Chapter 18

Hey peeps, it has been a long time coming. So much has happened and changed in my life in the last handful of months. So much is happening with the world right now. I would like to thank housesbabe1 for making this a possibility and being such an awesome friend.

Please enjoy and review.

Leaning on the doorway to Sofiya's bedroom Loki crossed his arms as he watched her sleep. Her head was turned from him, snuggled up into a feathered pillow. It mattered not, he had the contours of her features engraved in his conscious. Loki tried to convince himself that he was not envious of the large bunny that was currently curled up against Sofiya's back. Though he fully embraced his denial as he felt a pang of jealousy towards the inanimate pillow that cushioned her.

The second Loki had gotten a chance to scan Einar's mind, he realized just how old the being was, just how much of a benefit the bunny could be to Sofiya if it stayed by her side. Loki had come across the beings story only a handful of times over the last couple of centuries. The cursed love child of both a fallen watcher and a celestial. The mother's name had been scratched out of history, Loki had only ever known her as The Unforgiven, as the watchers had named her after her grievance. Even less was known about the father.

Once other celestials became aware of The Unforgiven's pregnancy they did what they did best - they manipulated the fetus, to the devastated mother's dismay. At the time the celestials had been messing around with genetically creating humanoid-like races, the three related races being the skrull, the eternals, and the deviants. Einar had been the unfortunate experiment of mixing all three being's genes together.

Einar's intelligence was that of the skrulls. Though his shapeshifting genes mutated with the other two beings' genes to react in such a way that left him able to shapeshift but only into non-humanoid forms. His thoughts guided by the drive of the eternals to protect humans.

Out of all the documents Loki had read he had only picked up the smallest of references to what could possibly be infinity stones, or not. If the clues in the ancient writings did indeed reference the infinity stones, then there was a very high chance that the original eternals had been created by the stones. But more importantly, there was a chance that Einar's genes had been manipulated with the help of the infinity stones.

The implications of this, Loki knew not. But he was positive that Einar had manipulated his way into Sofiya's arms, but from some type of instinct or by call of the stones he knew not. Even though Loki knew that Einar had the motivational drive to defend humans, that did little to ease the weight in his chest. Then again, if Loki himself stayed to protect her, more harm than good would be brought about.

Hours ago he had already said goodbye to her and teleported away, but he had stayed on Earth. In fact, for a time he had even been in the tower. The rude awakening of Proxima being close enough on his tail to draw blood made him reassess things. Stark may have his personal issues but his security was the best in the world. This was the safest place in the world for Sofiya to be.

That did not change the fact that Earth was still ages behind the rest of the worlds in terms of technological advancement. Thus, Loki had broken into Stark's lab and hacked his computer system, making a few changes to the content of select documents. Now it was up to Stark to see the connections and make the necessary advancements.

Cocking his head to the side in thought as he rested his eyes on her sleeping form, Loki fully gave in for a moment and let the comfort of her presence engulf him. The things he had done for this human, he was an idiot. How had he gotten so attached to her? So much so that she grounded him, gave him a slice of calm in the chaos he lived, the chaos he created.

The events of today had reminded him just how weak she was. Though he had noticed over his past few visits that she was becoming more … durable. He was aware that she was practicing combat with those around the tower and she had mentioned how they were going harder on her, but yet he had noticed she was not bruising as much.

Not only that, but the results of the now instinctual health scans he did immediately each time he arrived back on Earth were evolving. Sofiya was becoming stronger on the cellular level. Loki had his guesses as to why this was happening but he was still unsure. Instincts honed from years of battle and being on the run flickered. A feeling rose up from the depths of his spine and Loki threw his head over his shoulder to see Herc coming out of the spare room a moment later.

"I am surprised you are able to keep yourself from waking her," Herc whispered as he approached the frost giant in disguise.

"If I wake her, I shall not leave." Hearing his voice aloud, Loki could not deny the longing in it.

"Yes, I know." Loki rolled his eyes at the omniscient being's words.

"May I ask why you have come to pester me?" Even though his words dripped with the manners that had been ingrained into him, he was not asking.

"You are of two royal lines, one through blood and one through magic," Herc said with a gentle smile. Loki narrowed his eyes, turning to focus on the form of the woman just a mere several steps away.

