koryandrs: I'm glad you liked it, it was something which I was kinda playing with for a need for words. I couldn't help but think that Jane would be clueless when it came to cooking because she's so... focused on her work. :P
Thank you all for the follows and favorites, they are greatly appreciated. By all means, tell me what you think of the chapters, I look forward to hearing from you. :) But we are a whole week ahead of schedule :D Huzzah. Thank you Lithia Sunset for the quick beta-ing. I don't know if you read the chapters, but you're awesome. :) Okay, on with the story.
Prince Helblindi looked out on the wilderness of Jotunheim, the crown of his father simply draped in his limp hand. As heir apparent, it seemed natural that he should be king... but within him, Helblindi doubted whether it was a good idea. He remembered far too keenly how his father, Laufey, was a complete tyrant – even to his own family – ruling with a hand of iron. The very crown which he held in his hand, the very source of his father's power. Helblindi had hated him, and a part of him was thankful to his runt-brother Loki for tricking Laufey so as to kill him. It was one thing which now he didn't have to worry about doing himself... but now there was another problem at hand. One which Helblindi hadn't foreseen, and could blame his older brother about – two to be exact.
The second Prince, Blyeistr, his half-brother, was one – the younger Jotun fully prepared to start a civil war with him over the crown. It almost made him heartbroken that his brother would turn on him so quickly, so willing to destroy centuries of familial ties over something so trivial as power. Already Blyeistr was building ties with Helblindi's second problem: Thanos.
The Jotun Crown-Prince groaned as he remembered the meeting with Thanos' second in command. To say the least, Helblindi had not appreciated the visit. He was already worried about the war with his brother, and when the Other had told him that Thanos was contemplating taking over the Nine Realms, Helblindi had thrown him out of his halls. He could no risk open war with only a shaky treaty with Asgard, one opponent he could handle, but not two... and most certainly not Asgard.
"Helblindi?" a female voice echoed through the ice hall. Her black hair shimmered in the dimly-lit hall, her air that of royalty. Her features were sharp, but beautifully so, her appearance more that of an Aesir than a Frost Giant, as her eyes shone like emeralds. She was thin, and short in comparison to the Frost Giants with whom she resided, but she was warmly dressed, so as to acclimate. Her name? Farbauti: Queen Mother of Jotunheim. "Does something trouble you my son?" she asked.
The prince stood, descending the steps to join the woman on the floor. She shifted her form to that of a Frost Giant, allowing her son to hug her from his level. "Many things trouble me, Mother." he replied. "I know not where to begin."
She nodded, tracing the markings which trailed down his cheeks in a comforting manner. "I know about your visitor from a few weeks ago, is that what troubles you?" she asked.
Helblindi shook his head, turning around to sit back on the throne. "It is one of the things which trouble me. The other is that of Blyeistr, I fear he has made an agreement with Thanos – for this crown." he replied, lifting the crown and examining it. With a grunt, he threw it across the room, holding his head in his hands.
A hand rested on his shoulder, and Helblindi turned toward his mother. "You are the king of Jotunheim, Helblindi, even your brother cannot take that away from you. The Jotuns are loyal to you alone. He will never win that." she said in a comforting voice.
"He has already won half of my people's hearts." Helblindi replied, "He has already split any kingdom which I may have had in half." he growled.
"You are still its king." Farbauti replied. "And those who oppose you will be considered traitors."
"They view me as the traitor, Mother." Helblindi replied morosely. "For I did not attack Asgard when I had the chance – I did not seek revenge for my father's betrayal."
She kissed his brow. "It is not an ability to take vengeance that makes a good king." she said. "But do you truly worry about your brother?"
"I do, mother." Helblindi replied. "For he has made it clear that when we meet in battle he will kill me... I wonder if he will join Thanos in attacking Midgard?" he mused aloud.
"Midgard?" Farbauti repeated. "And why would your brother care for that place?"
