So... *coughs* been a while. hold the phone I've forgotten something...
Welcome back avid readers!
once again thankyou so much for reviewing alerting the big shabang! if you're new. hello. if you're a regular(here's a discount)
So you'll be glad to know that I am on holidays! Starting tomorrow. chapter updates will be quicker. Apologies for the lateness of this chapter, I had to finish three assignments due in about 6 hours... considering i haven't slept in 20 hours... i think I'm doing alright.
So if you see a mistake my bad. I'll be fixing it up soon.
(づ￣ ³￣)づ. - that love is for you guys!
Loki stood against the panel of windows, distancing himself from the others as they brought Steve up to date with what had happened. In the corner of his eye, Loki had watched the mortals glance briefly at him multiple times, but no one said a word as they quickly resumed conversation. Keeping his arms crossed Loki sullenly glanced out at the city lights. There had been no sign of Thor. No sign he even knew. Loki wondered if Heimdall had even told the royal family… but as the hours drew by he knew someone would have come by now. Quietly looking down, he tried opening his right palm a few times… trying to reach into his tendrils of magic. It was faint, but still gathering itself.
He sighed. Everything took time.
Time he did not want to experience.
Loki frowned as he turned his whole body to face out the windows. He thought of Thor, with such a strong and unfamiliar sense of longing… and it hurt. It was a strange emotion to feel.
"Distracted?"
Loki snapped around to Steve, who had snuck up behind him without his knowledge. Steve visibly flinched away at the intense red gaze of his eyes. Loki looked away disgusted, but Steve continued to stare. His eyes traced the odd patterns around the god's skin. Steve wondered if it meant something, but didn't want to bring it up. Steve continued to speak.
"I understand how you feel," he offered.
Tony and Bruce had kept their distance, not wanting to intrude. Loki huffed.
"You know nothing," Loki said bitterly.
Steve smiled to himself and turned to face the others. Even as both men faced different directions, they were still able to talk to each other.
"Probably not, but I would trade your two years to my seventy any day."
Loki turned his head to Steve and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You didn't change into a different species," Loki added with venom.
Steve contemplated this for a moment and smiled softly again.
"I changed into a different era," he added simply.
Loki let out an audible sound through his nose as he turned away to the windows.
"Your change wasn't negative," Steve heard Loki whisper. "People continued to worship you as a hero. If I am ever to return to Asgard, I will be despised as a monster. A monster so vile that even skin contact will cause revulsion." Loki turned around to Steve and leant in close.
"So tell me, Captain, how do you understand what I feel?"
"I know what it's like to feel misplaced."
Loki stared straight into the Captain's eyes, and he returned the gaze without hesitation. The god tilted his head as he determined the mortal's words to be that of truth.
"What happened to Thor?" Loki asked, changing the subject drastically.
"Didn't Tony or Bruce tell you?"
"I will hear it from you also," Loki commanded.
Steve gently used his thumb to wipe the tip of his nose, a small tick he had when confronted with awkward situations. Steve took a while to think back, to remember the details of that day.
"Afterwards, he just… stayed where you, you know..."
Loki frowned.
"I remember he didn't talk much afterwards, stayed away from people before he returned to Asgard. He was…" Steve tried to think of the correct word.
"Detached."
Loki tapped his fingers thinking for a while.
"And have you mortals encountered many Midgardian endeavors since then?"
"One or two large scale fights, yes… We tried to call him, you know," Steve said. "I don't think anyone was on the receiving end, though."
This caused Loki to truly worry, something he never let show on his face. Thor would never have abandoned his duty as protector. It just didn't make sense.
"Well, not that I don't enjoy eavesdropping , because I do, but I'm beat, guys. Iron Man is hanging up shop for tonight," Tony said dismissively.
Everyone nodded collectively. No one had realized the hours that flew by while they had been in deep conversation.
"I suppose I should head off," Steve said.
"Dude, seriously, I have like over a hundred rooms… pick one. Except you, frosty," Tony pointed.
Loki bared his teeth at the jibe.
"You need to make sure you keep your temperature in check, you gotta go back into the cooler," Tony said.
"You will not command me."
Tony deadpanned Loki, tired of his whole ego.
"All you had to say was okay, but it's pretty late or early when you think about it."
"I don't sleep at night, you fool."
"Oh yeah, forgot the whole nocturnal thing." Tony began to walk Bruce out and stopped. "Well whatever you do, make sure you at least go back in tonight okay?" Tony mumbled as he threw his arms up, leaving defeated.
This caused Loki to smirk if only for a brief moment, until he realized the Captain was still in his presence. Steve smiled softly too and looked to the ground.
