cup on the coffee table between the couch and the armchair and resumed her place upon the arm of the couch. "As he said, we get along well enough. A bit of bickering here and there, but it's not unexpected," she admitted with a shrug, her mind racing as she forgot nearly everything that she was going to say to Zane; most importantly, she did not know how to start it - whether to spring it upon him now or… It had to be now. She thought she might have even seen an opening here. She waited until he finished with his sip of coffee, in case he spilled it all over himself.
Loki: He could tell by the sudden amount of tenseness she was putting upon herself that she was about to explain why she called her brother here in the first place, the way that she looked at him wearily, her voice hitching up another pitch. He merely nodded in agreement for the fact that she mentioned their bickering... that being an understatement. He would hardly call it bickering rather than him telling her what to do, and her eventually complying. Bickering would mean they both have an equal part within the argument, and that was hardly so. Loki's lips thinned into a line as he waited for Luna to continue her speech to her brother. He merely wanted this to be out of their way, off of her shoulders so they can begin working on leaving.
Luna: The moment he put his cup down, she spoke. "Zane, I'm leaving," she said, watching him intently as, at first, the look of confusion washed over him.
"Leaving?" he echoed her words, his voice bearing as much of the confusion as his face.
"Yes," she nodded in confirmation. "With Loki," she added the crucial fact, one of her hands gesturing over to the slender, dark haired man observing the exchange. She could almost feel the pressure he put upon her, to make this as flawless as she could, otherwise...
"Wait, what?" Zane said incredulously.
"Zane, listen.." she said as she slipped from the arm of the couch to the seat of it, leaning her elbows upon her knees as she leaned in closer to Zane, attempting to appeal to him and comfort him with her mere presence. "What I am telling you is in absolute confidentiality, meaning that I need you to not say anything to anyone," she continued, and before he could open his mouth to retort, she went on. "Loki needs out, in order to live, and… That is not something that is a possibility if he remains locked up here. I know that it is difficult to grasp, but he should live, I think. Even after what he's done, I..." she looked over to Loki, lingering off for a moment. "We spoke, Zane, he and I, and I have to admit that I doubt that he will try again what he failed to do previously." She knew just how idiotic she sounded, how very naïve…
"Have you taken into consideration that what he said might have been lies?" Zane spoke over her, his face darkening, his brow lowering.
"Of course I did, don't think of me as that stupid," she retorted. "Zane, if he wanted to, he could have killed me 30 times over by now, don't you think? Look," she said, her voice growing firmer. "We made plans. I will help him escape, and in return, he will not try to take us over again. For Pete's sake, look at him," she gestured over to him. "He's exhausted, and I don't think he is capable of repeating what he did, not for the second time. He can't stand being on this planet, I don't think he will want to remain on it for as long as it would take him to in fact rule it," she said.
Loki: Loki stood by the entirety of the exchange as he listened to Luna speak of him as though he had left the room, though he was listening intently to every word, every reaction the boy was having in exchange to the words that Luna was feeding him. In exchange for him not to take them over again? How ridiculous... But then again, he supposed, it was better than her selfishly exchanging his freedom for him to teach her magic. He looked exhausted? He never realized what he looked like, considering he never truly looked within the mirror recently, but he supposed it was nowhere near attractive or presentable. He did not interfere with their discussion for as long as everything was going smoothly, for as long as Luna was doing her part and he was accepting it. He looked to Zane, bracing for a reaction that would be less than satisfied. He could almost tell, however, when Luna spoke, that she was lying... Of course she wouldn't believe that he should live, that he should get away with this attempt. Why should she? She was close enough to believe, however...
Luna: "You made plans?" Zane repeated, his voice consistently holding that tone of disbelief. Luna told herself that it was most likely just the initial shock, that it will wear off the more she speaks...
"Yes. And, as I said, I am telling you this, which counts for bloody something, hmm?" she said. "Please, let me say what I wish and then.." she shook her head. "We made plans, as I said, and S.H.I.E.L.D. mustn't know," her words were more clumsy than she intended for them to be. "In order to let everything go smoothly, he needs me. He doesn't know his way around, and all I will be doing is putting some distance between him and S.H.I.E.L.D. Once I have done that, I will see you again. As for our plans, and the reason why I had you come here in the first place was... We are to make it seem as if he killed me. Wait, wait," she said when he seemed on the brink of protesting, frowning even more deeply.
