Thanks again to everyone, especially those who have stuck with me since the beginning!

...

"It's been fun, but I'd really rather see a lot more of that half-breed blood spilt."

Kane pulled the knife back and held it in his fist above her heart, bringing it down hard to her chest.

Riley awoke with a tremendously abrupt start, her breathing shallow as her chest heaved. Sweat dribbled uncomfortably down the back of her neck, and a wave of pain overwhelmed her, causing her to lie back again. She blinked several times, bemused. What had happened?

White walls. A hospital-like bed...She was back in the Healing Room, tangled up violently in the bed sheets, no doubt from a horrible night's sleep.

Kane. The knife. Loki...

Riley's hands scrambled upward to grope at her neck. Some sort of white bandaging had been wrapped tightly around it, making it somewhat difficult to breathe. It still ached horribly, but was nevertheless certainly an improvement from before.

So it hadn't been just some horrid dream.

"Are you trying to make yourself bleed again?"

Riley dropped her hands from her throat. She craned her neck to the left as far as it would allow, to see Loki standing a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, expressionless. Never had she ever been so happy to see the evil little lying snake in her life.

"You...What?" Riley asked wearily.

"That wound's not completely healed," said Loki calmly, crossing the room slowly boot-by-boot until he was standing directly beside her. "Don't touch it."

"But...but..." Riley stared at him. "Loki...I don't understand. What happened?"

Loki blinked his emerald eyes once. "You don't remember?"

"No, I do, I remember..." In Riley's eyes, a flash of the dagger flickered in and out of her vision, and she winced. "I remember a knife. And you
stopping Kane from..." She trailed off. "How did you know what was happening?"

"These palace walls are thinner than you think."

"What do you mean?"

Loki looked away from her. "I knew that if anything happened to you, I would be the one blamed. Your death ensures mine. To the unclouded, intelligent mind, it was quite obvious that Kane wore two faces. I was already in my chambers when I heard you two storming clumsily up the stairs like a pair of idiots."

Riley glared at him, but said nothing, silently urging him to go on.

"But everything became far too quiet. I could sense a powerful magic charm at work, a silencing one. You don't know that spell, so I knew it could only be Kane. I had a pretty strong feeling that his second face was about to be put to use, so I came up there to make sure. I'm rarely wrong."

Riley looked down into the palms of her hands, ashamed. What an incredible moron she was! While she had cluelessly hung around Kane without her guard up, without a single suspicious thought in mind, Loki had been scrutinizing him, looking for signs of lying...Granted, he was better at that than her, being the "God of Lies," but she still should have been more wary of Kane.

Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. Huh. That phrase had never really applied to Riley until now.

"Thank you."

Loki quirked an eyebrow. "For what?"

"What do you think for?" Riley demanded, managing a small laugh. "You saved my life."

"I've saved many warriors in my time," said Loki shortly.

There was a moment's pause.

"This does not change anything, you realize."

'Change' anything? 'Change'? Riley shook her head. How could it not? The man who, not long ago, beat her to an absolute pulp, murdered her former close co-worker and tried to do the same to her, who did everything in his power to conquer Earth, had just saved her life.

"Change what? How much you hate me?" Riley stared stubbornly into his eyes, challenging him. "If you hadn't stopped Kane, then I wouldn't even be here right now."

Loki swallowed. "You will learn here on Asgard that warriors fall every day. I cannot name how many times I have saved that brute-of-a-brother's ass in battle. This is a common occurrence. The only difference is that it happened inside the palace." He paused. "And I do not hate you."

Riley snorted. "Yeah, I believe that."

"Yes, you are a rude creature and you try my patience, but I would not go as far as to say that I have any loathing toward you."

At least not currently, Loki thought, as he recalled his bitter mood after guilt had been aroused in his conscience recently.

"Even so, you stopped Kane, whether it was a regular "warrior" act or not. I appreciate it."

Loki sighed. "If you really wish to thank me...then please accept that...that I was in the wrong." He drew in a sharp breath, as though uttering the words deeply pained him.

Riley raised her eyebrows at him. "Huh?"

"Before. I realize that I may have crossed a line, what I said to you..." Green eyes flickered over to brown.

"Wait a minute." Riley broke into a half-smile, as realization dawned on her. "Are you trying to...apologize?"

Loki grit his teeth. "I'd say we're even now."

Riley could hardly believe her own ears...She wondered whether her hearing was working properly. So Loki had verbally abused her, but then had saved her...so that made them "even" in his mind?

"So, how did I get here?"

Loki shrugged. "I called for a couple of guards to carry you here, then returned back to my work. You distracted me from some important documents I was sorting through."

"Well, sorry," said Riley sarcastically, as a redheaded Healer in the corner looked over at them, most likely listening in on the conversation. "What's happened to Kane?" she added uncertainly.

