Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 11: The Other
Loki smiled a little when he realized Saphira had fallen asleep; he could tell she hadn't been getting much rest lately. When he realized she was in the dungeons when he stopped on Asgard to get her, Loki was immediately furious, took everything Loki had not to comfort Odin; now that he knew what she did, it made more sense. However, he was still angry about it, especially after seeing she hadn't taken it well. But he would make it up to her somehow; if his plan for Earth succeeded, that would be a great start.
When they got where Loki wanted to be, Saphira was still asleep, so he carried her in and laid her gently down on a bench, he made one of the agents give him his jacket, and he rolled it up and laid it under Saphira's head to use as a pillow. Loki then slipped his coat off and covered Saphira with it. He wished he had somewhere better she could lay, but this would have to do for now. Loki then told the people under his control; that if they were to wake her, they would face punishment.
Loki then took a walk down the tunnels, found an area at the end of the tunnel where he would be alone, and sat down on the ground, and laid the scepter crossed his lap. The Other would be contacting him soon, and he didn't want any of them to witness it; he hated talking to him, especially when it happens in his mind. He had to be careful what thoughts crossed his mind and not think of his real plan at the moment; Loki had to keep his mind clear, they couldn't find out he planned to double-cross them until it was too late, the reason Loki wrote down his plans so he could show it to Saphira, Loki was truthful and didn't leave anything out when telling her what was going on, Loki saw the anger in Saphira's eyes when she read his letter, Loki left out details of what they did, she didn't need to know what torture he had gone through. He would spare her that much.
"Ugh, she's with you now, and you still brood about her." The Other's voice spoke in his head as the mind stone in his scepter glowed brighter, and he appeared in front of him. "You will do better to keep your mind on your goal."
"I know what my quest is, my mission," Loki told him. "Nothing is distracting me from that."
"Good, make sure she doesn't." The Other said.
"Do not worry about what I do or how I go about succeeding in my goal," Loki demanded. "You just worry about filling your end of the deal."
"You dare question us." The other snapped. "Him, he who put the scepter in your hand."
Loki looked at the scepter; he wasn't stupid. He knew it held the mind stone in it. He also knew it was controlling him somewhat, making him be able to be more vicious than usual, but Loki was still in exact control of his mind, in control of his thoughts; he would allow it for now. If it helped in his goal, after all, if he wanted, he could stop it. He could also prevent The Other from entering his mind if he wanted to and was doing so for the most part, but did have to let him slip in now and then so as not to get suspicious. Loki had to watch what he thought, so specific thoughts wouldn't be at the front of his mind when he allowed The Other access.
"Your ambition is foolish." The Other went on. "You and her ruling the Earth together as King and Queen, ha, a childish fairy tale, we look beyond such things, we look beyond Earth, to worlds the tesseract..."
"You do not have the tesseract yet." Loki interrupted. The Other rushed forward toward him. "I do not threaten, but until doors are open until your force is mine to command."
"You will have your war, Asgardian." The Other said. "But if you fail, if you keep the Tesseract from us. There is not a realm, no barren moon, no crevice where he can not find you. You think you know pain; you will wish for something as sweet as pain. Just remember, if you fail, it is not only your life, your well-being on the line." The Other laughed a little when Loki glared at him.
"Yes, it is," Loki told him. "If I fail, and I doubt I will as long as you keep up your end of the deal, no one touches her, that was part of our agreement, and it will be you wishing for sweet pain if you even think of going near her."
"A weak threat..just like love. it's weak, makes a person soft." The Other said," You keep up your end of it, and we'll worry about our part." The Other just looked at him a moment. "I am not interested in your empty threats, which is all..."
"Do not underestimate me." Loki interrupted. "I am doing this mostly to keep her safe; yes, ruling Earth does sound fun. I intend to do that once we win, but if it had not been for you and your mates threatening Saphira, I would not have agreed to this; I open the portal, win the war, and if you want that damn cube, you stay away from her, if you or any of your friends or him even look at her you get nothing but pain and misery."
"I don't think you understand just who..he..is." The Other said. "What he can do."
"Oh, I understand," Loki said. "But I do not think you understand what someone can do when the person they love has been threatened."
"Love has nothing to do with any of this." The Other said.
"Love has everything to do with it," Loki argued.
