The dawn light came too early the next morning. Too early and too bright, streaming through the golden curtains and sending waves of soft light dancing around the room. Nancy groaned and tossed one arm over her eyes as the pain in her ankle began again; a dull ache that pounded with more intensity the longer she was awake. This was insane. Completely insane. Why did she even need the sleeping spell now? She was obedient! She would listen!

Nancy fidgeted restlessly and pulled the silken covers over her head. Maybe if she tried her hardest to convince herself she was still asleep, she could override the spell and go back to sleep. It would never work, but it was a nice thought.

Loki groaned softly and rolled over to face the other way. She was quite fidgety in the mornings, wasn't she? He bit back a soft retort as he remembered her pain and her injury. With a single twitch of his finger, the circular ice pack wrapped her ankle once more.

It was as if he knew what was wrong with her before she ever said a word. How could she remain upset with a man like that? And the ice pack was helping.

Nancy smiled sleepily and turned over to snuggle against Loki's back. Slowly, she slid one hand over his waist and nuzzled into the back of his neck, planting little kisses on his neck and shoulder as she did so. She was so grateful for this new side of him. For his love and kindness.

Loki grinned. He would have to be kinder if this was how she repaid him now. "You're welcome."

"I'm dreading today." Nancy whispered against his skin, peeking over his shoulder to gaze down at his still closed eyes. "More prisoners to deal with."

"Such is life when one is cleaning out rebels. The guard did say someone was talking, did he not?" Loki hated that they must deal with such things, but she so easily fell into her role beside him.

"He did." Her fingertips brushed up and down his torso as she thought on the toils of the day. "But it could just be false information to throw us off or to spare his punishment."

Loki rolled over in her arms and wrapped his arm over her slim waist. "We must listen to every tidbit. True or untrue." He pulled her closer and breathed in her scent. It calmed him and reminded him of the necessity of cutting out the resistance. "I do not wish to move."

Nancy smiled at the embrace and buried her face in his chest. The scent of his skin thrilled her and drew her closer. "I don't have that problem. I can't move."

"Lucky you." Loki sighed dramatically. He hadn't lied that time. He would much rather spend the day in her loving arms. "I should attend to my duties..."

No. It was too soon. The moment was too sweet. He shouldn't be allowed to leave when they were enjoying each other so much. But… perhaps… there was a way to remedy the separation. "I'll see if I can have my handmaidens take me out to the gardens." Nancy softly kissed his lips, hoping to coax him into accepting her offer. "Perhaps we can have breakfast together after you deal with the prisoners. You did have the mess cleaned up, didn't you?"

"You have only one handmaiden, the one who did your hair, of course I had it cleaned, and there is positively not a single chance I will allow you to leave my presence after that last incident." Loki didn't try to be so stern, but he couldn't help but look at her in duress. She could not leave his side after he went through all that. He needed to know she was safe, and she was only safe beside him.

Nancy shrank under his gaze and gave a nearly imperceptible nod. "Well, I was hoping I'd get another." she mumbled, then spoke louder. "And you plan to drag me along with you? Then at least let me take paper this time. I can't sit through another round of prisoners without taking notes. You do still have my satchel, right?"

"Oh, fine." Loki cleared his throat and let the purr-like noise he used to summon his cats erupt. Crea mewed from the top of the shelves. She disappeared for a moment, just long enough to take the strap of Nancy's satchel between her teeth so she could pull it down with her.

Nancy gaped as the white fur-ball dragged her satchel down off the bookcase. "She's been up there the whole time?" How could one cat be so quiet? Cats on Earth usually cried all night and tore up furniture. These Asgardian cats were too well behaved. "You have your pets stashed all around this palace, don't you? Your secret spies."

"They go where they will. That is her favorite perch." Crea dropped the satchel by the chaise and continued on toward the open bathing room door. Loki grinned as he remembered their delightful interlude the day before. "Unfortunately, we do not have time for games this morning. Pity."

No time for games. Right. Tell that to the snobbish feline who purposefully dropped the bag just out of Nancy's reach. With a sigh, Nancy strained and stretched, but still couldn't reach it. Whatever. She'd get it in a minute.

Nancy sat up and shivered as the cool morning air touched her bare skin. She glanced around for her dress from the night before, but didn't see it anywhere. Had he dropped it in the wrong room? "Master…" Nancy began, turning slightly to glance at Loki, "Where'd you put my dress?"

"Oh, dear. Yes. I had forgotten." Loki propped up to look around. He distinctly remembered sending it in there, but couldn't quite remember where he dropped it. Finally, he saw the corner of the green pool against the tile floor. "I think I was aiming for the chaise. Looks like I missed." He pointed.

