Kitri felt strangely restless after her meeting with Loki. A few days after returning to Stark's Tower she decided to send him a message, so she brewed a potion that would get it through to his realm.
Loki got a quizzical look as he saw a neatly folded piece of paper materialize on top of his luxurious bed with a flash of soft silver light. "How curious..." He thought, taking off the towel wrapped around his waist and tossing it to the side and onto the ground, while pushing back his wet raven black hair.
He dressed himself in comfortable trousers, before carefully opening the note and reading the words written in black ink within. "I was promised a drink and a tour. I intend to take you up on that proposal, and will be around two days from now. Perhaps we could meet then? -Kitri"
Kitri could faintly feel that he had received it, and she let out a soft sigh. She sat on the couch in front of a fireplace with a glass of dark red wine, wondering how livid Fury would get if he found out about her plans to meet with Loki.
Tony Stark suddenly walked in through one of the doors leading into this living room and sat in the armchair to her side. He turned on the TV above the fireplace, clicking through various channels.
"Kitri." He addressed her abruptly in acknowledgement as he nodded, before returning his attention back to the television. He seemed to settle on some program on extreme engineering, showing the construction of various complicated structures around the world.
"Such a lovely night to be awake... Yet you choose to remain around here?" She asked curiously.
Ironically enough, the episode was about Tony's tower that they were currently occupying.
"These idiots don't know what the hell they're talking about..." He commented quietly while shaking his head, before turning off the TV and sighing as he put down the remote. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I'm busy working on some new tech... Unfortunately it's not working out too well yet."
Kitri showed an empathetic smile. "I understand... I am not unfamiliar with the frustrations of failed creations. Wish for me to brew anything for you? I can make some tea or coffee. My skills are not only in potions."
Tony looked up at her with newly spiked interest. "Speaking of... Where are you from? When Natasha found you on the outskirts of the city, she said you were covered in burns and were half delirious. You had half of Fury's agents running around freaking out from your little appearance here."
Kitri let out a deep sigh after some hesitation. "I suppose you deserve to know, especially since you have shown me such a warm welcome into your home... I would greatly appreciate it if you kept this away from the others, or at least from Thor for the time being. I wish to tell him in my own time... Let us just say that some sensitive politics may be involved with Odin and some of his people."
Tony nodded and leaned in, resting his elbows on his thighs while letting his hands drop between his legs as he waited for her to continue.
"I am sure Thor has informed you that there are nine realms in existence. I was originally from the west realm of Vanaheim... Our people retreated to the forests and are known for using seiðr magic. Most used it in an attempt to see into the future, which I always had little interest in, but I excelled in the art of sorcery...
Loved pushing its boundaries."
Tony couldn't help but interupt. "So you're one of those goddesses, like the ones on Thor's realm or something?"
Kitri shook her head, furrowing her brows in thought. "Not quite... The Vanir are very proud people, and yes I was one of them, yet not quite a goddess. My interest in magic kept growing, and some of the Vanir started growing suspicious." She admitted as she let out a deep sigh. "To shorten the story, a rumor started out of spite that I was partaking in dark magic, and it reached the ears of Njord, the king of my realm. With the threat of war with Odin on everyones minds, they decided to make the safest and quickest decision. Which, unfortunately for me, was to strip me of my powers and banish me to Muspelheim."
Tony raised a questioning eyebrow, before Kitri quickly explained as she noticed his confusion. "Fire realm. Occupied by fire giants and demons... Of course the person they instructed with taking away my powers was not entirely successful, and I had retained just enough to survive. Although barely. Pushed all of my might into being able to control the flames so I would not succumb to them. I can still smell the ash and sulfur..." Kitri shuddered, closing her eyes.
Tony looked at her with a bit of concern. "Let's save the rest for another time, sweetheart. Wouldn't want to make you upset and start another fire in my tower." Kitri nodded, her cheeks flushing red in embarrassment at his reference to a prior incident she caused in his home. She took a long sip of her wine while avoiding eye contact.
Midgardian wine barely did anything to get her drunk, but at least it tasted nice. Overall she was just deeply appreciative of the fact that Tony gave her full access to his reserve.
He stood up and walked over to her, gently putting a hand on her shoulder. "Well, either way I'm glad you are here and are willing to help us."
Kitri gave him a soft smile and a nod of appreciation as Tony slowly made his way back toward his labs. She watched the fire burning in the fireplace while slowly sipping from her glass, occasionally moving her fingers to command the flames to dance around in willing patterns.
Although the two days on Midgard seemed like they stretched for an eternity, Kitri eventually found herself back in Asgard, seated proudly at an exclusive bar within Odin's halls that only elites frequented.