"Love is...only make-believe." The Other said, "you do what you are supposed to do, and you...and her will be unharmed." Before Loki could answer, he touched the side of his head, and he was suddenly back where he was in the current time. He jumped when someone touched his shoulder.
"Relax, handsome; it's just me." Loki looked up to see Saphira standing next to him; she had her hand on his shoulder and was wearing his jacket he had laid over her and was looking at him with concern. Loki wondered if he made a big mistake involving her; he had done so good hiding anything about her from them; in the end, it didn't work, Loki had to succeed, he wasn't going to lose her, and Loki damn sure wasn't going to allow any of them to lay their hands on her.
"It was him? Wasn't it? You were talking to him?" Saphira asked.
"It was, and I thought you were asleep, love?" Loki asked.
"I woke, and you were gone." Saphira explained, "At first, I thought I might have dreamed you up, but then realized I wasn't in the dungeons anymore, and this was lying over me. How can you stand to wear this anyway? It's pretty heavy." Saphira tugged on the jacket's front, and Loki smiled at how huge his jacket looked on her.
"Are you cold, darling?" Loki asked Saphira smiled at his concern.
"Not really," Saphira answered with a smirk. "But it's yours, and I decided to put it on instead of carrying it."
Loki grinned, amused as he stood; Saphira slipped his jacket off and helped him put it back on.
"Loki." Saphira asked, "I don't want to be a bother, but..."
"What do you need? Anything, just ask." Loki told her.
"Well, I am hungry," Saphira answered. "I haven't eaten much lately."
"If you wish for something to eat, then you shall have it," Loki said; he slipped his hand in hers and led her back to the others, where he stopped the first guy he came to and ordered him to get Saphira some food. When asked what she wanted, Saphira said she wanted a large order of Onion Rings and a Pepsi. Loki then walked her back to the bench she had been sleeping on, and they sat down; Saphira crossed her legs in front of her. She was quiet as Loki watched the people under his control do their work.
"Are we underground?" Saphira asked. Loki turned to her and smiled.
"I know you do not like it, but we will not be here too long, love." Loki promise. Saphira said nothing; she put her elbow on her leg and put her head in her hand. "Is something the matter?"
"Just tired, I think," Saphira answered. She raised and leaned against the wall and closed her eyes; Loki frowned in concern. "I didn't get much sleep in the dungeons."
Loki pushed Saphira's hair out of her face, then frowned at the small, barely visible scar on her forehead, just under her hairline. He ran his thumb across it.
"I got that from...what happened on the Bifrost," Saphira explained, opening her eyes and looking at him; Loki pulled his hand away and scowled. He didn't like that his once brother had left a permanent mark on the women he loved.
"You mean when Thor knocked you through a wall with that damn hammer of his," Loki said. "I still haven't popularly paid him back for that."
"It was an accident," Saphira said, smiling slightly.
"So, he claims," Loki argued. Saphira laid her hand on his arm.
"Thor started acting weird after that," Saphira said. "He became protective of me, visited me often in the dungeons, and kept me company."
"Probably so you would tell Enid when you saw her again," Loki commented. Saphira just laughed a little, her eyes shining in the light.
"Odin was keeping me locked up until the Bifrost got repaired, then he was going to send me back to Midgard."
"Of course, he did." Loki snarled, eyes flashing angrily, then he remembered something Saphira had said at SHEILD. "Darling, why did you say you were no longer an Asgardian?"
"Odin... He said I was no longer a citizen of Asgard," Saphira mumbled, still feeling upset about it. Loki frowned with an angry look on his face.
"I'm sorry, Odin said what?" Loki demanded; Saphira smiled at his anger and reached over and squeezed his hand. To an Asgardain, one of the worst punishments you could get was to have your citizenship stripped, and being told you no longer belonged there.
"It's okay; I rather not go back there if I can help it, anyway." Saphira said, "Too many bad memories." She let go of his arm and looked down. "It still hurts, though; Asgard is where I was born, where I met you."
"We do not need Asgard anymore, darling," Loki told her, reaching out and taking her hand. "We will soon have Midgard as our home; you'll be my Queen, Earth's Queen."
"And you'll be our King," Saphira said, smiling at him.
"Sir." They were interrupted by the agent bringing back Saphira's food; he held it out to Loki, who took the bag and drink and handed them to Saphira.
"Took you long enough." Loki snapped, the agent apologized, then walked away; Saphira smiled at her Onion Rings and began eating them."That does not look healthy."