"To kill Loki of course." Helblindi answered quickly, forgetting momentarily that his mother was still ignorant of what her eldest son had been up to the last few years. After Laufey's death, she had been informed as to who had killed her husband, and although she had shed tears for her lost-son's thought-death, she had been grateful to her eldest. He had freed her from her husband, and for that she loved him.
Farbauti's curious look was all it took for Helblindi to inform her of what the Other had told him about his brother... and that it was Loki's fault that Thanos was going to attack Midgard, and had asked for Jotunheim's assistance. For a few minutes Farbauti was silent, contemplating what she had learned about Loki.
"Mother?" Helblindi prompted. "Was I wrong to tell you?"
She shook her head. "No, my son. You were not." she replied as the doors of the throne room opened and a guard came in announcing a visitor from Asgard who wished to see the prince. Helblindi prepared to throw him out when Farbauti stayed his hand. "I shall excuse myself, my son. I have some things I must see to. Besides, we should stay on the good side of Asgard, they may be our only allies against Blyeistr when the time comes."
Helblindi sighed, she was right. Although he was not pleased to lose his mother's company so quickly, he knew that she would do what she wanted anyways. "Very well, send them in." he told the guard, placing the crown on his head for appearance sake, and watching as his visitor entered. "Welcome, Lady Sif, to my halls..."
Unknown to him, his mother had made a decision – and could only hope that what she had planned would work. Shedding her thick cloak, she prepared to traverse through the roots of Yggdrasil.
That night, Loki couldn't sleep. His mind centered on what he had learned about Elizabeth earlier in the afternoon. It was more obvious than before that she had a secret to hide, one which was dangerous, and she wasn't all that she had seemed. But what hid behind her smiles and free-seeming nature? He had sensed something dangerous about her earlier, something which caused him to worry – of course, he had played on her in that moment, trying to goad information out of her. However, he had been disappointed, and had not gotten much out of her.
A bit of excitement went through him as he contemplated how to find out what it was she hid – after all, he wasn't called 'Silvertongue' for nothing. She was a woman, surely that would be easy to manipulate with even with her cold attitude toward him. Although he knew he could not boast being a man that the ladies of Asgard fancied, he knew that Midgardians were different. Aesir were considered more pleasing to the eye, and surely it would be easy to trick the young Elizabeth into believing that he loved her so that she would trust him. Eliizabeth was an enigma to him, but he was sure that with a few well-placed words he would get her to unlock her secrets – or at least, that was the plan.
He knew that Stark had sent her back to work the next day, but there was no doubt in his mind that he could get her back in the topmost floors of Stark Tower within the next 48 hours. That thought in his mind, he settled down in his bed to think.
Unfortunately for him, his memories of the Chitauri dungeons plagued his dreams, meaning that he woke screaming.
Thanos was getting impatient. In all the millennia he had been alive, Thanos never had to wait so long just to fulfill his plans. The Other had given him more information which their Midgardian informant – the Mutant, Shaw – had given him, and apparently there was a new issue at hand.
The Avengers were not only forming, they were growing. Not that that concerned the Mad Titan too much, mere mortals were not something which he thought were a true challenge. No, what really concerned him was the fact that the gatekeeper Heimdall had spoken to the Allfather – according to his informant on Asgard – and that Odin was planning on sending Asgardian diplomats to the Nine Realms, and had already won a few to his side.
The Ljósálfar elves had already sided with Asgard, and its queen was already in the process of fortifying Alfheim. Despite its rather shaky past, Helblindi had been contacted by the Allfather, and for a particular price, half of the Jötans were their allies – for now. The second prince was now on his side with the promise of the Jotun crown given to him. Thanos knew that the bastard prince's hatred could be used to play him, even against Midgard.
The other Nine Realms had answered, with their allegiances being forged both openly – in the case of those who sided with Asgard – and in secret, as was the case with those who sided with Thanos. Already the Dökkálfar had answered him, and most sided with him. Muspelheim had done the same, Nifleheim deciding to remain neutral.