"I can stay if you wa-"
"That won't be necessary," Loki replied immediately, cutting off Steve.
Loki felt something akin to guilt but dismissed it. He had managed a week of solidarity just fine in this form and over millennia in his other. One night would not change the countless he had endured.
"Are you sure?"
Loki turned towards the captain.
"Your concern is admirable captain, but unnecessary. A few hours by myself hardly warrants an excuse for you to miss regaining your strength, it's rather a foolish notion."
Steve said nothing as he awkwardly left, leaving Loki by himself. As the mortal left the floor the lights immediately turned off, allowing Loki to properly see. No doubt Stark's idea, Loki thought. The moonlight seeped through the large panel windows and bathed Loki in the silver light. Loki closed his eyes for a moment, suddenly feeling comfortable. Letting his feet guide him he maneuvered around the floors in darkness. Loki had deduced Stark trusted him enough not to leave the tower. The god smiled to himself, giving credit where it was due. He would never dare to venture into the domain of seeing eyes.
Not like this.
Loki wandered down one of the dark hallways and stopped as he reached a mirror. It was quite large for a simple item, allowing most of his body to be seen, with a small table and decoration below it. He let his hands fall beside him, as he looked at himself.
He had never truly seen what he looked like. All he had seen was the shapes on his hands and the changes he had experienced firsthand. He continued to stare at the creature before him.
And it continued to stare back.
It disgusted him. The creature before him was no better than the ones he tried to destroy. Loki grit his teeth and reached inside for his magic. The small amount that had been replenished was sluggish as it wove around his fingers and up his arms, covering his face. Loki furrowed his brows as he concentrated and willed his magic to go deeper. He did not hesitate when he saw his face change color. The red of his eyes shrunk back slowly into his irises as the familiar green washed over. Loki's breathing labored as he willed further and slowly the markings on his face disappeared.
But something went wrong.
Something inside him snapped and the Loki he had been in the reflection disappeared.
The monster stared back at him.
His emotion turned from hope into a sudden blinding rage as he curled his hand into a fist and smashed it into the glass. The mirror shattered into a hundred pieces, each reflecting a different angle of his curse. Dislodging his fist from he put both hands against the wall to brace himself, ignoring the thin sheet of ice that began to spread over the paint.
Damn Odin, he cursed.
After a few long moments of composing himself he had made his way into the library that he once enjoyed and skimmed over the many titles. The memory was hard to recover and still distant, but he recognized some familiar books and others he realized to be new. With a small curiosity that would feed his endless boredom he pulled his sleeves down over his hands and used it as a barrier to hold the book. He had no care for destroying Starks possessions, but knowledge was something he considered sacred. Loki would try his best to keep it from being ruined by ice. Finding a place suitable for himself he started into what would be a very boring wait for the sun to rise.
Pepper thanked her driver with a tip and pulled her small suitcase towards the entrance of Stark Tower. It was still dark outside as she swiped her card, about another hour before sunrise, but Pepper wasn't tired. The private jet had only managed to be ready that night and the long flight from California meant she was able to have a few hours sleep. Making her way to her room she deposited her suitcase and refreshed herself. There was no point in telling Tony she arrived as she guessed he was either informed by JARVIS in the lab or asleep.
She would take the morning off before returning to the New York sector of Stark Industries. Slipping into something more comfortable Pepper neatened her hair into a tidy ponytail and went to the kitchen. Noticing a wallet on the counter she recognized to be Steve's she quietly went by her morning routine and ate in silence… relaxing in the peaceful atmosphere.
Tony must have pulled Steve into something, she smiled to herself as she took another spoonful of her food. Looking out into the view she could see the sun begin to rise from the horizon. It would take a while for actual sunlight to reach her floor's windows but she enjoyed it nonetheless. Placing her empty plate away Pepper finally brought out her phone, walking along the corridors while keeping her gaze glued to the screen. She knew the tower so well; she was able to navigate in her peripheral vision while multitasking. Going up a floor, she exited the elevator and made her way to one of the studies.
Something crunched against her shoe and Pepper looked down.
Tiny pieces of glass lay strewn across an area of the floor and Pepper frowned.
"JARVIS, did Tony hurt himself? Is he okay?"She asked.
-Mr. Stark appears to be asleep and unscathed, Miss Potts. Shall I alert him of your arrival?-
Pepper checked the time on her phone. It was early, but this would be payback for not telling her he went to New York until later.
"Yes, thank you, and keep the alarm going, override his codes."
-Authority clearance is required.-
"Six, four, zero, Pepper Potts is hot." Pepper said scrunching her nose up. Tony had created his little code in case Pepper needed to take control of JARVIS. Unfortunately, she had trusted Tony enough to think he would have created a sensible password.