"You have seen?" Again his voice suggested he was asking when he was all but, "You knew I was planning on marking her tonight to offer her more protection. Are you suggesting I mark her the Asgardian way as well as the Jotunheim way?" Loki, of course, knew how to do both, some of his time on the run he had spent learning every little detail he could about his birth race.

Loki weighed his options. As far as he knew Loki was the only one to hold markings from both races. Thus he could not be sure that a human would not respond negatively to holding both marks. But Herc was the one that was suggesting the idea, which meant it was important to staying on the current path.

Loki looked up to the sound of Herc walking away, his eyes not wasting a second and going back to Sofiya. The marks from his birth race were far more complicated than the ones of sorcery. He had studied in detail each possible mark he could use on Sofiya. There was only one mark that he was drawn to though, a life bonding mark. It was not as if they were not already bonded on other plans, he was not doing anything more intrusive than what had already been done.

This was the strongest of bonds outside of mating bonds, he would never take her choice of life partner away. There was a twisting nausea in his stomach, not entirely unpleasant. The hesitance of using a mating bond had come from his consideration of her own wants and desires. Loki sighed, his eyes once again traveling the length of her form, not in a sexual manner, but in an adoring way.

There had been no hesitance from him. No hesitance held on using the sacred mating mark on himself, the mark that could only be engraved once in one's lifetime. That complicated things ever so much more. He would truly do anything to keep her safe, never had he felt that way before. Loki sighed again. Growing so close to this woman had changed him.

Sofiya murmured something unintelligible and turned on her back. His eyes never boring as he gazed upon her. There was a pulling in his chest, his foot twitching as he stopped the movement to walk forward. He wanted so badly to go to her and lay his body next to hers. The desire was so strong he had to close his eyes to gain control of his actions before it was too late.

The worst part was he knew that she would be surprised but would likely nod and curl to her side so he could snuggle up behind her. She questioned his intentions but never doubted them, she saw him as an equal and did not look down upon him for that. Her comfort was freely given. She was the only person who could reach out for him and he had no adverse reaction to. At first he had, but once everything with Thanos had dissipated and he was no longer in full-time warrior mode he no longer flinched at her touch. Loki stopped himself from going to the void in his mind, the memories of his captivity not welcomed in the presence of this human.

He imagined the warmth of her pressed against him, he could easily fall asleep with Sofiya nestled in his arms. Only in his mother's presence had he ever been able to fall into a true slumber. He had trusted no one else on that level before, trusted them enough to let his guard down like that.

Evermore the reason he had to do whatever was in his power to do to keep her safe. It struck him that even though he trusted no other in the way that he trusted Sofiya, he did not want to keep her safe for the selfish reason of having someone there with him, someone to confide in. Loki would protect her with his last breath without even a second thought.

Shaking his head, Loki focused his thoughts on the task at hand before he completely lost his mind. The second marking would publicly tie her to himself, it was his royal marking with a few alterations.

For once Loki did not want to overthink the consequences of what he was about to do. Both markings could be done without her knowing but he would know, he would always be attached to her. Was it only months ago that he was wrecking his brain for ways to sever the connection between them, and now he was trying to make it stronger?

The likelihood of her being pissed at him when she found out about what he was about to do to her was very high. If it saved her life, it would be oh so worth it. With that in mind, Loki cast a simple sleeping spell to ensure her slumber as he crossed the threshold into the room.

June 6th, 2012

Dear Miss Marshal,

Loki stopped by and visited yesterday. He fell through a portal in my ceiling and smashed my coffee table to splinters as he landed on it. He was all bloody and cut up, I hate seeing him in that condition, I hate how it makes me feel.

There was blood all over him, and once his chest was bare for me to see, there were so many gashes and cuts. He never ended up telling me how he got into that condition. Neither did he tell me why he brought a guest with him. The stranger Loki brought by, named Herc, is now for some unknown reason staying with me in my spare bedroom. Loki just left him here! This would not bother me so much if Herc did not act so 'all knowing.' He doesn't even ask for things, he just assumes he will get them.

For example, after he returned from doing god knows what after he left my apartment, he announced he was staying in my spare bedroom. And you know what Loki did, he fucking shrugged and continued eating the dinner I cooked for him! I wanted to hit him across the head, but didn't. Apparently, Herc can see the future and the past so it's no use arguing with him when he knows he will just get his way in the end.

