Ryuno Chu: Yes he does, and he's only about to begin to realize it.
LunashiranaRavyn: Sorry I have to make you endure it, but hey, plot works better that way. But don't cry :'( I don't like making people cry.
Katherine Winchester: I apologize profusely, but I assure you everything I do I do for a reason... including where I end chapters. Again, sorry. :)
Kittysayzmeow: Haha, sorry, I knew that wasn't what you expected, but it's what is needed for what I have in mind. Besides, this is Loki we're talking about, he's not likely to simply up and out with his feelings, and even then I doubt he'd be likely to say them so soon. I'm glad you liked the dream, it was a spur of the moment thing which will signify a change in him from now on. Like, he doesn't think it would ever work out between them due to multiple factors, but subconsciously he has hope and that is what will drive him later on to do what he does. Thanks for your trust, I certainly need it as I will appear to stray but not really. Uh, I have an event in mind. An event in which Loki will lose all trust in Lizzie, due to Alex's manipulation... that's all I dare say. After this event Loki will reconcile with her, and they will finally get together and fight Thanos as a united front. I've already said too much. I'm so sorry! And I'm sorry you had to wait three weeks for this one, but my internet crapped out on me right after I finished the chapter TWO WEEKS AGO! ugh. Fucking computers. I don't have internet now, but I''m borrowing my brother-in-law's computer. So again, sorry. :( I hope this chapter is okay, and I hope that I can get my computer fixed in time for the next update. :)
Heroherondaletotherescue: I agree, I think that it seems unrealistic when characters get together within a few chapters, unless that's the intention and the story is about their lives after getting together. Just because people are stubborn overall, especially the characters I've chosen to write about. Loki just wouldn't wind up with someone within a few chapters after what happened to him, unless he did it to manipulate her of course. -_- Anyway, i hope you like this one.
VanillaSnowdrops: One word: Yes. She is very much alive, and will play a major role later on down the road, as will Erik Lehnsherr. :) After all, You can't *not* Include him after mentioning him multiple times. Sorry for the long hang, it was unavoidable. I know :D I have been chomping at the bit to do a decent conversation between those two, and Natasha will talk to him a bit in this one. Now he just needs a heart-to-heart with Tony, a smack from Darcy, and we'll be golden. I'm glad you think she's good for him... just wait until we get to Odin and Loki finally having it out due to her and Frigga. :D EEEEKK! I can't wait. Yes, that video was sent to everyone due to Tony's nature. I know, they're so stubborn, it won't be long until they are. Darcy will come up within the next few chapters, I promise. :) I hope you enjoy this one, even though it's kinda filler.
DaHybridQueen: Because they are two very stubborn, very hurt, very distrusting, very idiotic people who don't know what's good for them. :P
booklover: It will, I promise. I hate sad endings, and love a happy ending. I'm a sap, what can I say? Don't worry we'll be perfectly fine in the end. :D
TheMixedUpGirl: Thank you for the review :D I'm glad you liked the last chapter.
SuzanofSouthern: Thank you so much, Suzan! I'm so glad to hear from you! I'll see what I can do about that SPaG problem, it probably just went past both my beta and I in our excitement to get the chapter up. Whoops. I'll work on that. Haha, thank you for that. :D I like diversity, and I have a special set of characters from the Marvel Universe that I love, and can't help but incorporate them. Oh, Logan will definitely be playing a larger role in the story, as well as a few other X-Men characters. I did a little bit for you, just cause you recommended it, so thanks for the suggestion! I really cannot express my excitement at your review, and how much you encouraged me. I really have no words except Thank you, but even that falls short. I hope you continue to enjoy it, and if there is anything you think I should leave off, by all means let me know and I'll see how I can change it. :D Ciao.
Spottedivy: I know, the world has turned upside down. :P Thank you so much, I would like to stay alive to finish the story. XD hehe. He is progressing, and will continue - thank God. Darcy *will* hit him over the head in a following chapter, I swear it. Just for you in reparations for the previous chapters. I hope this chapter isn't too bad, it's a bit of filler and sets up the next scenes - therefore, necessary. :)
KiyUzumaki: Hello there! :D Thank you so much for your review, I am completely happy that you enjoy the story so much, and I'm very complimented. I have certainly tried to keep Loki the way we know and love, while still morphing him into someone we all hope he will be. I have! I think that the mythology is something which should be incorporated in any Loki story, and I have done a lot of research on it. :) No, don't go insane, I need you sane so that I can hear from you :D I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as it's predecessors, even though it's tame in comparison to the others. However, it is the calm before the storm, and I hope to see you when it passes.
Okay guys, sorry for the extensive wait, but I swear it wasn't my fault. I finished this chapter two weeks ago... and then my computer's internet went out and the tech doesn't know what's wrong with it. The only reason I'm updating now is because my brother-in-law is in town and he's letting me borrow his computer for the next few hours. With any success I'll have a working computer soon and will update back to normal... for now, I apologize, and ask for you all to be patient. I will work as I can. Until then, ciao, and I hope you all enjoy this one. :)
Baking was something which Lizzie had always been good at, finding it rather soothing when you felt as if your entire world had gone upside down. When her memories had been returned to her, with all of their painful and horrific attributes, she had gone into a baking frenzy, allowing her anger and pain be translated into whipping egg whites, cutting fruit, etc. Now was no different, and she found solace in doing a little baking before everyone woke up.