Thanos chuckled to himself, knowing the prophecy of old – that Loki would bring Ragnarok – he had already surmised that this must be what the elders had foreseen. The Half-breed's idiotic wanting to rule Midgard had brought Thanos' wrath upon him, and therefore upon Asgard – and since we were on the subject, Midgard had also proven to be somewhat of a threat.
Yet, Shaw from Midgard had also come with information on a weakness which the Avengers had. Their women. Although it seemed trivial, and rather unoriginal, Thanos had to admit that those particular individuals would probably be very useful to him in the future. If men had one weakness, it was seeing their women in danger... and that was exactly what would happy. Shaw assured him that he could easily get the women within his grasp, all he needed was the word.
And it all could be blamed on one person: Loki. So, if one saw it in a particular light, one would surmise that he would be responsible. Thanos couldn't help but smile at that. Poor fool would realize his mistake too late. The realms were all taking sides, and soon a great battle would be waged, in which no realm would be untouched. All the realms would belong to him.
But it would begin in Midgard.
The sound of keyboards typing and phones ringing filled the legal sector of Stark Tower, followed with 'Hello's and 'How can I help you?'. Lizzie drank her second cup of coffee, quite surprised with how busy they were today – typically the legal department was easy work, no phones ringing off the hook. Apparently that wasn't the case today, although Lizzie surmised that it had something to do with the legal precedence over a few new Stark items which had been recently patented. She was thankful for her office door, it muted out most of the annoying noise.
Well, that was until a knock resounded on said door.
"Come in." she called out, looking up as it opened. Pat's head stuck around, "Hello, what did Micro-Systems say about the patents on that chip that was sent last week?" Lizzie asked.
Pat blinked. "What?"
"I sent you that information didn't I?" Lizzie asked, looking at her desk.
"Oh, that, yeah you did. They haven't gotten back to me yet." Pat replied. "But that's not why I'm here..."
"Oh?" Lizzie replied with a chuckle. "Why are you here then?"
Pat looked behind her. "Do you know anything about a big-headed lawyer from Harvard coming in to help us out now that Mrs. Langley is out of the business for the next few months?"
"Uh... no." Lizzie answered. "I was under the impression that Emma would be returning soon and that I would be in charge until then. Jarvis?"
"Miss Potts did say something about a replacement to Mr. Stark yesterday, Miss Donovan... but I do not think that he authorized this." the AI replied. "Shall I inform him that there is an intruder?"
Lizzie laughed. "Don't worry about it Jarvis, just tell Mrs. Langley that someone wishes to replace her, she'll take care of it." she answered. "In the meantime, Pat, send the woman in – oh wait, what's her name?"
"Nell Shiffer I think." Pat replied.
"Shiffer? What is she, a mop?" Lizzie asked sarcastically, cleaning up her desk at a surprisng rate.
"No that's swiffer."
Lizzie gave Pat a condescending look, shooing her out of her office and cleaning up. Another knock resounded on the door, and once more Lizzie shouted 'Come in'.
"Emma Langley?" a silky voice asked from the doorway, causing Lizzie's brown eyes to snap up. When she did so, her jaw felt like dropping. The woman was stunning. Her black hair, green eyes, and lithe figure making Lizzie wonder if Loki had a twin, and if he did, why he was keeping her a secret. She wondered vaguely if it was Loki, she had read the mythology over the last few days, and his shapeshifting abilities were well documented. "May I come in?"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry." Lizzie replied quickly. "I'm not Emma, by the way." she stretched her hand out. "Elizabeth Donovan, I'm Mrs. Langley's assistant."
"Ah, I see." the woman replied, her voice having a hint of an accent which if Lizzie was to place, she would give it British. "Nell Shiffer, its a pleasure."
