Doctor Loki love: I wasn't sure where I was going with this until I was at work yesterday thinking it over. Lol. Hope you like.

Kurai tenshi015: yup. Things will get ugly.

Gfir098: I did. I'm evil like that.

Akera writer of the night: take a deep breath...now keeping reading.

Loki's dreamer: what is nsfw? Smut? And the actual proposal will happen...eventually. Lol

Chapter 21

Loki had been back and forth over the decision all day long. One minute he was ready and the next he had changed his mind and was walking out of his tower once more only to return an hour later. It was so selfish and hypocritical not to mention a complete invasion of privacy but the longer the day went on the more tempting it became.

Finally he gave into the absurd idea and sat down to his desk and chanted a spell that opened up a vision of the magical kind in front of him. He wasn't worried about being interrupted as Thor was down on Midgard at Starks party. He gazed at the vision and Cephera appeared after a hazy moment as the spell took its grip. "Lace me up!" She said to her sister who was in nothing but her underwear garments. He watched as her sister helped Cephera do up her dress and as she laced the ribbons at the back he noticed the two magical wings that fluttered across her shoulder blades.

He couldn't take his eyes off the scene set out before him. They were getting ready for Tony's party and Cephera, in his opinion, looked stunningly beautiful. He could see her as she was now dressed and began to take curls of her hair and meticulously pin them up. Loki draw a hand through his hair. Why was he putting himself through this.

It some what unnerved Loki that it was clear that Cephera held an attraction too him as well. It was just something he wasn't used too. It caught him off guard. Every time she'd reach out and touch him he felt like he was melting. Like nothing else mattered but her embrace and he didn't like not being the one in control. Her kiss, he'd almost come completely undone by it. Every time he saw her now it reminded him of that kiss. Of how easy it could have been to have her, to make her his. He knew she wouldn't deny him. He also knew that if he claimed her he would never let her go and she would forever be trapped with him.

But he had to avoid her at all cost. It was too dangerous for her, for him. Loki was a man with many enemies and they would use her to hurt him. Use her to manipulate him and Loki would not lose that kind of freedom. He would not be used or manipulated into doing anything else. Midgard was the one and only time and Loki had found a way to double cross Thanos and his Chitauri minions. To put a dent in their army without really raising a finger.

Loki's gaze never left the girl who currently and annoyingly held his affection.

He had told her to stay away from him but yet he couldn't keep himself away from her. Even from this far he was unable to stop wondering what she was doing and now he was acting like a creep and spying on her. He would never live this down if anyone should find out. He leaned forward and rested his chin on his interlocked fingers. Cephera was finished her hair, gave a twirl in the mirror and her sister came back into view dressed but so fancy as Cephera was. Her sister seemed to enjoy keeping it simple.

He watched as they ventured downstairs to the main room. Loki found himself unsettled the longer the night went on. It wasn't her, her whimsical dancing and mingling with guests was amusing but he wasn't fond that she was so familiar with these men. Loki was always a tad jealous when it came to woman he found a liking for even if he hadn't claimed them himself. Apparently Cephera didn't escape this.

He glared several time when she was dancing all to closely to others. Though it did seem to be the common way of dance he still didn't like it. Too much stuff on Midgard was provocative and an invasion of space but that was how things were. He didn't like that she was part of it and that she was so comfortable with it. Still he couldn't tear his eyes away.

Loki had been trying to ignore how this one made him feel. He hated that one simple woman could derail him so easily without even trying. Her conversations with everyone were nothing bothersome to him and he found himself more in tuned to her movements then her conversations.

When Tony began his speech Loki found it amusing as Cephera fidgeted excitedly on her feet. He'd never found an attraction to a woman like her before. So simple and easy to make smile, strong and vibrant and adept in magic. The only time Loki paid any attention to the rest of the people around her was when something caused Cephera to stare wide eyed and worried across the room.

Curious Loki drew his arms out expanding his window and was now viewing the entire room.

(Cephera)

"Lets get a few things clear right off the top. We were here to meet and kill those who might get in our masters way but..." He held up a finger to stop anyone who was about to speak. "I see you have a couple of 'specials' among you." He eyed Cephera and then across the room to Amelia. "Hand them over and we'll leave quietly." He licked his lips smirking.

"No deal." Tony said instantly, no thought involved even for a moment.

"Come now Stark, don't be stubborn. Our master will spare you for those two." He nodded his head once more indicating Amelia and Cephera.

"Tell your Master we decline." Tony said and the rest of the heroes stepped forward. The three people behind this enemy stepped forward as well.

"Loki will not care either way. I tried the nice way. We'll kill you all and take them by force." He motioned for his followers to attack when Thor stepped up.