It was a beautiful area full of gold and white marble, gods and goddesses sitting around and drinking while enjoying themselves.
Loki grinned as he saw her sitting at the bar, looking around in wonder at all the glass bottles and vials displayed behind the counter.
She did not look too out of place surrounded by the elites, aside from her fire red hair standing out from the usual blondes and brunettes. She had a golden white wine in hand, the waiter having given her a Midgardian type that Odin had the servants keep available for visitors ever since Thor first returned from Midgard. A sudden hand on Kitri's shoulder startled her, and she quickly turned around.
Loki had managed to get right behind her without making a sound, and he was proudly looking down at her bewildered expression. "Why hello, my sweet." He spoke with a smile as he pulled the chair next to her back so he could sit beside her.
She composed herself and nodded to him politely. "Loki. You arrived here quickly."
He chuckled "I must be quite honest, I was very much looking forward to seeing you again... I see you are drinking that mortal wine?" He noted as he looked down toward her beverage.
She smiled, and without a word pushed her glass towards him in encouragement to try some.
Loki's mind ran wild at the boldness of her action after practically just meeting him, but he obligated and took a sip, immediately returning it to her with a sour expression. "Weak." He quietly let out in disapproval. Kitri laughed at his reaction as he requested a glass of Asgardian red wine.
He moved it towards her in a similar welcoming gesture. "Careful now... Your mortal mind may not be able to handle the difference. This is a special kind of wine made by the well known Aegir. He is famed for his brews, and it is reserved only for gods closest to the throne and their chosen guests." He purred, taking pleasure in showing off the significance of his drink.
Kitri smirked and took a small sip, and her eyes grew wide. "It is incredible! Would you be willing to let me have a glass? I ask this while disregarding the fact of how very presumptuous it is for you to assume I am a mortal." She winked at him, downing the rest of her wine as Loki motioned for the servant to get her a glass of the one he let her try. "I may have a shorter lifespan than you Æsir gods, but I am certainly not mortal either." It was a slip of information, and she looked away with a tinge of awkwardness, hoping he wouldn't press further on what she just said.
Loki looked at her quizzically, curious at her distasteful tone and use of such an old and outdated term for his people. "Yet your mention of not being from Midgard remains clear in my memory... Care to shed light on this? As an aside, yes, you are very well considered an elite guest while you are in my presence."
She smiled, but then looked up at him with a bit of hesitation, taking a moment to think if she should tell him of her past. Last she remembered, the people of Asgard were almost at war with her realm, but she quickly decided it should not matter now that she was already there as a representative of a middle realm. Also for some odd reason she felt very naturally comfortable around Loki, even though they've only been around eachother briefly.
"Vanaheim..." She whispered quickly. "But I have not been there for a long time, and am not someone who belongs there."
Loki's eyes grew wide. "My mother was from that realm... Yet your name does not sound like an ordinary Vanir name I have heard before."
"It is not. My name now is something I created with some help after I was banished. My given name was Sigyn of Vanaheim, but as I have said, I no longer belong to that realm. The sound of it only serves as a reminder that even those who named me did not stand up for me when I was wrongfully accused and banished." She added coldly.
Loki let out a soft slightly indifferent "hmm" in response.
They talked about their pasts, Loki finding that he quickly felt comfortable enough around her to tell her about his adoption, although still avoiding the topic of his Jötunn origin. They both were outcast in one way or another, and it felt comforting to meet someone with that similar kind of unfortunate past.
"Any idea what caused the suspicion and jealousy involved with your banishment?" He asked.
Kitri blushed, looking down into her glass and slowly swirling around its contents. "I may have seduced a few wives of some important people that the king had quite an ear for..." She admitted, trying to look nonchalant as she avoided eye contact.
Loki let out a delighted chuckle. "It seems I have someone who is also quite devious to deal with!"
She bit her lip to try to hide a smile. "A welcome company, I would imagine."
"Why the Avengers?" Loki questioned again, his expression turning back to one of curiosity. It was strange to meet someone who was so straightforward and likeminded, but she really did not seem to have any reservations to giving him any personal information he asked of her.
"They found me once I was able to escape." Kitri admitted with a shrug. "Midgard was not exactly where I desired to go, but I just needed to be out of there, no matter which realm I went to."
This time Loki was unable to hide his surprise, and took hold of one of her hands underneath the table as he leaned in closer. "You managed to travel all the way to another realm on your own?" He asked in amazement as he gently squeezed her hand in his.