I talked to Herc this morning and his sentences were less riddlesome than the first time I talked to him. Still, he answered most my questions with another question, so for today, I gave up with my interrogation. Not to say that I gave up getting answers, no, I just plan on asking him everyday until he eventually gives in and gives me the information I want.

Having Loki here, even for the short time he was here was such a weight off my shoulders. I worry about him a lot while he's away. Sometimes my nightmares revolve around Loki getting caught by Thanos again. I feel so useless in the grand scheme of things, I have these abilities and can't even use them to their full potential, not to mention just how physically weak and vulnerable I am as a human.

I was thinking about that today, my humanity that is. I know I heal faster than the average human but I don't know if that is due to my magic core or if my physiology got altered as well. I know I can ask Bruce about it and he could run some tests but I don't know if I want to know the answers.

Constantly,

Curious

June 10th 2012,

Dear Miss Marshal,

Once again I thought about going to Bruce to do some test, but I know that they would only bring about more questions. And if I am really honest, I don't want to open myself up to be that vulnerable with him.

Tony approached me, he wants to make me a suit. Steve said Tony has tried to make everyone a suit. When I declined saying it would be useless since I was not doing the type of fighting they were, Tony asked if I wanted to join them on missions. I had no idea what to say to that. I'm not an Avenger and … well I don't know what the future has to hold. I don't have plans of being one but what else can I do? It's not like I can be in society again, at least until I get control of my abilities.

Speaking of that, Herc will start training me tomorrow! I've been so excited and eagerly waiting since he agreed the other day. Ever since my first lesson with Loki I've been meditating more and more. I haven't been able to enter any of the other planes on my own yet, I don't think at least. I'm still having accidents though. The last one was pretty interesting and different. I had been in the shower and was just thinking about random stuff, I briefly thought about turning the hot water up and then bam! The wall exploded. Somehow without even meaning to I had turned all the water in the pipes leading to my shower into steam and caused them to explode.

I miss Loki, I worry about him constantly.

Constantly,

Yet again worried

Currently, Loki found himself hiding out in a wet cave on a planet he did not even know the name of. Proxima was only one step behind him, too close for comfort. Every few days, even hours on some occasions and he would change locations. It was tiring but necessary. If Loki was captured, too much was at stake this time around.

His jaw was so tight, it started to ache. Making a conscious effort to relax it, he rubbed the muscles. He knew his actions would be useless, within hours his jaw would build up the same amount of painful tension.

Loki was worried. He knew it had been stupid, but it was also the smartest option he had available. He needed to keep the Tesseract close enough that he could get to it in an instant if needed. That meant that stashing it every time he moved would be too much of a risk if he got cornered and could not get to it. One day, when he had been thinking about Sofiya and almost reached out to her, he had found a link to her on a different plane - the spatial plane.

Loki had his own space in a personal dimension through space, just the same as all other sorcerers. There had not been time to show Sofiya how to access her own personal pocket dimensions to keep her most precious possessions, or a few extra weapons like he himself had stored away. But that appeared to not have mattered, Loki had access to hers and after some experimentation with unimportant objects, he had put the Tesseract in Sofiya's personal dimension.

Maybe Herc had trained her by now to reach into other dimensions so her own? Loki made a mental note to disguise the Tesseract in its hiding place.

His actions had been against his own will. Knowing it was the safest place to keep it and keeping it there were two conflicting thoughts in his mind. On one hand, keeping it with Sofiya meant that no matter the ways in which he was tortured again, the ways he was violated he would not be able to give up the weapon. On the other hand, it meant painting a target on her back if someone discovered what she held possession of.

Loki had long ago made the decision that if he got caught, he would put everything he had into constructing a permanent, and as impenetrable as he was able to make, shield around Sofiya in every way possible.

That would leave him open on all planes, Thanos's arrogance at being so powerful would blind him to searching out for Sofiya through Loki, that was as long as Thanos was kept in the dark about Loki's connection to the human. To accomplish this would mean that Loki would have to rid his mind of all memories revolving around Sofiya. He had a plan for that, one that he hoped to Valhalla he did not have to use.

