AN: Hellooo :D Huge thank you to the favourites, follows and readers in general! :D The next couple of chapters might be quite filler-y, the calm before the storm some might say... Anyway, a few feels in this chapter :P Reviewers are loved:

Theta-McBride- Thank you so so much! Makes me happy you like it! :D

ninjaloki- Awh, thank you! Glad it made you smile :D That means a lot :D

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Constance Bonacieux- Hehe, caring!Loki is the best :D

Loki's room was still dark when he woke up. It was in the early hours of the morning that Loki found himself wide awake. At first he couldn't place a reason as to why. Loki was feeling pretty safe in Asgard: only a fool would try to take on the realm eternal. He considered maybe it was, because he was without Eva. Whether it was her abilities or just her in general. Loki missed her at night. He missed her lying next to him. He missed her warmth when she huddled up to him. Her serene expression when he caught her still asleep. When had he become so sentimental? Loki knew he would have her back soon enough. He was on his best behaviour. Well, maybe not his best. Nobody had been scolding him nor scrutinizing or watching him. Bar Heimdal, of course. Why was that? Had they more important things to worry about? Or maybe they knew Loki was going to try anything. If he did, Eva would likely disapprove or be taken away from him. He would never let that happen though. Loki did not want to screw this up. Even though he figured it would all turn sour eventually. His life had a habit of doing that.

Nevertheless, Loki thought about what today would bring. He planned to show Eva another of his favourite places. That had gone down pretty well last time. Loki smirked at the memory. Them both dripping with icy water. Her dress…She was beautiful and she was his. That fact needed to be pointed out to Fandral a bit more clearly in Loki's opinion. Ugh. Loki had nothing to be jealous of. Eva wanted him. And she could have him once they finally got back to each other.

xxxx

"Thor, my son" Odin greeted the blond God. The Allfather was resting, his very old age showing.

"Father" Thor said with a bow of his head.

"Your time as King draws closer" Odin said simply, getting to the matter at hand.

"Are you well?"

"As well as to be expected, but you are ready my son"

"But father, we have only just recovered the tesseract, the Bifrost has not been repaired and Loki and Eva have only just arrived. The kingdom needs your wisdom" Thor protested.

"I have faith in you" Odin replied. "Regardless, I have an idea to test Loki's alliance and repair the Bifrost"

xxxx

"Whoa" Eva whispered after Loki opened the door to the library. He considered it his own, since it was rarely used by others. The huge room was decked out with hundreds of shelves, brimming with books. They ranged in sizes and age. Some had thick, worn spines, while a few looked in relatively good condition. Eva stepped further into the room, spinning around to get a better view. There were comfy looking sofas strewn around the room with low coffee tables accompanying them. Eva walked over to a pile of books on one of the tables. Her hand brushed the front cover. She frowned, realising the words were in another language.

"What does this mean?" Eva asked Loki. He strode over looking over her shoulder.

"It is a book of sorcery" Loki answered, hugging her from behind.

"Can you teach me something?" Eva beamed, turning around in Loki's grip. Loki pursed his lips.

"It is not easily learnt"

"That means no" Eva pouted. Loki smiled before lounging on the sofa.

"Only a select few have the capability to learn sorcery" his tone was almost smug.

"Fine, fine" Eva said lightly, picking another off the pile. "What's this one about?"

"The nine realms." Eva picked it up and joined Loki on sofa. She rested it on her lap as she flicked through the book. Thankfully there were some pictures to help her out. "That is Svartalfheim. Home of the Dark Elves" Loki informed her. She nodded, studying the illustrations before flicking the page.

"And this one?"

"Jotunheim" Loki said his voice thick.

"And these are the Frost Giants?" Eva asked quietly, pointing to an illustration.

"Yes"

"You don't look like them" Eva observed, slightly confused. Loki took a deep breath, sitting up straighter.

"This is not my natural form, but the one I prefer" Loki explained.

"Can you show me? Your other form?" Eva asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. She wasn't sure whether he would. It was clear he hated the Frost Giants and she wouldn't blame him for keeping it hidden.

Loki deliberated for a while. He concluded that she needed to see. To know what she was getting herself in to. What he truly looked like. The monster he really was. The creatures Asgard feared. "Alright" he agreed. He shifted to the edge of the sofa. He closed his eyes to concentrate. He wasn't sure if it was a relief or disadvantage not to see her face. Would this make her fear him?

Loki was overcome with cold. It spread from his core to his fingertips. He opened his eyes, his gaze downcast. A blue hand rested on his leg. It still brought back painful memories; when he had first discovered the truth. Loki's eyes snapped up to see Eva's face. Her eyes were wide, but not with fear. Fascination, Loki guessed. Like this was the first time she was seeing the world. Her eyes raked over him, taking in every pattern and line. She finally met his eyes. The aspect he hated most. The crimson red that inspired hate and fear. He watched as Eva's hand reached out towards him, he had a suspicion it wasn't a conscious act. He flinched away from it. "This skin is too cold. It will burn you" Loki explained.