"It is purely for precaution, so that S.H.I.E.L.D. does not realize that I was the one who helped him escape. We'll make it appear as if he escaped on his own, took me down in the process and left. It is for my sake that we are staging it like so - that way, S.H.I.E.L.D. won't be able to send me to jail and Loki will be free to leave the Earth," she explained, and when she was not gesturing with her hands, she was wringing them slightly, praying that he will understand.
"Doesn't that mean that you can't return to S.H.I.E.L.D. afterwards? What about your friends, Luna, are you planning on letting them know?" he asked in the first moment he could grab when she stopped talking.
"It does, yes. And no, I'm not telling them - I'm only telling you. I trust you, Zane, and I am only telling you this because I don't want S.H.I.E.L.D. to come knocking on your damned door and telling you that I'm dead," she said before biting her tongue to prevent the tears that seemed just around the corner, as she felt the familiar stinging in her eyes.
"That is what will happen to my friends, and even though I wish I could tell them, I can't trust them enough to know that they won't run off to S.H.I.E.L.D. and tell them everything. And I don't want you to think that I am dead, Zane, I cannot let you believe that for even a second, which is why I need you to not tell S.H.I.E.L.D. anything of what I am telling you now. When all is done, I will see you again, but I cannot return here. Not if everyone thinks I'm dead, not if there's a chance that they will put me away when I do."
Loki: Loki looked uneasily to Zane and back to Luna, listening intently to her speech, seeing the many passing emotions over Zane's face and the way Luna was repressing tears by blinking more than necessary. Her words came out fast, desperate, as she tried to assure her brother that everything would go so smoothly, that she would never be caught in the process... He knew there was not much he, himself, could say without receiving a cold look from Zane and quite possibly hateful words - considering he was the one making his sister ruin her life. The look upon Zane's face was enough to almost, almost make him feel as if he was stealing something valuable, that he was wounding him beyond repair because he was stealing his very precious sister. He could almost feel the daggers being shot through his eyes... How caring he was... Loki pressed his lips together, looking at Zane. "I assure you, I shan't let her in harm's way," he added smoothly, adding his input right when her words ended so Zane would not interrupt. "She shall return."
Luna: She gave Loki a grateful look before turning her eyes back to Zane, his expression making it all the more difficult for her to control the tumult that threatened to break its way out. "I am doing no more than just… getting him out without S.H.I.E.L.D. noticing. Zane, please understand why I am telling you all of this - I would much rather let you know everything, no matter what kind of light it puts me in, than let you believe that I'm dead." She could not do that to him. This was necessary.
Zane's mind twisted and turned, much like his stomach, a strong reaction to what he was hearing. Perhaps this was something he should have expected of her, but this time, she had taken it to an altogether new level. "Luna... He is not some pigeon with a broken wing that you can take in, nurse back to health and then let out. He is not yours to take care of," he weighed heavily the syllables of his latter sentence. "I know that you might want to," which was not entirely true, as he had his doubts... Even though he knew her, even though this seemed as if something she might have ultimately done, he was unsure whether the reasons were justifiable enough... Whether the reasons she was doing this for were the reasons she thought they were. "But you'll be setting something massive in motion, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. does believe that you're…that you're dead," the word was bitter on his tongue. "There will still be throngs of them following him, and if you are with him..."
Luna scooted to the very edge of the couch and extended both of her hands to take both of Zane's. "He promises not to let me get hurt, not even by his own doing... I know, Zane, I know how you feel, but he might just die if I don't help him do this. I know that, perhaps, you believe that after what he's done, he deserves such a thing, but... He will leave. He'll leave us, and the Earth, and we won't see him again. And what does he matter if he is not here? If he is not doing anything to the world?" she said, her heart thudding heavily and almost painfully. "I swear that I will return. Nothing will happen to me, and he will personally make sure of that," she said, knowing that that might not be fact, but Loki would play along, for the sake of it all.
"You cannot tell me it's better to think me dead than to keep this secret?" She looked at Zane, who seemed to be having a tumult of his own, his hands firmly enveloping her own.
Loki: Loki looked to their hands as they were wrapped tightly around each others, swallowing back the thick bits of impatience he had. He wished to end this and end this soon. "It shall be like I never existed," he assured quietly. "S.H.I.E.L.D. shan't find us as long as I wish it. She shall be safe." Even though he was, ultimately, not entirely sure he can even get her through, how the world might be and how his magic would be if he overuses it. "Even if they find me, then she shan't suffer. If this fails, she shall not fail with it," he lied easily.