"Unfortunately Mrs. Langley is not in the office, her husband just died and she's currently in grief. She's been given the next few months off." Lizzie replied.
Nell nodded, her eyes which reminded Lizzie too much of Loki's roving around the office. "So I'd been informed. Are you to do the interview then?"
Lizzie's mouth gaped like a fish, "I have no idea. I just found out you were here, quite frankly I had no warning." she then sat down.
"Though if so, I suppose we could start with a little bit about yourself?"
"Is that what your interview was like?" Nell asked. Lizzie nodded. "Very well... what would you like to know?"
"Age perhaps?" Lizzie asked, "remember I have no idea what I'm doing."
Nell laughed lightheartedly, the sound quite pleasant to listen to. "In my thirties." she finally answered. "We can't expect a direct answer to that question, now can we?"
"You have a twin brother?" Lizzie mumbled.
"Excuse me?" Nell asked. "What was that?"
Lizzie cleared her throat. "Nothing, nothing, you just remind me of someone I know." she answered. "Uh, where are you from?"
"I was born in Norway originally, but my father moved about quite a bit. I've lived in various locations around the world before I was finally allowed to settle down when I was in my twenties. I got married, had a few children – do you like this man who you say I remind you of?" Nell asked in return. The question caught Lizzie off guard, and she accidentally choked on the coffee she was drinking. "Are you alright?" Nell asked concernedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Lizzie replied, clearing her throat a few more times. "To be quite honest the guy drives me up a wall. He's got some serious honesty issues, as well as a god-complex, tends to believe himself above everyone else. Ants he likes to call us, its like watching a supped up version of Sherlock Holmes, his narcissism is through the roof. Also he's determined not to like me, which is okay... but that's a bit personal. Where did you go to school, Miss Shiffer?"
"Harvard." Nell answered. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"No problem, I understand, I did just compare you to someone I knew, its logical to be curious." Lizzie replied nonchalantly. "Now out of my curiosity, if you don't mind, how many kids do you have?"
Nell smiled. "Two boys." she answered. "One is back in Norway with his father's family, the other... well, he was adopted when he was a baby. He was my firstborn, but his father didn't like the fact that I had had a child."
Lizzie blushed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." she apologized.
"Its natural to be curious, Elizabeth." Nell replied kindly. "I did say I had sons."
"So you did." Lizzie replied, repressing the shudder at her full name... the woman said it with the same inflection Loki did on average.
"What makes you think that you'll be good for this job? I mean, its only a temp place, and its got really no reward."
"It will put Stark Industries on my resume. That and I'm not looking for a permanent job, I'm just looking for a jumping spot. I'm looking for my son, you see." Nell answered. "He's here in New York and I'm trying to get in contact with him. Once that's done I'll probably go back to Norway."
"The elder one?" Lizzie asked. "What's his name?"
Nell smiled sadly. "Luke."
The brunette on the other side of the desk had an empathic smile on her face. "I hope you find him." she said as the door suddenly opened behind Nell and Tony Stark came in. "Mr. Stark?"
"Last I looked, and I looked in the mirror only about two minutes ago – thirty seconds if you count the mirror in the hall." Tony replied, looking Nell over with a critical eye. "So you're the wannabe temp?"
Nell stood, her hand outstretched. "Nell Shiffer. Tony Stark I presume, also known as Ironman?"
"You don't presume at all." Tony said. "Its a pleasure Miss Shiffer, I suppose that Miss Donovan was good enough to already perform a interview?"
"In a manner of speaking." Lizzie replied. "Technically its not my place."
"Place?" Tony scoffed. "You've been listening to Reindeer Games far too much. He's the one who cares about 'places'. Speaking of him, she looks like him."
Nell laughed, looking back at Elizabeth. "Uh, 'Reindeer Games' wouldn't happen to be causing poor Elizabeth so many problems?" she said with a twinkle in her green eyes.