"It's not," Saphira said, taking a bite, then chewed and swallowed before saying. "To Midgardians, of which I am not." She took a sip from the straw in her drink. "Besides, they are delicious; try a bite." She broke a piece of onion ring off and held it out to Loki.
"I'll take your word for it, thank you," Loki told her. Saphira just shrugged and went back to eating.
"Anyway, Thor said he would come back to Midgard with me so that he could be with Enid." Saphira went back to telling her story.
"Did you believe him?" Loki asked. Saphira shrugged.
"I believe he wanted to, but rather or not, he would have or if he would have gone against Odin if he ordered him not to is another story," Saphira said.
"Thor." Loki smirked, "The perfect obedient son."
"Obedient unless it comes to starting wars with Frost Giants," Saphira remarked, making Loki laugh. "Anyway, he wasn't that bad, a bit annoying. I think he just felt sorry for me. After Sif put the shackles on me, Thor insisted being the one to take me to the dungeons."
"Thor was the one to put you in the dungeons?" Loki demanded with a frown.
"Yes, but he didn't want to put me in there." Saphira explains, "He even offered to turn his back so that I could escape, don't make that look, baby, I am not sticking up for him, Thor is still an ass sometimes, and you know I would never side with him; over you."
"I know, darling." Loki said, "Sometimes I still feel like he's my brother, and I want to get along with him, but other times... it's complicated."
"Because Thor has a habit of being annoying most the time," Saphira said. "His banishment changed him a lot, but there were times I could see the same arrogant Thor showing through."
"You and Thor spent a lot of time together when you were locked up," Loki noted.
"I think he was doing it for Enid," Saphira said. "He's in love with my sister; I am her only family; he was the reason she couldn't come to Asgard, so out of guilt, he was looking out for me until I could go back to Midgard, where she is."
Loki smiled. Saphira was insightful. She read people pretty well, something she kept hidden from most people; always spoke her mind, no matter what, which is why Saphira would make the perfect Queen; she was intelligent, powerful, outspoken, beautiful, protective. Despite hiding it well, she had a good heart, especially if she cared about you.
"This is one thing I missed about Midgard," Saphira said. "Is the food, one thing Earth dose better than Asgard. Here try one." Saphira held an onion ring out to Loki again; he frowned at it, then gave in and ate one this time.
"That's not bad," Loki admitted, then ended up helping her eat them. He sat and listened as Saphira just chatted away about anything and everything, a smile on her face, eyes shining with happiness every time she looked at him. Loki was starting to wonder if he even deserved her; Loki feared he put her in danger but felt he had no choice. If he had left her on Asgard, they could have shown up and got her, held her to make sure Loki did give the tesseract over. Plus, the way she looked once he showed up for her, Loki could tell she was at her breaking point; she wouldn't have been able to handle being in those dungeons much longer. With Saphira with him, not only can he make sure she stays safe from them, but help her.
Loki thought about the first time he met Saphira; they were children, and Loki can remember thinking she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, he tried not to embarrass himself by staring at her after she had caught him doing so the first time, but he hadn't been able to. Saphira didn't seem to mind, though, as they still became friends, and then more. Saphira was still in her prison outfit, her hair was a mess, and Loki just realized she had no shoes on, but she still looked gorgeous, the prettiest girl he had ever seen, grew up to be the most beautiful woman in all the realms.
"Marry me." Loki suddenly bloated out, he had been thinking about it for a while now, and he wanted nothing more than Saphira to be his wife and maybe far in the future them making their own little family.
"What?" Saphira asked, pausing to put her empty food cartons back in the take-out bag, and looked up at him.
"Will you marry me, my love." Loki replied, "Think about it, you will be my wife, I will be your husband, no matter where each of us is, or how far apart from each other, you would still be mine, I will still be yours."
"But that's already true." Saphira answered."No matter how far apart or for how long, we will only ever belong to each other." Loki gave her a gentle smile.
"Yes, I know that," Loki answered. "But with Asgardian laws, if we were married, not even Odin could keep us apart for good. He would have to let us see each other, even if married down here on Midgard." Loki took her hand and kissed it. "Besides, I would love for you to be my wife."
"Okay," Saphira answered and couldn't help but smile at the large grin Loki gave her and the love in his eyes. "But will it count, or can we, since I am not an Asgardian citizen anymore."
