Aella wished she'd never taken her clothes off in front of him. Everything felt different now — so much more serious than things had been this morning. Not for a moment she'd thought that Loki loved her, but she did believe that he cared about her and that he'd found her at least attractive.

Now, however, Brunnhilde claimed that he'd wanted to steal her powers. And even though Loki told her he didn't, she didn't trust him. She wasn't that stupid. Even when it hadn't been the main reason to have sex with her; there was no way it hadn't crossed his mind and he'd chosen not to tell her about the risks.

And now... now he tried to come up with an even stupider excuse; that he wanted to be with her. The most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. How the hell did he picture that? He didn't — it was just another attempt to move her attention away from what he'd done.

"I think we're done talking. You better leave."

Of course, Loki didn't move. He kept sitting next to her. "I tell you I want to be with you and you believe we're done talking?"

Aella let out a mocking laugh. "What else did you expect? That I fling my arms around you, telling you that was all I ever wanted? You really think I will support you during your future murder parties and raids, looking for more power, for more wealth? That I will sit next to you like some dark queen?"

Loki huffed without saying anything. Aella got the feeling he neither knew what he was expecting from her. Maybe, being with her had indeed been one of his longings, before he realized that it didn't match with all the other things he longed for.

"It's a shame..." Suddenly, his forefinger danced across her knee and moved upwards. "I think you'd be a wonderful queen."

Aella pulled her leg aside, even though she could feel his touch right through the fabric. She thought of where those fingers had been a few minutes ago, and by reflex, the muscles down there contracted. Taking a deep breath, she shook off the images. "Do you really care about me, Loki?" She turned towards him. "Can you be honest?

Loki held her glance, then, he turned his face away and stared at the wall. Something changed about his attitude as if he let go of all the mock and bragging and genuinely opened up to her. He shrugged his shoulders. "I think so."

Aella bit her lip pensively. She wouldn't get a better answer. He stayed quiet, he didn't ask how she felt about him. Of which she was glad, even though it felt hypocrite. Although she longed for clarity from Loki, she didn't know where she stood and what she wanted. She needed time to think about that. Alone. "Can you please leave?"

She saw a muscle spasm in his pinky, as if he wanted to clench his hands to fists but refrained from it. He stood up. Even though he usually simply disappeared, he walked to the door this time. Right before he got through it, he stood still and turned around. For a moment his blue eyes rested in hers. "I'm sorry. I should have told you about the risks." He lifted the corner of his mouth, and the smirk he showed her looked like a sad smile. "But the flesh is weak. I wasn't out to steal your powers, but I wanted you so badly I didn't think about the consequences for you." He drummed his fingers against the doorframe as if he considered adding something and then he walked away.

Aella watched him leave. Once he was out of sight, she sank back on the bed, heaving a deep sigh. She wanted time to think, but at the same time, she wasn't sure what she wanted to think about. Whatever it was between Loki and her, it was absurd. It could never lead to something stable and despite knowing it from the start, it still caused a pit in her stomach.

Somewhere deep inside she wanted him. He gave her a feeling nobody else had ever given her. But even if she called up certain feelings inside him, it would never be enough to change him into someone who was capable of having a normal relationship.