Guess not.
-Confirmed.-
Pepper held back a smile as she noticed some of the shards led away from the initial spill, As if pieces had still clung to whatever had been moving along the hall.
"JARVIS, who did this?" She asked, following the trail.
-Mr. Odinson. He currently resides in the library.-
Pepper's eyes brightened for a moment as she picked up her pace quickly, she hadn't heard that name in years. Thor's back, she thought happily. It had been so long since he had visited, not since…
Pepper shook the thought away as she rounded the corner to the door. She was about to put her hand on the handle but recoiled. Holding her hand up a fraction away from the door, she could feel coldness seeping out. Strange… she thought. Pushing open the door slowly, Pepper peered her head around.
"Thor?" She asked, opening the door fully.
The room felt like it was in winter compared to the entire floor. Walking in slowly looking around she didn't see the thunder god sitting in the chairs, nor anything on the second level of the library. Stepping forward, she suddenly felt herself slipping. Pepper immediately steadied herself and looked at the ground. Most of the stone flooring was covered in a small sheet of ice. Pepper frowned.
"Thor?" She asked again, hearing a shuffling nearby. The lights had been dimmed substantially and the only light provided was that seeping through the open door.
"JARVIS, turn the lights on."
"Please don't," a voice sounded from the darkness.
Pepper looked towards where she thought she heard the voice and moved forward, being careful not to slip. Very briefly she was able to make out a figure.
"You don't sound like Thor," she said. "Are you Asgardian?" She asked. But JARVIS said it was Odinson… she thought, puzzled
She heard a chuckle.
"Not anymore I'm afraid." She saw the figure take a step towards the light. "You have fared well I see, lady Pepper."
Pepper was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
Slowly, the figure stepped into the light and made its way toward her.
Pepper gasped, dropping her cellphone.
The strange blue creature in front of her quickly moved forward and picked up her cellphone, offering it to her. Pepper without thought tried to snatch it away but her fingers brushed up against its own. Pepper cried out in pain as she reeled back her hand to her chest. Her fingers felt on fire and she looked down to see they had turned almost black to where it was touched.
"F-forgive me, Pepper, I did not think."
"Who are you!" She cried, stepping away and felt herself slipping backwards from the ice.
The blue creature reached its arms out on instinct and caught her. Pepper broke out into a scream as the pain seared through more intense than before. The creature immediately let go and Pepper fell backwards.
-Miss Potts, Mr. Stark is informed of your distress.-
The creature made a move towards Pepper but she shrieked.
"Get away!" She tried pushing herself away with one arm. The ice floor had made it difficult.
The creature stopped.
"Pep?"
Pepper heard Tony's voice down the hall.
"Tony!" She yelled.
Pepper heard Tony's running footsteps before his shadow was cast over her from the door.
Tony gave one look at her arm, as he knelt down before her while death-glaring the creature.
"What the hell is this, you attacked her?" He shouted.
"I startled her, I did not mean-"
"No shit you did. I told you to go back into the cooler, Loki."
Pepper looked confused among her tears that ran freely down her face. The pain was too intense for her not to lose her composure.
"What?" She asked through gasping sobs. Tony helped her up as Steve ran into the library too.
Taking a glance at the situation he frowned while Tony looked at the captain.
"Get him into the cooler," he said with anger, as he led Pepper out, "And make sure he stays."
Steve turned back to Loki who had stood there.
"Best to let things cool down for a while."
Loki's eyes snapped to Steve with an emotion so intense, Steve had to avert his gaze as he mentally kicked himself. Cool down? Real smart there… he chided himself. Steve made a motion to Loki but the god stood there for a moment, glancing around at his mess. Eventually he lowered his head and walked past Steve in silence.
Steve escorted Loki back down to the basement cooler and opened the door for him with an apologetic face.
"It's just for now, until we get her up to speed," he reassured the god.
Loki said nothing as he pulled the door shut without looking at Steve. Steve stepped back quickly and removed his hands from the handle. A thick layer of ice crept out from the seams of the door, sealing it shut. Steve sighed; Loki had purposefully frozen himself inside.
As Loki heard the footsteps of the captain fade into silence he slid down against one of the walls and remained still.
Trapped in his own self hate.
Pepper had come in so quickly, he had tried to announce himself discreetly. Like all things, he had made a mess of it, burning the mortal without thinking things through.
Such was the fate of a monster.
An alert lets you buy Pepper some non confusing Aloe Vera cream A review lets you show Loki the positives of his Jotunn form ie. making ice cream!
-Brought to you by the Broadcasting Service of Mimbilla-