"Your Mother was able to marry your father without being an Asgardian citizen, darling." Loki answered, "As long as we use the right vows, it'll count, even here on Midgard."
"Good," Saphira replied, smiling.
"Come on, let's go see how Selvig is doing with the cube," Loki said, standing; he kept hold of her hand as he led her down the tunnel.
"Hey, " Salvig greeted them as they walked up. "The tesseract has shown me so much; it's more than knowledge. It's truth."
"I know," Loki answered; he turned to Clint. "And what has it showed you, Agent Barton?"
"My next target," Barton said, opening a case and getting out a bow.
"And what do you need?" Loki asked.
"A distractions." Barton said, "And an eyeball."
"I am sorry, but did he say eyeball," Saphira demanded.
"Indeed." Loki turned to her and laughed a little at the look on her face. "Do not look that way, love; it is not going to be your eye."
"Of course it's not," Saphira said. Loki turned back to Barton, who explained whose eye he needed and why, and the perfect time for Loki to get hold of the guy was in about a week at a Gala in Germany.
"Saphira, darling," Loki asked. "How would you like to get out of here?"
"I would love to." Saphira smiled. Loki grinned, and suddenly his green magic surrounded Saphira; when it was gone, she was suddenly wearing a light blue dress that had long puffy sleeves and silver ribbon that tied up the front; her hair was no longer tangled but flowed down her back in elegant curls, with multiple small braids throughout, and two braids that went from the front around the back and braided into each other down her back; a small gold crown was on her head, with the sides sticking into the braids, her hair over it, keeping it in place.
Saphira looked up at Loki, confused, and watched as his outfit turned into his dressy armor. With gold and white top, black pants, and gold armbands, a crown-like thing was also on his head, but of course, it had those horns sticking out at the top, thankfully, though, they were a lot smaller than on his helmet.
"You look gorgeous, my Queen," Loki said; a mirror appeared in his hand, and he held it out for her to see.
"I do," Saphira said, smiling, "And I have to add, you look gorgeous too, but why the dress up."
"You said you would marry me," Loki explained, making the mirror disappear.
"You want to get married now?" Saphira asks, feeling both surprised and excited.
"Well, after tonight, we may not get the chance for a while." Loki answered, "Plus, we have a whole week before we can get started on our plan, so I thought, what better way to spend the week than time alone, just my new bride and me."
"That does sound wonderful." Saphira grinned and put her arms around Loki's waist; Loki grinned and leaned down and kissed her.
"Do you know anywhere we can go get married?" Loki asks.
"Las Vegas is the only place I know you can get married this late at night." Selvig answered," You'll need a witness, though."
"Barton," Loki called; Barton turned to him.
"Yes, sir," Barton asks.
"You will be our witness," Loki said, smiling down at Saphira.
"Of course," Barton said.
"Now, all we need is to find the proper rings," Loki said.
"You know there is this tradition on Midgard, where the guy gets his wife to be an engagement ring, " Saphira said. "They wear it with the wedding band, and they usually have a big Diamond or other stone on it."
"Oh really?" Loki asks. "You get two rings?"
"Yes." Saphira answered," Though it's usually for a long engagement, I still want one. Barton tell him I'm right."
"She's right, sir." Barton put in, Loki laughed a little.
"You want two rings; you get two," Loki told her. "Anything you want, I will give you as long as can."
"Guess that covers it then." Saphira smiled, "We're going to Las Vegas to get married."
"Indeed, we are." Loki grinned, green eyes sparkling with happiness as he kissed her.
AN Not much happened in this chapter; hopefully, the next will be better, probably be a few days before posting; it's a new chapter I am just writing; I wanted an extra chapter to make Avengers a little longer and decided it should have action, so it's a made-up thing not in the movie.
I wanted to show Loki and Saphira getting married but can't seem to get it right, so it might just be mentioned when thinking back in the next chapter. I might keep trying, though, could end up a one-shot later. I was thinking of posting ones at some point. I even have a one-shot of Loki and Saphira first meeting and one of when her dad finds them together; if anyone wants to read them, I might post them at some, possibly when I get a little farther in the story.
AN With the marriage thing, According to something I read online, Asgard Laws don't allow divorce, not even Odin himself annul, so I am going by that and add the part of having to let them see each other. It's Loki's backup plan, and you might say; Loki does want to marry Saphira, and she him, but it's also a way if they fail, and they get captured, Odin can't keep them apart for long.