The other Loki stepped forward, his smile widening. "Very good. I hoped I wouldn't have to introduce myself." She returned to her original form, which made Loki feel slightly more comfortable. "So what do you say to my offer?"
"Why would I make any sort of a deal with my father's sworn enemy? You would never offer to help me without some other motive."
"That hurts, truly. Do you really believe everything your father tells you?" She stepped closer. "Maybe I am not as bad as he says. Maybe I only want to see young lovers together."
"And what do you get out of it?"
She shrugged. "I get to spend some time as the son of a king instead of this nobody." Her gaze traveled over him slowly. "And you're much more attractive than this useless form."
Loki frowned. "That's all? You just want to play at being royalty?"
"Well, we can discuss what happens after that when you return. If you do." She smiled. "Think of it, Loki. You could stay with your mortal woman as long as you want. And no one would be the wiser."
Loki turned away to hide the conflicting emotions that must have been clearly written on his face. Stay with Rona. She couldn't possibly know how much he wanted that, yearned for it. He wanted to leap at this chance. Was it insanity to think she might actually be sincere, that she would hold up her end of the bargain? He'd heard all the stories about this vile, treacherous creature as a child.
The thought of being with Rona again made every other concern irrelevant. He would set free every fiend in Asgard's dungeons to return to her.
"You have a deal, Miss Vakre." He stepped forward, his voice going low and menacing. "But if you do anything to endanger this kingdom or its people, I will personally send you back where you came from."
She smiled. "Enjoy your trip to Midgard, Master Loki."
Loki strode purposefully down the Rainbow Bridge wearing his new, borrowed form, possibly the most important illusion he would ever perform. His heart beat painfully fast in anticipation of reuniting with Rona. He only had to make it past Heimdall. That shouldn't be too difficult. With all the threats on the horizon, Odin had been sending warriors to all of the other realms to gather information. Why not Midgard? Granted, the mortals didn't pose much of a threat. But he had a plan for that.
As he expected, Heimdall was cautious about opening the Bifrost. "Why would the All-Father send you to Midgard? There are no threats expected from that realm."
"There are reports that the fugitive, Den Vakre, has escaped to Midgard. If they are true, I am to bring her back."
Heimdall frowned. "How would she have gotten through? No one goes through the Bifrost without my knowledge."
Loki bowed his head in agreement. "Not in a physical body. But in her true form, she could have slipped through unnoticed. Possibly when Thor returned." Heimdall considered that for a moment. "The All-Father believes it is better to err on the side of caution than let such a dangerous creature go free."
Heimdall stared expressionlessly at him and then nodded. "The All-Father is wise. I will open the Bifrost."
Loki turned away so that Heimdall wouldn't see his smile. The nervous thrumming in his body increased to an almost frightening level, as if he might fly apart into a million pieces. He took a deep breath. I'm actually keeping my promise, Rona. I'm coming back to you.
When Loki came out of the Bifrost, a blanket of snow covered the city, the bare trees festooned with strings of glittering lights. Discarding his illusion, he hurried off into the deepening night towards Rona's apartment.
As he climbed the stairs to her door, he imagined the look on her face when she opened it, the surprise, the delight. He had to struggle to conceal his disappointment when his knock was answered.
"Lex, hello."
A silence stretched for several minutes, and he wondered if she intended to reply at all. "Rona's not here."
The flatness of her voice sent a spike of fear through him. If something had happened to Rona since he'd left he could never forgive himself.
"She said she wanted to feel...dazzled tonight." She shrugged. "Whatever that means."
A smile spread over his face. "I believe I know." He turned to leave, and was halfway down the hall before she spoke again.
"You left." The accusation in her words made him glance back. She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, a judgmental frown on her face. "I've never seen her so upset."
He thought of everything Rona had faced in her relatively short life, the abandonment by her father, the death of her mother. Could it really be his leaving that had broken her?
"I can promise you that it will never happen again."
The large green metal door was unlocked, just as he thought it would be. He pulled it open and slipped inside, climbing the stairs in the dark. When he came out onto the balcony, he saw Rona leaning against the railing, the wind lifting her hair as she stared out at the city. The throbbing pain he'd carried in his chest for weeks finally eased.
"Once again, we are both admiring two different views."
He heard the sharp intake of her breath as she turned toward him, the moonlight throwing her face into shadow. "Loki? Is it really you?"
Three steps and she was in his arms, his mouth pressed to hers, her fingers tangling in his hair. He swore to himself it would take an army to pry her from his grasp again.
He lifted his head to smile at her, brushing the hair away from her face with one hand. "I told you I would come back."
"I never doubted, I just wasn't sure how long I would have to wait."
"Longer than I intended." He sighed as his fingers moved across her skin, rosy from the cold air, unable to stop touching her. "But I could not stay away."
She pulled his hand from her face, lacing her fingers with his. She smiled. "Did you miss me so much?"
He frowned. "You know full well how you make me feel. Do you truly require me to say the words?"
She chuckled. "Maybe I do."
He slid his fingers from hers, gripping her waist and pulling her even closer against him. The moonlight turned her eyes into jewels, glowing with a radiant flame. It struck him that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
"I know nothing about your ridiculous notions of soulmates, of fate. But I am sure of one thing." He lowered his head, until those eyes seemed to swallow him. "You are mine. And I love you, Rona." He paused, realizing he never intended to say those words to any other woman, and finding the thought both exhilarating and terrifying. "Is there anything else you need me to say?"
She shook her head, sliding her hands up his arms to clasp his neck. "That is all I need in the world." Her voice shook as she continued. "I love you too, Loki."
He kissed her again just as a thunderous booming sound filled his ears. Glancing up, he saw the sky around them lit up with color, bursting and changing as it fell like shooting stars.
"What is going on?"
"It's only fireworks." When he stared blankly at her, she grinned. "For New Year's." She looked up at the sparks that danced and crackled across the sky. "Welcome to nineteen-seventy-eight."