He wasn't entirely sure how that might work, either. He was just safe to assume that him in another shape, they might never find him while he is seen within public. He simply despised looking at the both of them, so very close, so very loving of each other. He hated it.
Luna: Whenever Loki spoke, it was as if Zane did not hear him, though he listened to each and every word being spoken. He gazed intensely at her dark eyes, so very much like his own... Was he willing to believe his word, his silent promises of protection? He would believe her, quite readily at that, yet perhaps she was biting off more than she could swallow. If it absolutely had to come to this, she was quite right - he would prefer to know that she was alive, much rather than believing she was taken away from him, as well. He didn't know how he would have reacted and where his reactions would lead him if he was told that she was no longer alive... In this aspect, he was more than glad that she told him, that she thought of him, once again, much like she did time and time again, that she compromised several rather important things in order to make him feel more at ease.
He knew that if he so wished, he would keep her.. their secret. It was something that he was long used to, courtesy of his profession, yet... Why would she be doing this? Could she really want to help a man such as Loki? The man who injured more people than he was aware of, and he most evidently did not give a damn about it - about the swarms of people rushing through the hospital doors, countless people he tried to put together over the course of several days, while some, he ultimately failed to...
There must be something that led her to do this, and it might not have entirely been her free will. His lips were pressed tightly together as he bit the inside of his cheek, thinking and thinking and thinking. Loki did not seem to realize just what he was doing to the both of them, to the tiny family that they were. Even if he did, Zane doubted he would be able to grasp such a concept... His mind battled and debated, split in half, both halves screaming at each other. He pulled Luna off of the couch and hugged her. Why would she... He shook his head.
"Call me when you can..." he murmured and squeezed her tightly.
Loki: He felt himself become quite relieved when the girl's brother pulled her from the couch, pulling her into a tight embrace. He could sense that Zane still did not trust him, for any word Loki said, he would ignore. Rightfully so, as he could not guarantee anything, truly. He could not save her life if S.H.I.E.L.D. does find them, he would have to worry of himself before he could worry for her. But even if S.H.I.E.L.D. does find her, what is the worst they can do? She would still see her brother again, and eventually, she might return to her normal life. It was not as if she were going to face Asgardian punishment.
He looked strained when he embraced her, and Loki noticed how they quite enjoyed touching... something that Luna seemed to be the most hopeful for. It seemed to be the way consolation functioned between them when words no longer played a role. He had nothing to say. Not really. He looked away when they lingered there, simply embracing as siblings should. It was tiring... how confused he was simply watching this mortal pair of siblings converse. He did not know what he wanted to do, what he should say, think, or feel. He simply wished for his freedom, if anything, and if this brother of hers was apart of it, he simply wished to pass by it easily. And so he will.
Luna: The dam that held Luna's tears nearly broke when Zane murmured what seemed to be agreement. Her fingertips dug into his back as she gladly, gratefully returned the hug, savoring it for as long as she could, for she, herself, was unsure when or whether she will see him again. He deserved her honesty, and she would have gladly given it in its entirety to him, but she could not. Not right now. Perhaps when it was all over, she would tell him all that had played out in the peculiar situation. Her heart was beating fast and she held onto him for several moments longer, all the while murmuring thank yous.
She wished badly for him to stay true to his words and his unsaid promises, because far too much depended on it than he knew - her safety, as well. Despite Loki's act and how believable it sounded, it was still no more than an act. She knew that he would be among the first ones to hurt her if any part of their plan went askew, especially if the fault was hers. Before she pulled away, she inconspicuously wiped her eyes before the tears brimmed over. "Don't tell," she said, giving him a faint, sad smile. When they were children and Zane would know Luna had done something that their parents ought to know about, she would ask him not to tell, and most often, he wouldn't.
He gave a brief smile in return, followed by a nod. "I promise," he said.
Loki: Loki continued looking elsewhere during the rest of the exchange, feeling uncomfortable as ever considering the deal was finished for now. He was relieved the boy had some sense so as to protecting his sister, and along the way, protecting his escape plan. This now will fall together evenly, knowing that she was comfortable in knowing she had someone to return to and someone who knew that she was with him. The moment that S.H.I.E.L.D. comes to find them, he will instantly regret his moment of passiveness upon the situation, blaming it upon the mortal who he could not easily trust. He could not believe he was even allowing a few of her tears to effect him in such a way that he would allow any of this to continue, but it was far too late now. He would lose her trust if he snapped now. He clenched his fists and continued to press his lips together, restraining himself from acting any further upon what might just be a complete mistake.