Nancy sat up farther and strained her neck to see over the chaise. She could just make out a crumple of green and gold fabric on the other side. Well, they didn't call him the god of mischief for nothing.

Gathering her resolve, Nancy slowly stood and balanced herself on her good foot, using a nearby bed-table for support. Just as slowly and carefully, she managed to hop over to the chaise, the furniture scattered around the room serving as an improvised crutch. Finally, exhausted from the effort, she collapsed onto the couch.

It took little effort to gather her dress from the floor, but putting it on was another matter entirely. Her ribs were still bruised, if not cracked in some places. Raising her arms to slide the dress onto her body proved painful and difficult. One particular sharp pain to her left side caused Nancy to cry out and nearly drop her dress. If she wasn't in so much pain, she'd laugh at the whole charade. She had to look ridiculous, one arm sticking out a sleeve and the other out the neck of the dress.

Odin's beard, what was the woman doing? Loki watched her, agape, as she maneuvered across the floor and gathered the dress herself. If he had his way, she wouldn't move until she was well again, but he knew better than to confine her. She would only balk.

With a soft sigh, he stood and went to her. He couldn't watch her harm herself simply for her own independence. He rested a hand on her head and closed his eyes. If he concentrated for a few seconds, he could easily maneuver the fabric and the air... "There." He opened his eyes to smile kindly down at her.

"Oh." Suddenly, the dress was out of her hands and draped lightly over her body. Nancy looked down, unsure of the sensation, and saw the dress covering her body. She already had it on. With a smile, she lowered her arms and looked up at Loki. "Thanks." With smaller movements – to ensure she wouldn't hurt her ribs any further – Nancy picked up her satchel, checked it to make sure her pens and notepads were still in there, and slipped it over her shoulder.

With her taken care of, Loki remembered his own state of undress. That wouldn't do, though it would shock the council members and the prisoners. He had half a mind to remain in the nude just to spite them all, but Nancy would complain. He sighed as a frisson of green magic melded his armor against his skin.

Without any further ado, he swept her into his arms. He simply wouldn't allow her to walk, nor would he allow anyone else the charge of her care. Unless... "Do you prefer I carry you? Or shall I summon a dais?"

Nancy's eyes widened and a bright smile lit her features. "You'd let me ride in a dais?" What was this change that had come over him? He was treating her like a genuine royal.

"If my lady so wishes."

"Ooh. Your lady. I like the sound of that." Maybe he finally realized what he'd been doing to her all these months. Maybe he finally realized his mistake. With a mischievous grin, Nancy replied, "Alright. Summon one." Her smile softened and she reached up to stroke his cheek. "It might make things easier on you, too. You won't have to carry me everywhere."

"But I enjoy carrying you," Loki whispered in her ear as he settled her back against the soft chaise cushions. In one breath, he set his royal facade on his face and marched to the door to throw it open. "Guard!"

A guard immediately arrived and bowed to his sovereign. "Yes, majesty?"

Now everyone would see it. She would no longer be a that or pet. No, she was his lady. She could hear his words now. Bring a dais for my love or my lady or my ravishing beauty. He had such a way with words; he'd let everyone know how their relationship had changed. And he'd say it in the most elegant way possible.

"As my pet is so badly injured, bring four of our most trustworthy guards and a dais for her comfort. You have five minutes." Loki slammed the door in the guard's face, half agitated she wanted a dais instead of him and half amused at the bewildered guard. "Well... that should do it." His face fell from stoic to a grin as he wiped his hands of the matter.

Nancy's smile slid from her face and she exhaled as if she'd been punched in the stomach. He still thought of her as a pet. After everything, with so much change… she was still his pet. The look of pure shock and bewilderment on her face spoke volumes. He may as well have stabbed her in the heart.

Loki's brow knit. He'd done something wrong again. As much as he hated making her upset, his mischievous nature insisted on things from time to time. What did he do to her this time? She looked positively crushed. "Something worries you."

Nancy snapped out of it and shook her head. Her opinion didn't matter anyway. Why should she say anything now? "I'm fine." Her voice was nearly inaudible.

Loki's confusion turned to an outright frown. "I do not like it when you worry. Please tell me."

Nancy forced a smile, a mask to hide the pain. "You should've given him three minutes. Five is too long for an Asgardian guard." It wasn't a very good excuse, but it was all she had.

"I was feeling generous. And don't think I didn't notice your change of subject." She only ever changed the subject when the current one aggravated her. Loki raised an eyebrow in silent question.