Tony smirked. "He is." he answered. "Tell me something, have you ever been convicted of something illegal?"
The raven-haired beauty looked up at the sky with contemplation. "Uh, no I don't think so."
"Then you're hired. Emma's not coming back for six months, if ever again. I'm sure Vitalii over here would enjoy having a boss again – just don't be surprised if I take her from you from time to time. She's got a bit of a place up at the apartments, and if I had my way she'd be my cook 24/7... unfortunately I signed the whole business over to my girlfriend so I don't call the shots anymore." Tony replied, giving Lizzie a pointed look. "For your knowledge, RG has been a total ass all day. I think he misses you."
"Yeah, like he'd miss getting stabbed in the gut." Lizzie quipped.
"You think I'm kidding." Tony replied. "He scared my cook half out of his mind this morning for breakfast, I never thought I'd see poor Kato in such a fright, but Prongs succeeded –" he paused. "Prongs... I like that. I'm gonna start calling him 'Prongs', I'm sure he'll like that."
"I doubt he'll understand the reference." Lizzie mumbled.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, your boyfriend is smart, he'll get it."
"Stark!" Lizzie snapped. "He is not my boyfriend!"
"Really? You should have seen him this morning with Powerpuff Boy. I thought he would have killed him when the dumbass said something about how hot you were... well, him and Blade."
"Blade?"
"Wolverine." Tony answered. "Hey, is there something between you two?"
"I thought you just said that I was dating Lo – Prongs?" Lizzie caught her slip, looking at an amused Nell. She wondered what the woman thought of her just assigned co-workers.
"Well Prongs may have competition with Moony... damn, I'm coming up with great names here – all we need is a Padfoot and Wormtail and we have the Marauders." Tony replied.
Lizzie's brown eyes rolled. "You're a child, Tony."
"That's not new news, Pepper tells me all the time – get a new line." Tony replied. "Come up for lunch, okay Vitalii?"
"Why? So you can keep annoying me?" Lizzie asked. "No thanks."
"Hey, I'm just being the annoying brother you never had." Tony replied, walking over and giving Lizzie a one-armed hug. "I like you kid, if I didn't I wouldn't tease you so much."
"Really? You tease Prongs ever so much." Lizzie replied.
Tony smiled, "I never said I didn't like the egotistical bastard. I think we could get along fine if he didn't want to take over the world." he said, kissing her temple in a friendly manner before walking out of the office.
Nell and Lizzie exchanged a glance before Lizzie blushed deep scarlet. "Well, that was the supreme boss." she said. "What do you think?"
The older woman smiled. "I like him." she replied, easing Lizzie's worries with her tone. "And I like you as well, Elizabeth. I hope we can work well together."
Lizzie smiled. "I hope so too, Nell."
Nell looked around once more. "Now, where is my new office?"
When Lizzie did arrive at the apartments of Stark Tower, she saw just what Tony had been referring to. Kato the cook, whose real name was: Kevin Alexander Thomas Olivier, acronym 'KATO' was indeed scared out of his wits. Lizzie could see the man scrambling around the kitchen, obviously shaken. She scoffed, walking away from the kitchen in search of any other forms of life.
"Jarvis, where is everyone?" she asked.
"Well Mr. Stark as well as the Avengers are currently in another meeting." Jarvis replied.
"Another? Damn how many meetings are they going to have?" Lizzie asked.
If Jarvis could have chuckled, he would have. "I am afraid I don't know, Miss Donovan. Loki, however, is currently in the family room... reading."
"And the ladies?"
"Out currently. Miss Darcy wished to take Miss Emma out for the day and the others followed them. They should be back in time for lunch." Jarvis replied.
Lizzie 'hmph'd and walked into the living room. Loki sat on the couch, aimlessly tossing a small ball in the air and catching it deftly in his fingers before tossing it again. "I see you have returned." he said.