"He is under trial right now," said Loki. "The Allfather is contemplating his punishment, but I one can quite accurately assume that it is banishment for him and his father, including being stripped of his powers."

Riley breathed a low sigh of relief. She had to admit, in the back of her mind, she really wanted more of a painful, cruel punishment against Kane, but she was just glad that he would be gone. It seemed unjust, that a loathsome person such as he should be released without a worse penalty—

But then, Loki had done much worse, taking the lives of many humans at his hands, and he was not even banished.

Maybe that was just the way the universe worked. It was unfair, but not everything had a perfect, happy ending. Especially in most of Riley's cases...

"Do I have to speak at it? In my defense?" said Riley, biting her lip nervously. She didn't want to face Kane again. In fact, she never wanted to ever see his face ever again in her lifetime, if it could be avoided.

Loki shook his head. "I am not sure of what the Midgardian customs of trial are, but here, you do not have to 'speak' for yourself. The Allfather knows what he did. You forget that Heimdall sees all that occurs in the realms, including Asgard."

Riley fiddled with her hands, trying to not think about the pain beginning to get to her in her neck. Loki

"Also, there was something else that Kane had said," she murmured, without looking at Loki.

"And what would that be?"

Riley bit her bottom lip. "Kane said you were a...Frost Giant."

Loki said nothing.

So she knew. He supposed it would have had to have come out eventually, but he would have preferred that it did so on his terms...Damn Kane. Loki's lip curled slightly. Yet he had to admit, curiosity was eating away at him...What exactly would this half-blood think of him now, now that she knew? Typically, beyond Thor and his friends, the Allfather, and a few others, most of the Asgardians, like Kane, wished nothing more than Loki's death...

If only he'd been able to prove himself that day, when he'd been so close to destroying that realm of monsters...He'd have been welcomed back, like a hero. To destroy his own race, the Asgardians would say, meant he had to be loyal to only Asgard. No longer would they have looked upon him like a beast, like the scheming threat that he was...

Loki shoved away the thought. He knew better now, he reminded himself, that was the whole reason for taking over Midgard instead, wasn't it? Because he always knew, in the back of his mind, that nothing he could ever do would be enough. No matter how hard he tried, no matter what he did, the Asgardians would never truly accept him.

Like Riley.

"He also said that my father tried to...well, murder you when you were a child." It took all the strength Riley could muster to look back at Loki, who was staring out the window now, blank-faced. "Is it true?"

Loki nodded slowly, running a long finger along his thin lips. "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You said you didn't want to know."

"That was before I knew it had to do with you."

Loki's eyes darted away from the window to sneak a glance at Riley's own. The sincerity, the honesty in her intense gaze made him look away again.

"Why are you lingering in the past?" he sighed.

"I hope you don't think ill of me."

Loki continued to trace his lips with his index finger, but a flicker of surprise dashed across his facial features. "What?"

"Because of my father, what he did...Everyone seems to associate me with him. I mean, from what I've heard, disgraces pass down the family tree, so..."

Loki's bice eyes moved to scan her face expressionlessly. "Of course I think ill of you, you know that. But not because of your father, Miss Harrow. If we were all judged strictly by our heritage, then I would be dead. You are not Axis Harrow, nor have you ever been him."

Riley stared at Loki in blatant disbelief, her eyes stretched wide. Of all the things Loki had said to her before, through all the taunts and jeers, this was the first time he'd actually said something...kind.

"I, um, thank you," Riley mumbled in a low voice, her cheeks pleasantly flushed.

Loki made a face. "Stop thanking me." He wasn't used to the appreciation that Riley continued to throw at him. He mainly flourished under fear and anger spat at him from most people, so it made it difficult to know how to react to a change in response.

"So...You. Frost Giant." Riley was now looking at Loki directly.

Loki gave an abrupt nod, somewhat annoyed.

"But you look like an Asgardian. I thought they were...bigger. More, I dunno, icy?"

Loki rolled his eyes, sinking into an empty burgundy seat beside her bed. "This is not my Frost Giant form."

"It's not?" said Riley, interested. She leaned forward. "Can you change into it?"

"I can."

Riley had never actually seen a Frost Giant before, let alone knew much of anything about them...It excited her. Just like coming to Asgard, learning about the Asgardian's customs and appearance...If it were her choice, and if she were not afraid of being struck down on the spot, she would visit the other worlds as well. It was all so interesting, really.

"May I see it?"

Loki raised his eyebrows at her. Was she mocking him? He could see no trace of sarcasm or amusement in her expression. He could not imagine why anyone sensible would want to be in the presence of such a creature.

And yet, Riley's delighted eyes hid nothing.

"No," said Loki flatly.