"I didn't change the subject." Nancy argued, her tone now cool and aloof. "You asked what was bothering me and I told you."

Loki shook his head. She wouldn't get away with it that easily. "Liesmith, remember?" He knelt beside her and leaned slightly to kiss her shoulder, gently. He could not fix himself if she would not tell him what he did wrong. "And you, dearest, were lying."

Oh, now, he would acknowledge her? Now he would call her dearest? Dearest what? Dearest dog? Dearest pet? Dearest slave? How dare he kiss her as if nothing was wrong. Nancy turned her face away from him. "It doesn't matter." Just then, a loud knock resounded on the golden doors. The dais had arrived.

Loki sighed. No time to argue when they had things to do today. "We will continue this later." He opened the door to allow the guards in.

No. We won't. Nancy sighed within her mind. We never do.

The lead guard silently stalked into the room and lifted Loki's mortal into his arms. Careful of her injured leg, he placed the woman on the soft cushion inside and let the shining translucent curtain fall back into place. Then he motioned for his guards to prepare to lift. Satisfied with a job well done, he looked to Loki for further instructions.

Loki looked her over sadly. Did he so cause distrust that she would not even tell him what upset her? Perhaps he expected too much. With a sigh, he turned to the guards. "Well, lift her and follow along." He stalked off down the corridor. The guards would follow or risk his wrath, he and he knew they would never risk that.

With a nod, the guards lifted the dais and followed their king out the door.

Behind the curtain, Nancy sat alone with her thoughts. Loki could treat her like a queen when they were alone, but she would never be truly his equal as long as she was his pet in front of others. And the time would come when he'd be done with her. He'd get bored. Her presence would become commonplace. And then he would fly to another woman, leaving her to rot. He'd already done it once. What would stop him from doing it again? His love for her? No. He was infatuated, nothing more. A little boy with a new toy to play with.

As the group entered the throne room, a band of guards brought their prisoner forward. A frail old man who looked more like a beggar than a warrior.

"I've heard you are ready to speak. So speak." Loki stopped at the throne, the morning's frustrating events turning his agitation to anger. He turned to glare at the man, knowing despite his fragile state, the man could be deadly. Everything depended on connections.

The old man glared up at Loki, one eye rolling off to the side. He glanced at the dais as it passed him and gave a crooked grin, then returned his attention to the king. "There are more men like Kjell. Many more. They come to our homes and tell us to fight for them. Those who refuse, who remain loyal, get to watch as their children are slaughtered in their beds. They move in the night, while the king sleeps. Your palace is full of traitors."

While the prisoner spoke, the guards easily settled Nancy into a golden chair by the throne. It had a soft cushion on it, but was nowhere near as soft as the pillow in the dais. At least it was better than sitting on the floor again.

Once Nancy was finally settled and the dais was moved to the back of the room, she pulled out her yellow legal pad and flipped to a new page. Then she rummaged around for a pencil. "Let's see here," she whispered to herself, "Rebels are slaughtering families and children to force loyals to fight." She nodded once and made a note of it. "What else?"

"Tell me something I don't know." Loki tossed a concerned glance to Nancy, then shook off his agitation at being ignored. He scowled at the prisoner instead.

The prisoner looked genuinely surprised. How had the king found out? It was supposed to remain a secret. "Some of them are your best guards. Your cooks. Your attendants. The people you trust want to kill you."

"Want to? No. They fear for their families. If you do not know who is behind all this, by all means return to the dungeons."

"He does not have a name, sire." The prisoner stepped forward, "He moves through the shadows and darkness, terrorizing families by night." The prisoner's crooked grin suddenly spread as he broke out into a maniacal laugh. "You will never see him coming!"

Enough. Loki couldn't take any more of this drabble. The man wasn't being helpful at all. "Oh, take him away and off with his head." He sank onto the throne. If only someone would tell him what really went on behind the closed doors in his kingdom. He could fix it if he had the right information.

"Perhaps he will save you for last and kill your pet boar first!" The man continued laughing as he was dragged away, "As you watch!"

Pet boar? How dare this filth of a man think he was above her? …Because he was. He was Asgardian and she was mortal. Hardly more than the boar he thought she was. She was a pig to them. A rutting, slop-eating, snorting pig. Nancy heard the muffled sound of something snapping, but she was far past acknowledging it.

Loki noted her dismay immediately, and suddenly he knew what he had done. The same thing she complained about since the beginning, the one thing she could not understand. His heart was moved on her behalf. "Stop!" He growled, hating that the man caused her such pain. His eyes never left her fallen face. "Bring him back."