She looked around. "Yes, it would appear so." she replied. "Though you obviously had fun in my absence."
"Whatever gave you that impression?" Loki asked in return, not even bothering to turn to Lizzie. "Midgard is rather boring."
"Perhaps the burned food in the kitchen..." she trailed off. "Whatever did the cook do to you except make you food? From what I know, he's one of the better chefs of New York."
Loki finally turned to her. "Nothing."
"So you just... scared him for no reason?" she offered.
"No." Loki replied. "I never do anything without a reason, your mind simply is too innate to understand why I would do such a thing."
She nodded, waiting for him to continue, but he didn't. "Then why don't you explain it like you were explaining it to a small child?" she asked, trying to brush off his thinly veiled insult. "Loki, why did you mess with him?"
"He said something which disturbed me." Loki answered, tossing the ball in the air again.
"Disturbed people do not scare others." Lizzie replied in a patient tone. "What did he say?"
He turned once more to her, seemingly contemplating the idea of telling her. "It doesn't matter." he answered, sitting up from his lounged place. "There is something else which I wish to discuss with you."
Her eyebrows raised. "You wish to discuss something with me?" she asked skeptically. "Wish?"
"Yes, Elizabeth, I know what I said – stop focusing on such trivial words!" Loki snapped.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I'm just shocked."
"We speak on a regular basis since your coming here." Loki retorted. "Why does it surprise you so much?"
"Because you typically don't choose to 'speak' with me on your own accord... usually its forced and talking to you is like pulling teeth." Lizzie replied. "But what did you want to talk to me about, Loki?"
He sighed, laying back down to distract himself from Elizabeth as he tossed the ball in the air. "Quite simply I wish to apologize for my behavior. You did not deserve my previous attitude toward you, and for that I am sorry." he rushed out quickly, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He did not apologize to anyone, especially some irritating little mortal – indeed, for he had only earlier in the day insulted Thor's woman and had not apologized for it. He had no intention of it either. When she did not reply, he turned his head to look at her.
Her shock was obvious to him, and he knew that Elizabeth was just as surprised that he said it of his own accord. Her brown eyes were widened, with the brows practically disappearing into her hair, with her jaw only slightly open. Seconds ticked by, and Loki was getting impatient. Perhaps she did not believe him – which would be possible, she had not been fooled by him in the past.
"I don't believe you."
Damn.
"Why wouldn't you? I said it didn't I?" Loki asked.
Elizabeth shook her brown head, "Yes, you did – and I would like to believe you, Loki, I would. I don't like dealing with animosity, its not something I relish. I'm not a sadist..." she said, sitting down in a chair opposite of Loki.
"Then what comes into your way?" Loki asked quietly, silently fuming at her perception.
"You lack conviction... you said it completely devoid of emotion, completely unfeeling." she answered. "For example, if you meant it you would have looked me in the eye when you did it, allowing me to see whether you were sincere by looking into your eyes. Its very different, Loki."
He rolled his eyes, wondering just how she had known. Convincing her would obviously be a harder task than he had originally thought. "I don't apologize to anyone, Elizabeth, you should take it a little more seriously that I apologized at all instead of giving me requirements." he retorted.
"It has nothing to do with requirements, Loki." she replied gently, gentler than he had ever heard her speak to him. It was nearly how he had heard her speak to her friends and little Andrew, it made him turn to her. "I am not going to accept your apology unless you mean it because it would be a lie. Yes, you are the god of lies, I know this, but it doesn't mean I have to accept it."
Loki scoffed. "You accept what you must, that is the way of life."
"Yes, you do." she replied. "But as it turns out, I don't have to accept your false apology."
"What is it you want, woman?" he exclaimed, his eyes meeting hers.
"Truth." she answered easily. "Honesty. Its a lonely word, Loki, but if you favored it instead of your lies you might be in a better place than you are."
He jumped off the couch, now towering over her menacingly. "There is nothing wrong with me." he snarled.