Riley frowned in disappointment, but she had a feeling she knew why he didn't want to show her. Flaunting his true Frost Giant form didn't seem likely, especially if Kane was right, and there were others out there who shared in his views of the Frost Giants, of how they were disgusting and monsters...

"I am not an animal on display." Loki spoke the words so coldly that Riley involuntarily shuddered.

"I know you're not," said Riley quickly. "I just...I dunno. It seemed fascinating to me." She dropped her eyes back to her hands, folding them in her lap.

Loki shot her a sideways glance. A strange individual indeed, Riley Harrow...He could not recall one time that a person had ever been "fascinated" by his Frost Giant form and heritage.

"So then, who's your real father? Odin—"

"We will not have this conversation," said Loki flatly.

"But—"

"We're done."

Loki's bottle green eyes pierced Riley so sharply, she reluctantly closed her mouth.

Riley searched madly through her mind, trying hard to remember. Hadn't Kane mentioned Loki's father's name? Riley mentally replayed their conversation, but for the life of her (Perhaps due to being knocked out), she could not recall what the name was. All she could gather was that it started with an "L."

"We return to your training the minute you are released from here," said Loki casually, getting up from his seat as though nothing had happened. He cast an irritated look at one of the Healers, as though it was her fault that Riley was not already healed up enough to leave.

"Goody," said Riley.

Loki nodded curtly, then turned on his heel and stalked back toward the door, slipping out through it with his dark cloak swooping up behind him.

As he descended the steps of the Healing Room, Loki's mind raced about.

So what if he saved her life? He'd been on the battlefield before, alongside Thor. He had saved countless others before, in the days when he, Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three had fought together. This was no different. She was just another warrior.

Then why did he feel so strongly as though he were lying to himself?

Riley watched Loki leave, and her eyes remained on the door before the short, redheaded Healer snapped her out of her daze.

"Had a nice nap?" she asked, taking Riley by the wrist. At her touch, Riley automatically slapped her hand away, cringing slightly.

The Healer frowned at her, a little confused.

"Sorry," Riley apologized, dropping her arm limply back onto the bed. "I'm a little jumpy."

"I can imagine why," said the Healer, as she once again took Riley's wrist in her hands, this time more cautiously.

Riley eyed her warily. Having just been tricked and assaulted by a former Healer, she wasn't altogether comfortable with letting her guard down around any other ones. Or anyone, for that matter.

"You're tense. Stop fidgeting," the Healer ordered, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.

Riley sighed, trying to relax. She inhaled deeply, half-closing her eyes as she lay back.

"Now, what I don't understand is why he would lie about something like that," said the Healer as she changed out Riley's bandages.

"Huh?" Riley mumbled sleepily.

"Loki," said the woman, as though it were obvious. "Two nights ago, he brought you up here himself, in his arms, carried you to one of the beds. In a big panic." She folded a damp cloth over Riley's forehead. "With good reason, of course. You were bleeding all over the tile floors...Just had them cleaned the other day, too..."

"Loki brought me here?" Riley demanded, sitting bolt upright, then groaning as a wave of pain overcame her.

"Lie still," she ordered. "And yes, he just about bit my head off! Snarling at me like some kinda animal, saying I wasn't moving quickly enough." She rolled her eyes. "Pushy, pushy, pushy. Telling me how to do my job!" She shook her head, making a tsking sound.

Riley frowned, sinking back against her pillow. Something didn't make sense here...Loki, cool-demeanored, uncaring, detached Loki, had carried her up to the Healing Room? And had done it in a panic? That didn't sound right. The Healer must have her facts wrong..

"I think you must be mistaken," said Riley quietly.

The Healer narrowed her eyes down at her. "Are you trying to say I'm lying?"

"No, no! It's just..."

"I saw him carry you in and everything. I don't see the point in him lying about what happened, though.

"Well, he is the god of Mischief," Riley mumbled reasonably.

"True as that may be, it was still nice of him. Hel, he hardly left this room! I had to order him out of here more than once. Told him you needed space, rest."

Now that only sounded worse. She had to be pulling Riley's leg...Loki? Having to be forced to leave the room? Loki never wanted to even be a few feet away from her! He complained about being in her presence every chance he got.

"I don't care if he's still Prince or not," the woman continued, measuring out a teaspoon of purplish liquid. "No one orders me around in my own Healing Room! And I don't give a damn how 'important' he is; all of my patients are to be left alone in my care only! Drink this," she added.

Riley winced as the familiar bitter taste burned her tongue, but she was glad for the medicine, as her neck continued to burn.

"What would you like to eat?" The Healer asked as she re-corked the bottle of pain medication.

"I'm not hungry."

"'Course you are. You've been out for a couple of days."

"Um...whatever you have, then, I suppose," said Riley, blinking tiredly. Despite having slept for so long, Riley felt drained of the majority of her energy, and she wanted nothing more than to just collapse into a second deep sleep, hopefully this time unhaunted by the memory of Kane.