The prisoner was dragged back in and stood silently glaring at Loki.

"I do not understand where or how all of you gained this misunderstanding, but she is not animal." Loki tore his eyes from her and took a single menacing step down, just one stair. "She is exquisite, a woman in all the right ways. She is more my equal than you. And she is mine. Never underestimate what I will do to protect my own from your insults."

"She is mortal. How did your father put it? Oh yes, 'they have no more place here than a goat at a banquet table'." The prisoner spit at Loki. "I served your father for centuries."

Something snapped in Loki, a long-forgotten rage at being compared to those he could never live up to. He took another step and bellowed his outrage. "I AM NOT MY FATHER!"

"You're right. He was ten times the king you will ever be."

"Do not dare to speak of him." No one knew Odin as he did, and no one would ever know him correctly. They would not see the good and the bad, only what they wished to see. Loki nodded to the guard holding the man. "As he has not apologized, make his death slow."

"You are not worthy of your kingship, usurper!" The prisoner screamed as he was dragged out a second time, "Thor should have been king! Not you! You killed Odin! You are no king of Asgard!"

"And shut him up while you're at it!" Loki rid his hands of the man and dropped to a knee beside Nancy. Only now did he notice the sharp wooden shreds in her palm. He pried her fingers open and gently began to remove each splinter from her delicate skin.

Nancy blinked, stunned, and opened her fingers to reveal the splintered pieces of her pencil. She'd snapped it in half in her rage. Immediately, she dropped the pieces and looked to Loki, searching his eyes for the truth. "What did he mean? Did you kill Odin? Is that how you became king?"

"No. I did not. He fell into the Odin-sleep weeks after my return. Are you hurt?"

"No. I'm fine." Nancy looked to the doors, still uncertain of his answer. She wouldn't put it past him. He was a liesmith and had a known grudge against Odin. He very well could have killed him. "Then why are there so many rebels?" She looked back at her lover, hoping he was telling the truth.

"A small faction decided not to like me and have forced followers. Not like me! Can you imagine?" Loki tried for a grin, but it didn't work well. The man's words wounded his soul and Nancy's wounds concerned him as well.

Nancy gave a small chuckle at his attempt at humor. "You still have a whole planet that doesn't like you. What's a faction compared to that?"

"They are thousands of miles away!" Her humor leaked into his consciousness, and he thought perhaps she had forgiven him. It brought a small smile to his face.

"Still, it's a whole planet." Her smile was genuine this time. "Thank you. You didn't have to stand up for me like that."

Loki smoothed his palm over hers, gently dusting pencil shards away. Thankfully, she appeared uninjured. "Of course I did. He insulted you. Demeaned you."

Nancy gave a heavy sigh. How could he not see? Was he playing dumb or was he simply ignorant of the entire matter? He couldn't be… he was too smart for that. Surely he knew what he was doing. What he had caused. Surely. "Why do you think they think I'm an animal?" Would he reveal his true thoughts? Or simply try to hide the truth?

Loki shrugged as he inspected her skin once more. "I do not know." He looked up to meet her eyes. Would she tell him now, what he'd done wrong?

Nancy raised an eyebrow. It was a poor excuse, even for her. "Really? You don't know? Come on, liesmith. You can come up with a better excuse than that."

"But I do not understand." He pouted at her. Why did she not believe him? "In all the time you have been here, when have I set a precedent that would lead them to call you an animal? To force themselves on you? To beat you to the brink of death?"

Nancy glanced away and folded her hands across her chest. He truly had no idea what he'd done. "Guards talk." she finally whispered, the hurt lacing her own voice, "Believe me, I know. And they twist words, make up stories. Embellish things to make them sound better… more exciting." She shrugged and glanced down at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. "You've paraded me around here as your pet." Finally, gathering her courage, she met his hurt, confused eyes. "I am your pet, master. Your pet. Do you remember when you came to Earth? You made us grovel on our knees. We were ants to you. In the cell… you thought the same of me. You made me grovel on my knees. They saw that. And then… at the nobleman's feast…" Nancy paused to choke back her tears. Months' worth of pain and anger finally poured from her lips. "I ate off the floor. The food was on a platter, but still. I sat at your feet because I was unworthy to even sit in a chair. And I ate off the floor. …I guess, when you think about it, in the cell I ate meat out of a sock, so food off the floor was a bit of an upgrade."

Nancy sobbed and took Loki's face in her hands, wiping his tears away with her thumbs. "Master, you're the reason they see me as an animal."