For days he had contemplated what his actions would be if he was caught again, all of them included Sofiya. At first he had passed it off as including her in his plans because of the connection and the information she knew, but he was not so sure that was the reason anymore.

Loki knew he had protective tendencies when it came to the human. That much had been clear in how he had reacted without thought to Thor being a threat to her. He had not even thought through his actions, something that he always did, no he had just jumped in between her and the threat. Loki knew his actions should worry him, but they did not. Instead, they had brought him some type of warmth, he cared about her safety over his own.

That was the one thing about this whole situation that did bother him, worrying over someone else's safety over his own. He could not have the temptation to make decisions based on the safety of someone else, not when he needed to make decisions based on the big picture. And the big picture involved keeping the infinity stones away from the Titan.

Even though Loki did not know the full reason as to why Thanos wanted them, there was no way anything good could come out of him having the six stones in his possession. It was for this reason that he had gone against his own will and decided to keep the Tesseract with Sofiya. It was also for this reason that he knew he would wipe his every memory irreversibly if he was captured again.

His thoughts wandered back to just how easily Loki had pulled her into the telepathic network with Herc. As he had thought more about that moment he knew how much of a rude awakening it really was. Loki was taking liberties with Sofiya that he had no right taking but felt so natural as if he already had those privileges.

Or was it possible that he wanted to show her what was possible, and had given her privileges he allowed no one else in order to entice her to return the same privileges? Loki could deny the acceptance of what Sofiya had come to mean to him, but he could not deny the actions he would take to protect her.

Loki brought up the image he had ingrained in his head of Sofiya standing at the counter chopping vegetables. He knew that he should not even be allowing himself to further amuse the thoughts he was having about her. To be honest he was not even sure of what he wanted from her at this point. She was human, off-limits to him but that did not stop him from craving her more and more as the days went by.

The only experience Loki had with craving a woman in the past had been purely physical, but not with Sofiya … when it came to his darling human his cravings were simple. He would gladly take sitting in silence with her for eternity even if it meant he could not lay a finger on her. Sofiya's presence affected him in a way like no one else he had ever come across did.

The fact that Sofiya was forward about her physical attraction to him brought about feelings deep in the pit of his stomach. There was a temptation there, a temptation to take her invitation. Besides the fact that she was a human, there was the fact that he was a hunted man. If anyone found out how much she meant to him, Sofiya would become hunted as well.

September 11th 2012,

Dear Miss Marshal,

Loki visited again last night, this time it was only for an hour. The time he spends on Earth is less and less. His visits are spaced out more and even though he expressed to me that he wants to visit more, he can't … I still want to tell him that I want his attention more than he is giving it to me. But that would be oh so selfish. I know that he is running from danger, and trying to keep me safe at the same time.

Loki has come to mean so much to me, I would venture to call him my best friend, in the same way that Natasha is my best friend. When he visits he always wants to hear how I have been, and he won't take just a sentence or two, no he wants me to delve into every little detail, he genuinely cares.

Most times he tells me the things he has been up to as well, but I can tell he is leaving things out for my safety. Knowing some of the things he knows, things he has done, might not be good if I end up getting caught. We have talked about that too, if I get caught… it is not something I like to think about, but it is something I must think about.

If I get caught, Loki told me the honest truth - that he might not be able to save me. Thus if I get caught … given the opportunity, I should take my own life. At first, I was furious, I'm not someone to just give up so easily but then I remembered all the instances that Loki's torture has shown through and affected his day to day life. He has been through so much, and I don't know if I am strong enough to go through something like that. If the time ever comes . . . I don't know what I will end up doing, I don't want to know.

Constantly,

Contemplative

Loki sat watching her from his position on the sofa. His hand wrapped around an icy whiskey. Sofiya had served him the drink the moment after she got a good look at him. He had only been on Earth for about twenty minutes and he was already at home.

It did not matter that he had been having a rough couple of days, nightmares plaguing his closed lids. He would wake with aching bones and scattered thoughts, feeling grungy the rest of the day. That is how he had awoken this morning. He was feeling so despondent after his mind's night escapades that he had been finding it hard to even anticipate seeing Sofiya.