She chuckled, standing to her own height, which was rather short. Slowly, gently, she placed a palm on his cheek, making him freeze his movement. He wasn't sure how to react to her strange behavior. "Sure there is, Loki. Maybe not as a man, but rather with your choices."
"And how about your choices?" he asked in return. "You ask for my honesty – for truth. Yet, you keep your past a secret." She flinched, her hand leaving his cheek, but he caught her wrist in his hand turning it over and pushing her sleeve up to show her scar. "How can you expect me to trust you when you are quite the liar yourself?" he asked in a calmer voice.
She snarled, trying to snatch her hand back but he kept it firmly in his own. "What do you know about anything, Loki?" she snapped, her eyes suddenly taking on a glow of recognition. "You bastard!" she hissed. "You were trying to manipulate me, weren't you? No wonder the supposed apology! You complete and utter bastard!"
Loki was almost expecting it when he was suddenly dropped to his knees by the force of her power, but he did not release her hand, dragging her down with him. What surprised him was that she did not paralyze the limb as she knelt by his side, forcing him to look at her.
"You know nothing about my life!" she spat. "And yet you think that you can play with my emotions to know? I am not that naïve, Loki!"
"You have yet to let me speak in my defense, Elizabeth." he replied calmly. "I was not manipulating you."
"Liar!" she exclaimed. "You look me dead in the eyes and you try to tell me you weren't trying to manipulate me into trusting you? Into giving you what you want?"
"I sincerely meant my apology." he continued to say, this time looking her in the eyes. She stopped, her eyes searching his for lies; yet, he could see she wanted to believe him. It was as if she wished to forgive him after all.
"If you are lying to me." she began calmly. "If you are manipulating me in any respect whatsoever...you will regret you ever asked my forgiveness. Are you sure you wish to take the chance of my retaliation if I find out you're lying?"
"You honestly think that you can do anything to me?" he asked.
She raised an eyebrow. "For a man who wants my forgiveness, it may not be wise to insult me right now." she replied.
Loki seethed, but said nothing on the matter. She was a demanding bint, but he had a part to play – and that meant pretending to be sincerely apologetic. He threw himself fully into the actor he knew he could be. "Have your requirements been met?" he asked haughtily.
Lizzie pursed her lips. "As little as you can do, I suppose it counts." she replied. "You're forgiven... somewhat. Don't expect me to suddenly pour out my life-story over a cup of tea, if you're sincere I'll know it. But be aware that I will be watching you until I know for sure. I'm not going to trust you immediately."
He smirked, this time genuinely. "Oh, I know you won't."
The sound of the Avengers talking could be heard in the hall, and together, Loki and Lizzie got up off the floor.
"Hey Vitalii!" Tony greeted, "You came after all."
"I said I would didn't I?" she replied. "Though I feel kinda guilty. Its Nell's first day on the job, and you forced me to abandon her for lunch with you when I should be helping her acclimate." She was unaware that her wrist was still in Loki's larger hand, her mind completely ignoring it as if it were something ordinary. Later, she would wonder at why she had allowed it for so long, but now she simply chatted with Tony in complete ignorance.
He knew however, and was lazily tracing patterns on the scar which still made him curious. He had won this round, and knew within him that he would have to now be careful at how he behaved around her. He smiled smugly as Thor took him away from the group to discuss something about preparing for Thanos – he had no doubt that very soon he would know all there was to know about Elizabeth Donovan, and then he wouldn't care one whit about her. That rather gleeful thought in mind, he was left in a good mood as he dealt with Thor.
Little did he know that the Norns had another plan entirely, and in setting a trap for Elizabeth, he was – in fact – about to fall into their own.
well? How was it? I know that once upon a time someone asked how long Lizzie would hate Loki - does this answer the question? let me know in the review box below, as I crave reviews. They keep me going, and when I don't get any I start to get concerned. so review? maybe?