Loki blinked, releasing more moisture from the corners of his eyes and off his long lashes. Had he really? He never meant to harm her, and yet it seemed that was the only thing he was capable of. "But I never beat you. Never violated you. No one would think to break what is mine..." Tears clouded his vision and made it hard to breathe. "Where have I failed you?"

"Like I said, they talk." Nancy wiped at his tears again as her own continued to pour. "One of them probably saw you muzzle me. Another saw you kiss me. I mean, if a kiss got an apple, what would the other get me?"

"I hadn't ever... I didn't mean to... why would they..." Loki shook his head and rested it against her stomach for a brief moment. "Forgive me." He kissed her palm, tasting her sweet skin and the bitter wooden pencil, both before he stood. His feet took him away from her, to the other side of the throne's platform, where he could wallow in peace.

And just like that, he was gone. She'd pushed too far this time and shoved him away. "Master? Where are you going?"

Loki blinked and swallowed. He would not cry. Not now, not in front of her and everyone. He shook his head. "Nowhere."

She heard it then. The pain in his voice. The realization. "My love, come back. I'd come to you, but... I mean, I can try." In an instant, Nancy stood from her chair and balanced herself on her good foot. She leaned against the throne for support as she tried to figure out a way closer to him.

Loki spun, frantic at the suggestion in her voice. His hand shot up as if that alone could stop her progress. "No, no! Do not!" He rushed back to her side and rested a hand on her waist. "Please, sit."

Nancy sat down again and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Please don't cry." She pulled back to study him, his hurt and confusion. "You're right to have me as a pet. I'm mortal. I'm weak and fragile and small."

"But my actions-" Loki tapped his chest as his voice cracked, "My actions have caused you such pain. How can I ever forgive myself?"

Nancy shrugged. "You forgive yourself for forgetting to feed your snakes. For whipping a horse to break it. There's no difference."

"There is!" The tears formed and slid down his cheeks as he tried to convey to her what she really meant. "How can you not see? This... this... monster of events I have created. How can you ever forgive me?!"

Nancy stood again and leaned against him, both hugging him and using him as support. "Shh. You did what you thought was right."

"And look where it has put us." He slid his eyes closed. Anything to shut out the harsh reality he brought on them both.

Nancy held him tighter. Anything to get him to stop crying. She'd never seen him cry before, especially not like this. If she knew the information was going to break him, she never would've said anything. "It put me in your arms." Nancy pulled back to gaze into his eyes. "I don't care if I'm an animal, as long as I get to be with you."

Loki gripped her shoulders and put her at arm's length. "You are not an animal, and I apologize for anything I did to make you think you are."

"But I am." There was no denying it. And as much as she hated to admit it, it was true. He was a superior being. Far more advanced. More evolved. She may as well be an ape compared to him. "We're different, Loki. But you took care of me. You gave me food, affection, shelter. You loved me. I couldn't have asked for more. I shouldn't have."

"I will not argue it with you, but know that you are not. You have never been an animal to me." Loki shook his head and looked deeply into her eyes.

Nancy sighed and sat down again. "Then why did you treat me like one? We're two completely different species! I'm content to be your pet if that's what you wish me to be." Ultimately, as long as she remained in his presence, she was happy.

The tears started again as her words sank in. He knew it now, how he irreversibly changed her perception of herself. He never meant to turn her into an animal. He wanted nothing more than to love her, and let her love him in return. He would never get anywhere arguing with her.

Nancy hugged his waist again and rubbed his back under his cape. "Shh. It's fine. I forgive you. There's nothing to forgive! Please, stop crying. I can't bear to see you cry."

"And I cannot bear the weight of knowing I have struck such a blow that you think so little of yourself." Loki heaved a breath. He couldn't bear her demise on his shoulders.

"You seem to think the world of me. That's all that matters. All I ever wanted was your attention anyway. I got your affection as well."

Loki pulled her into his arms. For now, as long as she allowed him to hold her and shower his love on her, he would be content. He had to be. For her.

Nancy returned his embrace. All this time and he never thought of her as an animal? It was a nice thought, but hard to believe. And even if it was true, there was no going back now. She'd been his pet so long… how could she ever be anything else? And then there were the rest of the Asgardians. What would they think of her? All in all, things were better this way. No matter how much she hated that she would never be his equal, there was nothing she could do to change it. And if the best she could do was be his favorite pet and plaything, then she would be the best darn pet and plaything she could be.

"Pardon, sir." The soft voice of a young guard broke the tears and silence. "Kjell spoke. Shall I bring him in? We have done as your mortal commanded."