Only hours ago he would have said that he was having one of the worst days since his freedom, but now in the presence of Sofiya, his day grew brighter. It was still not a good day, but now it was bearable at least. Loki was at a low, finding it hard to find the motivation to stay running, stay free. There were times that he thought, if he just gave up they might injure him mortally. But he could not let himself get caught. His reason being right in front of him, heels off the ground as she stretched to retrieve an item from the cabinet above the sink.

Loki's eyes lazily scanned the skin bared to him. From her small miss matching sock-clad feet to her flexed calves, the shadow of muscle contouring her legs. The delicate indentation running down the side of her thigh further evidence of the soft tone of her legs.

The fingers around the glass in his grasp tightened, he was almost too late in realization of this act, the glass almost breaking under his tight hold before he set it down on the table in front of him. Even as he leaned forward to place the cup, his eyes never left her form. Sofiya put more effort into her reach and Loki was graced with a glorious view.

Her blue and white striped sleep shorts had ridden up past the tops of her thighs to bare the curve of her ass to him. It was just a sliver, a teasing image but that was enough. The tight weighted knots that had been growing in the pit of his stomach traveled lower to his loins and Loki gave a slight jerk.

He should look away, or reach out with an invisible hand and nudge her shorts lower. No, the latter might lead to him doing something that he knew she would not find welcome. Muscles tensed in preparation to swing his head a different direction but there was no follow-through, he could not turn his head from her direction.

He watched for another second, the feeling was addicting. Watching her unknowingly teasing visual distraction hit him on more than on one level. Thoughts of exhaustion, despondency and forlornness nowhere to be found in the forefront of his mind. Hormones clearing his thoughts, making sure only one thing was at the center of his thoughts.

And yet it was more than a response to the imagery hitting his pupils from reality. Many times in his travels had he seen the bodies of near-flawless female specimens, sometimes less clothed than not, and never had he gotten this response. Sex wasn't on his mind, but his body was preparing for the act.

Loki had not thought much about the concept of such physical intimacy since his capture. His time as a prisoner had changed his mentality around letting someone else so close to him. He had been beaten multiple times within an inch of death, his wants and desires broken down. Something had changed and he knew not what or precisely when.

Now as he gazed upon the delectable form of the woman in front of him he realized what had changed. His sexual adventures before captivity had not been all that meaningful and were more for the thrill of pleasure. Simple pleasures were difficult for him to indulge in after captivity. His eyes jaded, dark thoughts more than shadows in his mind, but scars upon his skin.

Loki had spent the majority of his free time searching for himself, but he would never be able to return to the frame of mind he had once held. The things he had been through leaving a branded imprint. As his eyes greedily took up the human woman it occurred to him maybe that was not such a bad thing.

His new eyes looked at things not just in a different light but under a different sun. It had not been lost on him that he had become more guarded. His actions even more strategically taken than ever before, behavior executed only when the target was of worthiness.

But Sofiya was more than worthy herself, she was a reason for him to work towards being worthy. A nagging presence in the back of his mind told him he would never be worthy of her friendship but he combated it with the fact that he had already gained her trust and hand in friendship. Against the odds and all the reasons she should not have, she had.

A wall threatened to come up between Loki and Sofiya but he stopped it, he could not let his guard fully down but he could give her more than he had. She deserved it, she deserved the best of him.

Loki found himself standing behind Sofiya, reaching up to get the item she was struggling to attain. Yes, he could have used magic to get it and not even have had to get up, but he wanted to help her with his own hands. A more personal action, something he did for few.

As he passed the item to Sofiya she turned and graced him with a smile, but then it broke. The item in her hand soon forgotten on the counter behind her as she turned her body to face him.

"Loki, what happened?" Her words breezed across his face.

"Hum?" he asked following the direction of her gaze he realized what she was referring to the moment before her hand came to rest on the collar of his shirt.

His hand flew up and grasped her wrist to keep her from pulling his shirt aside and seeing the new scar from his most recent run-in with trouble.

"Loki, I know you can only been scared by weapons with magic, how bad did you get hurt?"

"It is nothing," she tried to shake off his hand but he did not want her to see how bad it was. He should have been paying attention to her other hand, which pulled up the bottom of his shirt all the way up to his neck. Sofiya gasp and something inside him tried to cower away from her.

"I fell into a trap, but I got out before they came to retrieve me," he said casually with a shrug.

Loki was not prepared for her hands on his chest.