The redheaded Healer returned about six minutes later, carrying a tray of assorted foods in her arms. Riley took it from her with a brief thanks, then set to work eating it. It wasn't until she took her first bite of bread that she realized just how hungry she was, and she wolfed down the tray in a matter of minutes.

"How's the neck feeling" The Healer inquired, taking the empty tray away from Riley.

"All right."

The woman thought for a moment as she moved to check Riley's neck, pressing her stubby fingers up against it. "Hmm...I'd say you'd be okay to return to your training by tomorrow, if you continue to take these meds every hour. But I don't want you straining yourself," she added sternly. "Nothing too strenuous, all right?"

Riley nodded. She was relieved to be leaving so soon, after all the events from before, but she also wasn't exactly ''eager'' to return to her training. Would it be the same old thing as before, day in, day out? Try, fail, argue with Loki, and try again?

Oh well. Whether she would admit it or not, when the bickering didn't go too far, Riley actually enjoyed them.

...

Loki leaned casually against the door to the trial room, his hands folded carelessly behind his back. To anyone passing, he appeared to be simply spending his time leisurely alone, lost in thought. However, the echoing boom of Odin's thunderous voice reached Loki's ears easily through the thin walls, and Loki intended to hear every word.

His theory was correct—Kane Aberleson would in fact be banished to Midgard, without his magic or healing properties, and his father would be taken with him. Loki gained a faint satisfaction from this, knowing the insignificant little twit would be gone, but he almost wished that a higher price had been paid for what he did.

Loki's eyes burned like flaming emerald as, in his mind, he re-watched himself open her door, see the brute pinning her helplessly against the bed, knife clenched tightly in his hand...He'd only arrived just in time. A blink of an eye later, he might not have had that conversation with her in the Healing Room...The image in his head boiled his blood so much, yet he still could not understand why.

Why. Loki had come to positively hate that word. It had been over-used so much in his mind to the point where he thought he might lose it. He wasn't used to not understanding things, and now just about everything pertaining to Riley struck questions in him.

He remembered forcing Kane to the ground, mustering everything in his power to refrain from slaying the man on the spot. He remembered lifting Riley's limp, bloody form off of the bed, knowing her wound was minor but panicking nevertheless at the blood. He remembered the distinct feel of the soft skin on her shoulders as he inadvertently grazed them with the knuckles of his hands, whilst placing her onto one of the hospital beds. But why should the mere touch of her skin bother him so much?

Strange. Perhaps it was the startling warmth of her skin in comparison to his own, icy and chilly. Yes. That was all that it was, what troubled him...

The Healer had been less than pleased with him. He knew he should have kept his composure, instead of hissing and spitting at the woman like some untamed creature. It deeply annoyed him so much, how much the growing alarm blinded him. He was the God of Mischief and Lies, not of Pity and Benevolence! He did not have anxiety over a person's well-being, he laughed and jeered at their weakness.

There was only one other time Loki could remember, currently, at least, when he'd shown any sign of real fear. The other time was when the Allfather had fallen into the Odinsleep, whilst Loki was accusing him of not telling him about what he truly was. He could distinctly remember the rising alarm in him, how loudly he shouted for the guards to come to his aide...

No. That was long ago, in a time when he had less of a sturdy wall around himself. But with all that had occurred, with Thor, the wormhole, and everything on Midgard, Loki should have lost every speck of worry or concern for others left in him.

Yet somehow Riley had managed to find that speck.

...

Currently staring at my laptop in bewilderment at all of the reviews for the last chapter. Thank you guys so, so much! Sorry this chapter was a bit short in comparison to the last.

Draegan88: Haha, it's up now! I'll do my best to keep my updates as regular as possible. And thank you :)

Viv: Yeah, Kane's definitely a two-faced rat. Most of the Asgardians have a mild or more dislike toward Riley, but there are some that just absolutely can't stand half-bloods. And thanks so much! :D I've been trying to pace the story to the best of my ability. Yup, Team Loki!

Stargazer1364: I had a good laugh reading your review. I'm really glad I was able to pull such a reaction from you, there's always a certain satisfaction I gain from surprising my readers :) And I totally agree, Loki's gone up a few points in my book haha!

viktorskrumpet: Oh, thank you so much! I'm honestly, really happy that you enjoyed it so much, and I can only apologize for not having Kane's ass whooped. I think the main reason I gave him a lesser punishment was because in so many stories, the character that's rude/mean to the OC usually ends up dead or severely injured, and I suppose I wanted to stray away from that some. Anyway, thanks!

EnyaandEathenyl: Haha, thanks! xD Really glad I was able to startle you that much!

ZabuzasGirl: Hope this was updated quickly enough (: