We stalked through Miami towards the city center, Loki now in his magic-conjured leather and metal armour, breeches and boots. We came across a few bands of Chitauri and dispatched them, though Loki had become visibly debilitated by the end of the third fight. "Loki?" I asked as he slumped against a wall, breathing heavily and pressing a fist against his abdomen as he gripped his daggers. I cupped his arm, watching him in concern.
"I'm okay, Ellie," he grumbled through gritted teeth. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, straightening and shaking off my hand. "I'm fine, let's go," he told me briskly. I watched him walk away until he realised I wasn't behind him and turned to face me.
"Ellie; come," he ordered coldly. I thinned my lips unhappily and he huffed in irritation, sheathing a dagger and holding his arm out to beckon me to him. I trotted up through the rubble and he gripped my arm roughly, making me wince.
"You're hurting me again," I complained. Loki growled, blue seeping into his skin before it faded again.
"Ellie, if I need your help, I'll ask for it." I snorted.
"No you won't. You nearly bled out before you would even ask me to go back to your cell on Asgard." Loki grunted, shoving me away from himself and turning away again.
"I think I know where Thor is," he commented coolly. I followed his eye line and saw an isolated patch of swirling thunderclouds.
"I daresay you do," I agreed. "Come on." I smacked Loki's arm lightly and took off towards the clouds. I heard Loki sigh gruffly before his footsteps started up behind me. Thor actually didn't end up being the first Avenger we came across. We had followed a group of Chitauri into an office building and chased a handful of them onto the roof. As we fought, another figure joined us, blasting the aliens away before turning his glowing blue stabiliser… things on Loki. I beamed up at the Iron Man suit happily while Loki sheathed his daggers, holding up his hands peaceably with a mildly irritated expression fixed on his face.
"Hi, Tony!" I greeted cheerfully. Tony landed on the roof, watching Loki warily before lowering his hands and raising his faceplate.
"Ellie, you okay?" Tony asked, putting his hands on my shoulders. I nodded easily.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What about you? Are you okay? What happen after we left?" I asked, glancing at Loki. Tony sighed tiredly, sending an unfriendly look to Loki before looking back at me.
"Well, Thor panicked and Odin wanted to track you down and probably kill you until Frigga said that she allowed you to take Loki herself. After that, we came back here and tried to find you, but you've got some serious tech at that Ides place."
"Yeah, it's all beyond me, so don't ask any questions," I told him. "But you missed something." Tony quirked a brow at me and I met his gaze pointedly. "Are you okay?" I repeated. Tony smiled.
"Yeah, Kid. I'm fine."
"Good. I missed you," I told him, putting my arms around his neck quickly before letting him go again. "Now, back to work," I announced with a firm nod. "Come on, Loki. Let's go," I said, tugging on the edge of his tunic as I trotted past him to the stairwell. Loki moved to follow me when Tony's voice stopped him.
"Hey!" Loki looked back at Tony who held a finger at him sternly as I watched from the top of the stairs. "You look after her. If you show up again without her; we'll kill you." Tony's faceplate slid shut again and he jumped from the roof, flying away.
Loki turned back to me and ushered me down the stairs, muttering, "As though he could make me protect you if I wasn't going to…"
"Are you going to?" I wondered, tilting my head back to look at Loki behind me. He looked down at me with a frown.
"Of course I'll protect you; you're my ally."
"Aren't I your friend?" I asked, looking around a corner cautiously as Loki watched our backs. I pulled him into a clear side street that we stalked down, alert for any Chitauri.
"Are you?" Loki asked quietly. I looked at his curious, hesitantly hopeful expression and smiled.
"Yes," I confirmed simply. Loki smiled slightly, looking away again.
"I haven't got any children," he announced suddenly.
"What?!" I squeaked, staring at him in shock. I tripped over a chunk of rubble and landed on my arms, saving my face from impact. Loki took hold of my waist and picked me up, setting me on my feet again.
"Are you injured?" he asked calmly. I shook my head rapidly, closing my eyes.
"No, I'm fine. What?!" I squeaked again, looking up at Loki. He shrugged.
"I don't have any children. I'm not married to Sigyn, I'm not Odin's blood-brother, and I'm not chained to a boulder with a snake dripping poison on me. Your Norse Myths are just that; myth."
"But… but in the cell… with the book; you said! You told me about Sleipnir and Angrboda, and… You said they were yours. You lied!"
"Well, we weren't friends then, Ellie," Loki pointed out softly. "I wasn't about to tell you everything." Loki touched my jaw with his fingertips cautiously. "I never mothered Sleipnir; I found him some time after I'd tired out the stallion… which I didn't do the way everyone thinks. I can't change my shape; people believe that I can, and I let them, but it isn't true. I am only able to alter my appearance. And as for fathering Angrboda's ugly brood," Loki continued, curling his lip in disgust. "I would never have had a relationship with a Frost Giant! But once again it was assumed that such mischief must come from me, and I allowed them to think so… I don't have any children, Ellie."
"Why are you telling me this now?" I asked, staring into his vividly green eyes, confused.
"Because… Ellie Carter, you are the one person I don't want to lie to. I don't care what people think of me; let them hate me if they will, I feel the same… But I let you believe that the monsters were mine… I fought you… hurt you… pushed you away so many times, and you just keep coming back. You keep trying to understand me, help me, feel for me…" Loki smirked down at me with a mixture of affection and amusement, wiping a smudge of Chitauri blood off my cheek. "That sort of determination deserves a reward, my dear. So, now you know. And now I really haven't lied to you, Carter. So you definitely may not call me the Trickster anymore," Loki told me warningly. I nodded.
"Okay; I… probably won't. We'll see what happens." Loki sighed, running his hand over his hair.
"I suppose I shall have to be content with that… for now."
"So… no Angrboda and no Svadilfari, but… there have been others, haven't there?" I asked, since we were already having a personal chat. Loki shook his head.
"No. There haven't. I'm not liked on Asgard, remember? And I was hardly noticed, always being compared to Thor… Nobody wanted me, and I wanted nobody," he stated gruffly. "Why would I waste my time on those who never even tried to understand me?"
I smiled at Loki warmly, taking his hand and squeezing it. "I'm glad I tried," I told him softly. Loki's lips twitched and he inclined his head.
"So am I." I grinned again, releasing his hand and turning my back on him.
"Come on, Princeling. We've got work to do." Loki chuckled coolly, following me as I walked away.
"Yes, Miss Carter," he purred, unsheathing his daggers again.