"I worry about you so much," her voice was almost too quiet for him to hear, her eyes stayed down focused on the new scars lining his chest.

"I worry about you as well," Loki answered before he could stop himself. Her hand suddenly stopped moving and she looked up at him, once their eyes met she flattered her hand and spread her fingers, soaking in the heat of him.

No words were said, mentally or physically but much was still passed between them. Her hand dropped from holding up his shirt, but her other hand stayed on his chest under his shirt. The hand that had just dropped his shirt dropped to rest above his sweats at his hips.

Sofiya had come to him with her guard down, telling him a piece of information that put her in a vulnerable place, and Loki had answered her with just as much vulnerability. Loki found himself easily falling into a vulnerable position alone with Sofiya. He almost craved it, relaxing into her, intentions instinctual and not strategic for once. The thumb on his chest drew small circles and a fire lit inside him.

There was nothing sexual about it, even though he had just experienced a rush of blood to his loins from seeing her shorts ride up. But now, face to face with her, his guard down the fire changed flavors. There was passion but it was more than lust, he just wanted to get closer to her. Closer to the only being who he wanted to understand him, see him for more than a fallen prince, a victim of the cruelest torments.

Loki's hands fell to her hips and molded to the shape of her curves pausing for a moment to take in the feel of her under his hands. He lifted her up onto the counter at her back and stepped into her, now meeting her eyes without having to bend his neck as much to meet her gaze due to the close proximity.

He made to drop his hands from her hips, his thumbs positioned in the crease of her hip and thigh now wedged between her soft body radiating a comforting and addicting heat. But a small movement from her stopped him. He had been unsure of her consent to his closeness but as she opened her legs and used a hand to grab the waistband of his sweatpants to pull him closer he gave in to her wants.

As he pressed himself flush against her, both her hands were soon under his shirt and wrapping around his waist, her chin settled on the center of his chest as she looked up at him.

"Thor told me what it meant, you stepping up and challenging him on my behalf after he threatened me." There was no question in her voice, just a causal statement tone. Loki lifted a hand to her waist and his other hand went to push her hair back behind her ear.

There was a moment in which his heart leapt but then settled again. Loki was well aware that Thor had had a conversation with Sofiya about what had transpired when his once brother had found him on Earth again. Loki was also aware that Thor had kept more secrets than answers he had given. He had only told her enough to pacify her from asking again, that Loki had challenged Thor in her defense because he thought himself a guardian of hers.

Loki waited to see how she would react, but she was doing the same. So he shrugged, his eyes following the planes of her face before coming back to settle on her eyes, "You treat me differently than anyone else, you give me what I need. It is only fair that I give you what you need, someone you can always trust."

-x-x-x several months later

Sofiya took her place at the large table located in what Stark called the Avenger's common room. It was a comfy decorated room, lots of light from the huge bay windows. Other rooms branched off from this one, such that it truly incorporated the Avenger's headquarters. It was a place just for them, and herself, even though she had never committed to being one of the heroes of Earth.

"I still think we need to adjust your position when we go into that flying cannonball," Tony began as he lifted a fork speared with chicken, resting his elbow on the table. Natasha caught Sofiya's eye with a head tilt and a brow lift. They liked to take bets on if Tony would get so distracted that he would forget the task at hand.

She felt the corner of her mouth lift and nodded casually holding up five fingers, Natasha held up three. They both turned to watch Tony. No sooner had her eyes landed on him that the fork dropped from his hand onto the table as a eureka emotion passed over his face. Sofiya glanced back at Natasha for a moment to roll her eyes, Sofiya had lost yet another bet.

"Tony, no talk of work at the table," Steve said.

"Pepper has been trying to get me to break the habit for years with no such no luck," Tony countered without missing a beat.

Steve went to open his mouth but Clint interjected, "You let Sofiya talk about her training with Herc at the table all the time."

Clint had a good point. Speaking of the being she had grown fond of, Sofiya looked around. It was not really surprising not to see Herc at the table. He only joined them if he had an agenda. Sofiya still had no idea how Herc had introduced themselves to the others and made his constant presence a normality. Then again, so many things had become normal to her that she once thought impossible, she just started to accept things without a doubt. Maybe the others had too. Thor stole Sofiya's attention.

