Loki closed the stone doors behind him and took a deep breath; he leaned back and looked up to the star filled sky. Silence, it was golden on his ears. At times he feared silence because he had spent so much time in it but now, after all the clattering and growling of the Frost Giant's council, he was glad of it.

He hadn't even known the Frost Giant's had a Council.

There was a loud scraping noise and "Oh fuck."

He blinked and turned to his left, looking along the walkway on the side of the mountain to see Helen leant over the balcony, looking down at the ground. She was covered by the red cloak he had given her and it made him smile.

"Shit." Her voice echoed towards him, "ugh, I'll have to go and get it now." She grumbled, turning around and it took her a moment to realise that Loki was stood there.

She jumped.

"What are you doing here?"

He titled his helmeted head, "I do live here."

"Oh." Then she tilted her own head and stated, "You're blue."

He looked down at his hands and realised she was right. He hadn't even noticed. He glared at the blue skin with ancient lines sculpted into it.

"The Frost Giants are literally getting under my skin." He muttered disdainfully.

He flinched when Helen suddenly appeared underneath him, squinting up, "I never noticed before," she said softly and a finger pressed to his forehead and traced one of the lines, "You have like lines. That's so cool." Then she huffed, "Do you ever look ugly?"

He looked over her face in the flickering flame light and his tongue was caught. He clenched his toes, trying to think of some quick, witty comeback but…but all he wanted…

Helen smiled and stepped back, "I dropped a bowl over the edge." She jerked her thumb to the balcony, unnerved by his stare, "I need to go get it."

She sidestepped him but stopped when he caught her arm.

"Would you mind being in my company a little longer?" He asked gently.

She looked up at him to watch as his armour faded to a casual cut and the helmet went with it, "I really should go and pick up the bowl. I hope I didn't hit anyone." She added as an afterthought.

He smirked and steered her towards the balcony, "a Queen does not 'pick up' broken objects. It is unsightly."

She lifted herself up onto the balcony and Loki sat beside her, his long legs stretching onto the floor while hers hung off the edge. But he soon noticed that Helena was staring at him.

He inwardly cringed.

Helen couldn't look away. His skin was absolutely fascinating. He could have been a completely different person, except the way he held himself and the way he had a slight tightness to his face made him Loki. The lines trailed down his neck and she wondered what the rest of his body looked like under the influence of his Frost Giant heritage.

Her hand slid to her chest and she took a deep breath.

"So…are you cold? Like the Frost Giants?"

"I do not know. People tend to stay away from me when I am in this form." He said, bitterness lining his words.

Helen felt her heart soften and she smiled then nudged him, "then they're just unlucky aren't they. Here." She stretched out her gloved hands to him.

He looked down at them, confused.

"Could you take them off?"

He was even more confused now but complied, reaching out and slipping the gloves off to reveal blue veins littering the skin. Disgust filled her face and she shook herself then looked up.

He moved back when she reached for his face.

"I do not wish for you to come to harm Helena. I have seen the damage these Giants can do."

"These hands are damaged enough. Trust me." She smiled warmly.

He looked over her face and he saw nothing but trust from her.

"Very well but if you-"

Helen placed her hand on his cheek and he flinched back but she kept her hand there.

"It's cool." She said, eyes lighting up, "well cold, like you've been outside for ages." She reached up her other hand but stopped.

Loki's eyes widened, "are you hurt?"

"No-o." She said slowly, frowning, "You're changing back. Your skin."

The blue was fading away, being overtaken by pale human flesh and the lines were disappearing, she missed them but smiled anyway. Moving her hand again, she held his face in both of her hands, "it must be human contact. You must change when…err you know, you're exposed to different people." She looked over his face, watching as he returned to his Asgardian form, "that's so lucky. I wish I could change."

Even though Helen babbled and seemed completely at ease, her heart was hammering. If only she had the courage to lean forward and kiss him, he was closer than ever but what if he rejected her? What if he didn't like her?

The awkwardness settled between them and for some odd, stupid reason, Helen suddenly squeezed his cheeks together.

He blinked and frowned, "What are you doing?" He asked, voice mumbled from the strange position of his lips.

"I have no idea." She laughed and he chuckled then reached up and pulled her hands away, smiling fondly at her.

