. . . May 26th . . .

I was resting on a couch with the TV blaring what seemed to be the news still making reports regarding the sudden explosion at Stark Tower and the investigation. They had reported the recovery of one Bruce Banner. There wasn't a named culprit. I could imagine the relief the man felt to be free of such a monster that drew his anger and made him change because of it. On July 16th, Steve Rogers will be found. Frozen in ice with his shield on his back.

I was alone.

It seemed bleak at first for me.

How to arrange the procedure under Tony's nose without arousing suspicion.

Ah hell, he will figure it out anyway.

When suddenly I heard a knocking at the door.

I bolted up feeling a pain in one of my ribs then grabbed at my waist.

I wasn't expecting anyone.

"Yes?" I said.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I sighed, annoyed.

"Coming!" I said.

I get up then limp my way to the door.

The explosion had injured my leg. I made a random crutch appear to my side then opened the door wide to see a familiar face I hadn't seen in days. It was Knight. A face I did want to see. I had a polite smile leaning to the side of the door. By Odin, she looked not a day over one thousand two hundred thirty-three years old.

"Hello, Knighty." I said.

"You are not an easy man to find." Knight lied.

I grinned.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"Oh, going to the nearest hospital." Knight said.

I took a step aside, "Come in, milady."

I used magic to clean the apartment quickly for Knight. By then the scar on my lip was healed.

"What happened to you?" Knight asked, raising a brow.

"Life happened, Knight." I said.

Knighty was a nickname for Knight.

"Why did you attack that mortal's home?"

I closed the door behind Knight.

"Reasons."

"Loki, just tell me!"

"They haven't come yet."

Knight frowned narrowing her eyes my direction.

"Who is 'they'?" Knight said, suspiciously.

"Sit down," I said. "Do you like some tea?"

"Loki." Knight said, now sitting down in the most comfortable couch in the house.

I poured myself a glass of tea into a cup from the kitchen.

"When you get used to it, it actually has a nice taste to it," I said. "It is pretty nutritious unlike mead is."

"You are troubling me." Knight said.

"Machines," I said, sitting beside her at the long red couch and turn the TV off. "I can't very much rope you in, Knight, it will be all over before you know it." I take a sip of the tea then lowered it feeling the cool taste in my mouth. "Mortal and immortals alike assimilated. Part machine. Worlds. . . realms. . . buildings. Loss of life. Destruction. Families torn apart." I looked over to Knight. "And it won't happen to Asgard."

Knight was puzzled.

"Thor told me you lied." Knight said.

I sighed, lowering my head.

"Tell me he has not pleaded it was his fault." I said.

"Out of respect for you, he has not." Knight said.

I smiled.

"I knew I could count on him." I said.

"Loki, what is this mission you are on?" Knight said.

I lifted my head up with a smile toward Knight.

"To save Asgard," I said. "To save everyone."

"From what?" Knight asked.

"Knighty. . ." I said. "Trust me." I looked at her in the eye. "You do not want to know."

I put the tea cup on the table.

"But I do want to know!" Knight said. "I hate not knowing!"

I put one hand on the side of her cheek.

"If you love me then you won't dig any further," I said, as her hand took mine and I lowered my hand down from the side of her face. "You will understand what I am doing whether you like it or not." I had a sigh now squeezing her hand. "Things will be different between us in a year."

"But I don't want things to change for the worst between us." Knight said.

"Appearance wise, not. . . relationship wise," I lied, letting go of Knights hand. A lie and a truth. "You are a interesting person, Knight."

"Loki. . . What can possibly be different in a year about you?" Knight asked.

I looked up with a small smile.

"I am a Jotun," I said. "Son of Laufey. I am Loki Laufeyson." Knight's face went pale. "I have known about this since the day I approached you."

Then I saw pure bottled rage on her face as she stood up.

"YOU WERE A JOTUN ALL THIS TIME AND YOU RISKED BURNING ME AT EVERY TIME WE TOUCHED?" Knight asked, in pure utter rage as her face was twisted up. "WERE YOU INTENDING TO TELL THE OTHER PEOPLE YOU PUT AT RISK NOT ONLY ME? WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME? WAS IT WHEN I WAS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE YOU TOUCHED ME BY THE WAIST?" I would have been in the same mood if I learned someone I greatly cared about used to be the monster stories told to me as a child. "WERE YOU?"

I looked at her in the eye.

"No." I said.

"I can't talk to you now!" Knight said.

I watched Knight leave the apartment with her skin red as the petals of a rose.

I knew she would get pissed off.

I knew that would be a great while before she would get back to me.

SLAM went the door as it smacked against the frame.

I took another sip from my tea leaning back into the couch.

I was quite literately committing 'relationship suicide' by telling the deepest and darkest secret I had.