"Systir?" Sofiya turned her head to his direction, the old norse word a nickname he had given her. The first time he had spoken that word to her with a thick accent she asked to confirm it's meaning. It did indeed mean as it sounded, sister. She had tried to ask him on many occasions why he called her by that, but he just looked at her for a moment before shaking his head.

"Hum?"

"I have received word from Herc that my travel to Asgard will be assured in the coming days."

"Ah, they have fixed that Bifrost thing then?" Much of the time she spent in the blonds company revolved around stories from Asgard and beyond.

"Yes," Thor looked around to make sure no one else was paying attention (highly unlikely at a table with a spy), "I was wondering if you could arrange a meeting between me and the elusive prince?" Thor looked so hopeful.

Sofiya sighed and used her fork to push the food around her plate, "Thor he does not want to see you, it is bad enough almost everyone at this table knows he makes appearances. He tries not to make himself known to any member of the Avengers."

"Yes, but if you call him here he will come," Sofiya froze. To her knowledge, Thor knew nothing of the beyond physical bond Loki and her shared. Loki had been very careful to tell as few as possible and told her to do the same, the fewer people that knew they could get to him through her the better.

"What do you mean?" A movement out of the corner of her eye told her Natasha was now fully invested in their conversation.

"You hold his mark, you can call him at will." Sofiya's eyes narrowed and she set her fork down.

"I hold his what?" She knew little of the custom of Asgardian marking but Thor had told her some of it as she asked about a few of his own marks in the past. She was also aware that the crescent moon on the inside of her wrist was also an Asgardian marking, one of an unbreakable promise.

"The marking of a member of his court?" Thor's statement sounded more like a question. His eyes darted back and forth frantically between her intense stare. "I thought you knew, it is all over your back," Thor whispered.

"I am not aware of any markings besides the one on my wrist," she clenched her fist and moved her hands to her lap, away from the view of others as she tried to calm the budding anger.

"Well …" Thor trailed off.

"Tell me," she demanded.

"If you are not aware of it, then it must be concealed to certain eyes, maybe certain races?" Thor pieced together out loud.

A surge of magic coursed through her, she could taste the electricity it brought on her tongue. Before she could get lost in the magic a voice spoke from behind her, "Quick, we only have moments left."

As she turned her head to Herc's voice an inhuman stillness overtook everyone at the table. Doing a double-take she saw that her eyes had not been playing tricks on her, everyone had stilled, all except for the repeated expansion and contraction of their chests.

"Herc?"

"I have planned it with no time to spare."

"Planned what?"

"They can not interfere, for they will leave too early if they do. There is only one time in which your destiny and the destiny of half the universe align." Herc's riddles were back again it seemed. As much as they used to annoy her she had grown fond of her teacher over the last couple of months.

"What are you talking about?" Anxiety began to creep into her veins as Herc grabbed her hand and she noticed Einar at her feet as she stood up.

"Second, seconds! When the time is right you will find the words whispered by the goddess of the sky," there was a look in Herc's old eyes that stopped her thoughts dead in their tracks. His eyes were always all-knowing, confident. But as she looked at him now, his pupils were large with the excitement of wonder, the corners of his eyes tight with worry.

Sofiya's eyes were drawn downward as Herc used his free hand to take something out of his pocket. A red stone. Once her eyes landed on it she knew what it was without a doubt even though she had almost no knowledge of the artifacts, an infinity stone.

"Herc, is that what I think it is?" As soon as the question left her lips the stone in his hand started to glow and a being grew from the bunny at her feet. He kept growing and growing until he was a good foot and a half taller than herself. Sofiya's jaw dropped. What the fuck was happening here and why was there now a naked man beside her?

"A lifeforce tie needs sacrifice, one that I will make for you," Herc quickly mumbled. Sofiya struggled to divide her attention between the new insta-man and the man talking.

"Wait, slow down," Sofiya said as a shadow moved across the room from the windows.

"Call him now, he must be here for the sacrifice to work properly."

"Loki?" She questioned her mind going to the most logical of conclusions as to who Herc was talking about.

"Yes, hurry, hurry." So much was happening in such a short amount of time it was more than her mind could comprehend. Sofiya did as asked though.

Review?

Also, just a note. So she can call him through the mark but that is not really relavent to how she calls him now, she can already call him just through the bond they have already.