"May I ask you hold my hand, to quicken the process?"

Her cheeks went red but they were already red from the cold so fortunately he didn't see.

"Sure." She smiled and slid her hand round his and let it rest between them, "what did you have to speak to the Frost Giants about?"

"Hmm, they mostly growled. Since Laufeyson's untimely death, there have been civil wars breaking out. I am to rectify them, ease their anger."

"How are you going to do that?"

"Words are strong, they will help me."

"Oh good, you avoided the question." She smirked and he chuckled.

"I am careful and wise. I have had hundreds of years of practice."

"Hundreds?"

He watched her face sink and turn into a frown.

"I must look like a kid to you."

"Thor is more childish than you and he is over seven hundred years old. However you do act childish sometimes."

"No I don't." She whined like a child and they both laughed.

They sighed into silence and Helen ended up tilting her head to look up at the sky.

"Hey Loki," She nudged him and he looked at her, "When you next decide to take over and become King, could you like choose somewhere hot. Like a beach. That'd be nice."

"You're a Queen. You can conquer where you wish without my help."

"I don't conquer. That's your job."

He chuckled and then felt her hand leave his as she stood and rubbed her bum.

"Jesus, my bum has gone numb."

"You humans are so weak. Here." He reached out and pulled the cloak around her and lifted the hood over her head, pulling it tight, "there, like a baby."

She stuck her tongue out at him and he grinned then stood and she looked up at him.

"Why are you so tall? Did you use magic to make you taller?" She was talking crap now but she couldn't think of anything else to say that would not mean blurting what she really wanted to say, "Can you make me tall."

"No. I enjoy looking down on you."

Her eyebrows flew up and she huffed, "that's not fair."

"Life is rarely fair, and I would not change you for any different."

"Just one little spell?"

"No."

She pouted then walked away, holding the cloak around her tightly, feeling warmth seeping into her skin.

"Have you been wearing that cloak since I gave it to you?" He asked, following slowly.

"Yes, and?"

"I did wonder what that smell was."

She stuck her fingers up at him and he laughed. Helen stepped up onto the bench on the other side of the balcony and turned to him, "can you make me this tall? Then I can look down on you."

He walked up to her, "Beg me and I'll think about it." He smiled mischievously.

"Beg? I don't beg."

"I bet I could make you." He stood in front of her and placed his hands on her waist and with a lift, raised her then placed her on the floor, "but I do prefer you short."

She smiled up at him, "Not at all the dominating type then?"

He turned and sat on the bench, "not at all." He grasped her cloak and pulled her down next to him, his arm sliding around her back. She chuckled and they slid into silence, Helen warmed by the cloak and Loki's arm.

Then, when she turned to him, to ask him a very important question, the door opened and a Frost Giant stepped out.

"Your Majesty's." He bowed his head, "King Loki, Kal'uk wants to speak with you."

Loki's eyes tensed, "Tell him I am busy."

"He insists my Lord."

Loki 'tchd' then nodded, "I'll be there in a few moments. Don't disturb me again." He threatened.

Helen looked up at him as the door closed, to see him frowning in annoyance.

"You should go." She stood up, "it could be important."

"Nothing these Giant's say is important." He said disdainfully then he looked up when Helen knelt down and went to kiss his cheek but some crazy nerve made her move and kiss his lips.

At least the edge of them.

"Uh," She pulled back, but with the pound of her heart he grasped her arm and pulled her into a proper kiss.

He held her jaw and Helen's eyes fell closed instantly as her heart soared. She felt her leg twitch and rise up behind her but she quickly tucked it behind the other one, trying not to burst with happiness as she leaned into his lips.

He pulled back but she kissed him again, gripping his shoulder. Loki smiled and stood up, not once leaving her lips. He stroked her cheek with his thumb and slowly pulled back a few inches.

Green eyes filled Helen's sight and she blinked mouth slightly agape then his arm slid around her waist and gently rubbed the small of her back.

She lifted onto her toes and kissed him but this time with a lot more depth and courage. His other arm went around her back and he pulled her against him, clutching tightly.

"You have a meeting to get to." She muttered when their kisses became longer.

"Not anymore I don't." He smiled and rubbed his nose against hers, his green eyes shining.