Eva retracted her hand. She picked up on how he used 'it', separating himself from it. As if he didn't accept it. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "So beautiful" she whispered. It hadn't meant to come out. A thought that didn't want to stay in her head. She wanted to trace the patterns with her fingertips. Even from a few metres away she could feel the chill he was radiating. Eva looked back up to his eyes. He was staring at her with confusion, scrutinizing her words. "You truly believe that?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't" Eva responded. Loki seemed to consider this, but said nothing. He switched back to seen pale exterior. Eva seized the opportunity to touch his hand. Her other moved to his cheek and slid down to his neck. He was filled with tension, not truly believing her words. There was an undercurrent of hate for himself. And he was fearful: he didn't want to loose her.

Loki had been so happy yesterday. When he was with her he had no worries. No cares or doubts. But it would always come back to this. His heritage stopping him from getting what he wanted. An obstacle on his path to happiness. Had he deluded himself into believing everything would be alright? That they could all forgive and forget? How could Loki forget something so much a part of him? How could he forget the truth, hidden under lies? "Hey" Eva said softly, snapping him from his thoughts. Eva tried to avoid clichés at all costs, but at some moments there were no other words. "I love you, no matter what." Loki's mouth twitched upwards. No matter what. He felt relief flood him.

"You are truly fearless." Eva smiled back. She had dealt with Bruce Banner before hulking out. She could handle Frost Giants. Or maybe just one.

Loki captured her lips in a sweet kiss, but was soon gently pushing her down to lie on the sofa. Eva complied until he was leaning over her. Their tongues danced. Eva's hands tangled in his hair pulling him closer, while Loki's hands roamed up and down her sides. Eva wasn't sure she could take it if he started kissing her neck. Without warning, she broke the kiss. "Rules" she breathed heavily against his lips. She was pretty sure this was allowed, but not what was likely to come after it. Loki let out an annoyed sigh. Damn the rules. But that would only be like taking a step backwards. Loki sat back into his seated position, not trusting himself to stop at kissing. He took her hand to pull her up too. "Are you annoyed with me?" Eva asked in a small voice.

"For what?" he asked, turning to look at her. Reading the emotion in her eyes.

"Rebuffing you." Loki's face softened with understanding.

"Of course not" he smiled reassuringly. "It is not your fault that you cannot help but abide by the rules" he teased.

"I have broken rules before" she said defensively, her tone playful. Loki arched an eyebrow. "I stayed in your room at the Tower, didn't I?"

"How could I forget that?" he countered. Eva smiled in acknowledgement, reaching for the book, forgotten on the floor.

"Is Earth in here?"

"Yes, pass it to me" Loki instructed, extending his hand. He flicked through the pages, finding the section entitled Midgard.

"Can you read it to me?" Eva asked. She just wanted to listen to his voice. He nodded and she leant back against his arm that lay across the back of the sofa.

"Midgard; known as Earth. Home to the humans: a small and weak race. Notorious for their below average intelligence-"

"It does not say that!" Eva exclaimed, playfully hitting him in the leg.

"How do you know?" Loki asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"I know that smirk." Loki laughed, stopping when he heard the doors to the library open. Sif strode over to them, dressed in her amour. Eva was glad she had not come in a few minutes before. "Thor requires your presence Loki" Sif told him.

"Since when have you been a messenger?"

"Since I am taking Eva to the market place and thought I may as well pass on a message"

"Do you know for what purpose Thor needs me?"

"Not in the slightest" Sif replied. Loki sighed dramatically leaving his comfortable spot on the sofa. Eva shut the book placing it on the table and stood up as well.

"We're going to the market?" Eva asked Sif who nodded.

"You will like it there" Sif assured with a smile.

xxxx

"Why have you summoned me?" Loki asked as he approached Thor. His tone a little annoyed since his time with Eva had been cut short. The God of Thunder was waiting for him in one of the many living rooms. Thor stood, meeting with his brother. "The Bifrost needs repairing"

"I am well aware"

"The structure can be easily forged, but the core…is more difficult"

"And you require my talents to assist" Loki realised, amused. After all the ridiculing Thor needed the help of a sorcerer.

"I am sure you have better things do with your time, but you are supposed to be proving yourself"

"I am aware of that too" Loki responded. This was the opportunity that would see his privileges reinstated. If it would see him and Eva together then maybe he could be persuaded to help. Loki supposed the Bifrost being repaired would do little harm. "So, you will help?" Thor pushed.

"Yes" Loki replied flatly. Thor smiled, latching a hand onto his brother's shoulder.

"Thank you" Thor replied. Loki restrained an eye roll.

"I am to use the tesseract?" Loki questioned. Assuming that was the only thing powerful enough to kick-start the Bifrost.

"Yes" Thor replied.

"You are not afraid I will steal it and unleash an army once more?" Loki asked with a hint of amusement.

"I trust you" Thor replied. He considered whether that was the right thing to say.

"Well, you shouldn't" Loki retorted. Thor felt a little put down: he and Loki had talked amiably at the feast. It was like nothing had changed. Now Loki was back on the defensive.

"Why not?" Thor asked, opting for the blunt approach to his questioning. Loki presumed that was the only method he knew. "You forget too easily. You are ready to trust me after all I have done" Loki said with a frown "You're a fool" he added, half in jest.

"As ever" Thor muttered. He bit his tongue to stop himself from saying something that would jeopardise Loki's recovery. Loki was good at using the smallest amount of information given to him. Thor thought it best to give him little to work with.

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