Kitri's breath hitched as she momentarily lost her train of thought, noticing how incredibly warm and soft his hands felt on hers. She cleared her throat, gently squeezing his fingers that were wrapped around her hand and continued. "It took a huge toll, along with being there for what felt like an eternity... I did get help from one of the fire demons I had made a close connection with there. That being said, I do not think I will ever have even close to the level of control over magic as I did before my banishment... Aside from having command of fire. Which has, quite literally I might add, burned itself into me from having to survive in that cursed place..." She said with a sigh. "Otherwise I cannot do anything without the help of ingredients."
Her tone was one of sadness, but Loki ignored that, choosing to respond with positivity before giving her an adorable toothy grin. "I would very much like to see your skill in potion making."
She lightly placed a hand on his thigh, which made his breath catch in his throat as she looked up at him. "That can definitely be arranged... To be quite honest, I do not have much of an attachment to the Avengers, but I do owe some gratitude toward some of them for taking care of me. I am not exactly a person who is... let us say comfortable with any sort of permanent noble purpose or commitment."
Loki smirked. "Neither am I, as I am sure you may be well aware."
She looked up at him in bewilderment, her face slightly flushed from the wine. "God of mischief himself is enjoying Asgardian wine with me..." She murmured softly as she shook her head in disbelief.
Loki chuckled. "I do not believe it is just the wine that I am enjoying."
"I will be even more forward then, Loki..." She said as as she leaned back a little and crossed her legs, looking over him with a flirty smile. "You are quite attractive to me."
He grinned proudly before thinking of how to respond. "You clearly stood out to me the moment you entered the throne room. Now that you have reached out, I am even more intrigued."
Loki then held a finger under her chin and gave her a soft kiss. It was short and soft, but it left her completely dazed as his lips pressed against hers with such gentle yet strong purpose.
He then continued. "You must be aware, being around me will not provide you with any sort of stability, let alone security."
Kitri smiled as she bit her lip, studying his features before answering. "Now why would I want something as silly as that after all I have been through? I cannot promise you anything of that sort either."
His eyes showed a spark of excitement. "Oh... You are going to be so much fun. Yet... I should keep my promise and show you around Odin's halls."
Loki led her around Asgard, mostly taking the time to show her some of the beautiful gardens around. "I never thought a place like this could exist." She turned to look at him in wonder, her eyes sparkling with excitement. He walked up and looked down at her, his height making him tower over her as she looked up at him. He snaked his arms around her waist and just stood there looking down at her for a few seconds, drinking in her slightly vulnerable expression.
He moved his face down to hers and kissed her, slowly and passionately, taking his time to enjoy how her lips and breath felt on his. He felt her grip onto his waist to pull his body closer to her, and he deepened the kiss as she moaned into it. They pulled apart after what felt like the longest kiss either of them have ever had.
Kitri had experienced hungry and lustful kissing before, but not drawn out and passionate like this. It felt like her head was filled with cotton, making thinking impossible.
"You..." she breathed, before just shaking her head at a loss for words.
He inhaled sharply from the sound of her voice with such a sultry gaze on him, but she did not continue. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder, closing her eyes as she tried to catch her breath. Her face was flushed, and the cool leather felt pleasant against her skin.
"Just that kiss alone has me so incredibly drawn to you... Perhaps you would like to join me in my chambers tonight?" He purred, and she bit her lip stifling a moan at the thought of spending the night in his bed.
"I will have to ask for a rain check..." She whispered.
Loki pulled away a little and looked down at her in confusion. "It does not rain very often in Asgard."
Kitri laughed. "That is a Midgardian expression. Thor expects to take me back to Stark's Tower in about an hour. So as much as I would love to, I cannot do it tonight. Although I will be holding on to your invitation for the near future."
Loki grinned widely. "Fantastic. I will be looking forward to it."
He eventually lead her back to Heimdall at his spot by the Bifrost. Thor joined soon after, and Loki backed away from Kitri to avoid too much unwanted attention. "Brother! Are you treating our guest well??" Thor's deep voice was loud and booming.
Loki shot Kitri a quick glance before facing his brother. "I choose to believe so, but you may need to ask our guest yourself to be certain."
Thor looked at Kitri with a wide smile.
"He did indeed, I would prefer to come back and spend more time here if that is permissible? Perhaps next time Thor comes to visit it would be acceptable for me to stay for a few days?" Her words were chosen carefully to be direct, yet cause no suspicion at her request.
Thankfully Thor looked pleased, and he walked over to Loki and slammed his hand over his shoulders, Loki wincing from the impact. "That sounds fantastic! I will keep you informed."
Kitri tried to hide a victorious smile.
As they vanished into Midgard, Loki sighed, realizing with frustration that he would not be able to keep her out of his thoughts any time soon.