"My brother is in Asgard." He insisted.

"Your brother? Clearly you know very little about him." He snorted. Cephera was shaking her head it didn't make sense. She watched when the other three began to show off their own powers. Fire, ice, arcane. It seemed he brought an interesting group.

'Give yourself up.' Cephera froze. The voice inside her head she recognized easily.

"Loki?!" She said out loud in surprise and brought attention to herself.

'Think of what you want to say to me and it will be between you and me. This Loki they speak of isn't me.' He told her firmly.

'You want me to go with them?' She asked doing as he said and thought of him as she spoke.

'You're capable. If we are going to get answers to these attacks we need to find the main cause. We need to find out what this other Loki wants with you and even who he is.' Confused but understanding what it was he was saying Cephera moved forward. Perhaps she was crazy to trust the god of lies but Cephera just felt she could.

"There is no need for death today. I will go." She announced and got the reaction she had expected.

"WHAT!" Seraphina said incredulously and angry. Cephera put her hand up shaking her head.

"What about you?" The main guy asked nodding toward Amelia.

"Just me." Cephera said quickly. She didn't want Amelia becoming a victim again.

"Hell no. If she goes, I go." Seraphina stepped next to Cephera and giving her a look of 'what are you doing?'

"We're only interested in people with powers." He said to her.

"She's my sister. Of course I have powers." Seraphina said rolling her eyes.

"Wait why are we even contemplating this." Tony pipped up.

"Tony, trust me." Cephera gave him a deep look she didn't often give. A look that conveyed to him that she had an idea and to back down. Loki and her might have got off on the wrong foot when they first met but Cephera couldn't help but trust him.

"What will you do with them?" Bruce spoke. He had stepped in front of Amelia separating her from view.

"Loki is somewhat of a collector. He likes to meet new powerful beings and have them join with him." The man smirked again.

"And you think we'll just let you walk out if here with them?" Steve ventured and Seraphina moved forward. She grabbed Steve and forced him to look at her.

"I trust my sister. She wouldn't be going if she didn't think it was the safer way to go." She told him sternly. Steve just stared at her and Cephera saw his jaw tighten. He didn't like what was going on but really who could blame him. Cephera stepped across the room careful not to alarm anyone and took her sisters hand. Together they went to the people threatening them. Cephera gave Tony another meaningful.

The leader stopped them and looked at Seraphina. "And what power do you possess?"

"I have the power to manipulate anything running on energy. I also have the power to put my foot up your ass if you try anything funny." Seraphina growled. The man laughed and motioned for them to get in the elevator that was now being held open. Truthfully humans were not the worst they had even encountered and having her sister with her was soothing.

'Loki? Are you still there?' She asked Loki feeling a little worried.

'I am.' He replied his tone calm and reassuring.

'Don't leave me.' She told him.

'I will make sure you and your sister return safely.' He assured her. As they watched the floors drop on the elevator. They were blindfolded at the lobby and helped into a vehicle.

'Are you looking through my eyes?' Cephera asked curiously.

'No. I can still see all the world around you. I am taking note of where they are taking you.' Cephera took a breath of relief. At least someone knew where they were going. As they drove along still blindfolded Cephera suddenly thought of something.

'Loki. How did you know something was happening?' She asked curious. He was silent. She could almost feel him on the out skirts of her minds.

'I...' Cephera didn't let him finish as it dawn on her.

'Oh my god you were spying on me.' She suddenly burst. His followed silence gave her the confidence she was right. 'When this is all over we need to talk.' She said more amused then angry.

'There is nothing to talk about. I was checking in on things nothing more.' He finally replied.

'When are you going to stop pushing me away?' He didn't answer her. 'Loki?'

'This is not the time for foolish questions. I will not answer them.' His tone was hard now and Cephera frowned. The rest of the car ride he said nothing to her or her to him. It boggled her mind how he could be so distant from her yet so close. He warned her away from him but here he was invading her privacy and her mind, helping her or possibly putting her in unknown danger and here she was blindly following him.

Loki kept her in a state of confused wonder and Cephera wanted badly to just understand what she was feeling. His touch always so far from her reach. She wanted to hold him and help him swallow up any sorrow he had or any doubts. No man had ever touched her heart and Loki had done so with ease and he hadn't even tried. Maybe it was just fascination. She sometimes wondered if her feelings stemmed from him having an attraction to her and he being the only man outside humanity that ever did. Almost like picking the first option that came along afraid that if you didn't you'd never get another.

She bit down those thoughts. To think she was simply settling on anyone was foolish. She had held out 800 years to find a true connection to someone and she was sure she found that connection too him. Maybe it was fate seeing him in the woods and her finding that opal. A way of bringing them together in the far future.