Chapter 23: Loki's Story
Alexis's P.O.V
"So, you tried to take over the world because Thanos was threatening you?" I ask, trying looking back at Loki.
"Quit moving your head," Loki huffs, as he places his hand on my head and physically turning me.
"Sorry," I mumble, staring straight ahead as I feel Loki's careful fingers keep twisting my hair. I relax as time goes on. It has been 5 hours since the Avengers had left Loki and me alone in the tower. In that time, Loki and I had discovered the swimming pool and then had gone back to watch Mulan in the movie room.
Currently, Loki and I were in the library, in front of the warm toasty fire. Loki was sitting in an armchair while I was sitting on a footstool in front of him as he braided my hair.
"And yes. Once I fell off the rainbow bridge, I fell for what seemed like an eternity until I landed on what seemed like an uninhabited planet. I crashed landed so I obviously wasn't in top physical or mental condition. Thanos's lackeys found me and brought me to him. He knew who I was and knew I was useful. I knew this too, so I had to comply with what he wanted. I tried to stave off the attack for as long as I could without letting Thanos doubt my allegiance to him." Loki said
"Oh," I mouth silently. "Why weren't you in the best mental condition?"I ask.
"I had just fallen through the abyss. And before I fell, I had found out that everything I thought to be true wasn't." There was an edge in his voice that made me hold back my questions about what he meant. We sat in silence for a while.
As Loki braided my hair, I noticed how competent he was at it.
"Where did you learn to do this?" I ask as I watch the flames dance along the wood.
"When I was younger, I spent a lot of time with my mother, and she always had such intricate hairstyles." I can hear the smile in his voice as he continues on. "With myself being the curious being that I was, I was intrigued about how her hair became to look like that, so I would sit and watch as her handmaidens would weave these patterns and eventually I would occasionally braid her hair instead."
"What was your mother like?" I whisper.
I feel his fingers freeze for a moment before slowly continuing on. Taking a deep breath in, he says," My mother is gentle, beautiful, kind, intelligent and one of the strongest people I know. She is taught me how to use my seidr-"
"What's seidr?" I interrupt.
"Seidr is basically magic," He replies.
"Oh," I mutter as I wait for him to continue.
Now, Mother taught me how to use my Seidr. Well, she tried to explain it to Thor as well, but he didn't grasp it like I did. He was more focused on his combat training anyway, whereas I was the one always wanting to know more." A huff of laughter escaped him. "I was quite the inquisitive child as Mother likes to tell me."
I giggle as I imagine a little Loki running around a giant golden palace.
"Mother and I are quite close thanks to all the training that she gave me. I can only hope to be as great as her one day."
Silence encompasses us as Loki finishes my braid. The crackling fire was the only thing that interrupted the companionable silence. Loki's story of his mother brought forth memories of my own mother. I remember how her hair could never be tamed. It was always full of life and wild. The red vibrancy of her hair always made her stand out. It was full of life until the hospital. In the hospital, it dulled, and she became as pale as the sheets she lay on.
"Done," Loki announced, startling me from me from my thoughts. Reaching up, I carefully touch my hair. I feel the intricate details he put in my hair. Quickly standing up, I run to the bathroom and look in the mirror. My hair was stunning. Retreating out of the bathroom, I run back to Loki, who was still seated in the armchair. Barrelling into him, I wrap my arms around his neck.
"Thank you," I whispered, tightening my arms around his neck.
"You're welcome," he replies as he slowly wrapped his arms around me. I stay in his arms for a minute before pulling out of the hug. I pad softly over to the fire and lie down in front of it, facing Loki.
"Are you able to use your seidr on Earth?" I ask, curiosity lacing my tone.
"Yes, however, Fa-Odin has cut me off from my seidr as punishment."
Didn't you tell them about Thanos?"
Loki lets out a harsh laugh. "Even if I did, I doubt anyone would have believed me."
"Did you even try to defend yourself against Odin?" I question.
Loki looks down at me and sits forward in his seat, arms resting on his knees, with his hands clasped together.
"Do you know what I am known as on Asgard?"
"The God of Mischief."
"And Lies," he adds on. "So with a name as that, do you think that they would believe me if I had told them that a creature they believe to be a myth, is actually alive and tortured me into trying to conquer earth?"
"Why are you named with such a generic and wide category, because everyone lies, where it is to protect someone or to cause someone harm."
Loki shrugs and leans back in his seat. "I can understand that I was given the mischief title since I do love a good prank or two, but I can never remember telling an outright lie. I loved to play with the truth."
I giggle softly. "I bet the people of the palace loved you if you love a good prank."
A smirk graced Loki's face as mirth danced in his eyes. "I was a menace to the advisors of the king."
"I can only imagine," I grin.
"Miss Alexis?" J.A.R.V.I.S. politely interrupted.
I look up at the ceiling. "Yes J.A.R.V.I.S?"
"Mr Stark told me to inform you when meal times were approaching, and dinner should be within the next hour."
"Thank you, J.A.R.V.I.S."
I look over at Loki and stand up. "Come on," I grin, "I have to show you more of Earth's wonderful food."
Loki slowly unfolds himself from the chair and walks towards me.
"You had better not make me try that raw fish dish that Midgardians seem to enjoy."
"Who says that I would be the one that will be making you anything?" I cheekily, as I smile up at him, placing my hands on my hips.
Well, unless you plan on ordering something, then I think that you will be starving as I have no idea how to work any of your Midgardian kitchen contraptions."
"Well, since I don't want to starve, then I suppose I can make something, but you are going to be my assistant chef."
A grin breaks out on Loki's face. With a flourish, he offers me his arm and says," If that is what my lady wants, then it is what shall be done."
Laughing, I place my hand in the crook of his arm. With his other arm, he gestures forward. "Shall we?" he asks, gallantly.
"We shall," I reply, trying to copy his accent.
Loki laughs at my attempt, and we set off for the kitchen.
One hour in the kitchen and it looks like a bomb had gone off. There was flour on almost every surface, a few eggs smashed on cupboards and the floor and in the centre of it all, was Loki and I, uncontrollably laughing.
Loki no longer had clean, silky, black hair, but instead, it looked like he was ageing early with all the flour. His natural pale complexion was also ruined as it looked like snow had settled over him. I presumed I didn't look any better.
As Loki's and I's laughter finally died down, I looked at the kitchen and groaned at the mess that I would have to eventually clean up.
"Somehow, I don't think that that is how making a pie usually goes," Loki comments, breathless.
"Usually, the mess is a lot less...dramatic," I giggle.
"How much longer until we can eat this creation of ours?" he asks.
"About another 20 minutes," I reply, "Enough time to clean this kitchen up."
Loki groans as he looks around at the mess surrounding us. "I have never wished for my seidr, more than now."
"Come on, cleaning up is fun as long as you got some good music to dance along to,"I grin, "J.A.R.V.I.S., can you please put on Footloose?"
"Of course, Miss Alexis." The first beats of Footloose start coming through as I twirl around the kitchen.
Loki watches me with a confused grin on his flour-covered face.
"Come on, Loki. No one can sit still when this song comes on," I laugh, as I grab a cloth to start on the benches.
"Alright, alright, but I will warn you that I am an extremely accomplished dancer," he smirks.
"We shall see about that," I challenge. And thus began the Dance Off while cleaning up the kitchen.