She was thankful that she and Loki had had their conversation the night before, as she was now quite engrossed in what Alex had told her the day before. How was it possible? Saoirse had been stillborn, so she had been told... a child who never had a chance to live. Alex couldn't possibly be telling her the truth, and even if Saoirse had lived she wouldn't have been able to exist between the different universes, the lack of her existence in the current one canceling out her existence completely. Yet, what if he was telling her the truth? What if, somehow, she was immune to her powers? It was too confusing for her, hence why she was baking while she thought.
Lizzie was so engrossed by what she was doing, she didn't even notice Loki watching her from the doorframe, his eyes catching a slight oddity about her. He had returned to her room after Thor had left, and upon finding her missing had immediately asked Jarvis where she was. After the day before, he was much more worried about her suddenly disappearing, concerned that something might happen to her if she was too far from him. Still, he could see her seeming stress as she cut up onions, each sliver being probably more vigorous than she had anticipated.
"You should talk to her." a voice sounded softly from his left, turning to see Natasha standing a few feet off, he walked toward her.
"I have no idea what to say." Loki replied. "She's obviously upset, I can see that. Though over what happened yesterday or me, I'm not sure."
"Ask her." Natasha replied.
Loki scoffed. "Easy for you to say, you're not me." he said.
Natasha sighed. "True." she looked into the kitchen just as Lizzie had Jarvis turn on some music. "Listen, I don't know what is going on with her, but I will tell you it isn't pleasant."
"Whatever makes you think that?" Loki inquired.
"Yesterday when Shaw had me imprisoned in my mind... I don't know how but I did hear something that he said to her. Something about a daughter that she had being alive, and in his custody." she confided. "Now, I know her story, as she told me after I returned from S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters. I forced her hand by giving her this." She held out the file she had shown Lizzie the day before.
Loki opened it, seeing Elizabeth as she once was for the first time being quite a shock. This was a far cry from the Lizzie he knew, with eyes which he had only seen that first day in the library... cold and emotionless. An ice-queen who didn't mind killing. "How did he get a hold of this?"
"There was a rift in time and space, they say, which brought a file girl from another universe to this one. The universe which she came from had Anesthesia as a wanted killer, working in league with Shaw." she answered. "And Shaw told her yesterday that he was responsible for the file coming through."
"What?" Loki asked incredulously. "How is that possible?"
"Mutants have many abilities, the one he used could somehow create holes in the different timelines, merging them if he so desired." she said. "Alex said he had brought Saoirse in through one of those holes, causing her to be left in this timeline... and in his hands."
He stiffened, looking over at Elizabeth with that knowledge he could understand why she was so upset. "He has her daughter, a daughter she thought was dead..." his memory flashed to the day before, the pieces of the conversation he had heard suddenly making sense. "He's going to subject Saoirse to the tests if Elizabeth doesn't do what he wants. But what does he want?"
"I don't know." Natasha answered. "I'm afraid I can't recall that information, or else I would tell you. All I know is that he wanted to make some kind of deal with her, and she turned him down."
"I knew that, I heard it." Loki replied, looking down at the photograph again. "So this is who she was... doesn't even look the same."
"No, she doesn't, does she?" Natasha commented. "Billowing peacoat, black corset, doesn't even seem like something she'd wear."
"I'll see if I can get her to tell me just what happened, and what he said." Loki told the redhead. "In the meantime, where is everyone?"
"Still asleep I'd imagine, Clint said they went to bed really late trying to figure out what they were going to do." Natasha replied, turning to leave when Loki stopped her by a hand to her arm.
"Romanoff..." he started again. "Whatever it was that he asked, do you think she'd comply with his demands? She's not weak, I know that... but you don't think she'd give in to save her daughter?"
Natasha let out a breath. "I honestly don't know. We've never seen Elizabeth being a protective mother... or trying to help those who she cares for." she replied. "We don't know how far she'd go to keep Saoirse safe, or what she'd do. Remember, she became the woman in the file because her sister was in danger – I can't imagine what she'd do for a daughter she thought was lost."
Loki nodded, letting Natasha go and walking into the kitchen. Lizzie was stirring something, the music blaring from Jarvis' speakers quite melancholy. Proof further to Loki that she was not in a good mood. One thing was for certain: if Saoirse was alive, then that would alter everything. That, Loki feared. He feared watching Elizabeth go back to the way she was, a cold-blooded killer.
"I know you're there." she suddenly uttered, breaking him from his thoughts. "No doubt you've noticed my taciturn attitude."
"I have." Loki replied, sitting down at the table. "Elizabeth, what is wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just pissed that Alex got in yesterday and managed to do what he did." she replied coolly. "We're going to need to figure out a way to keep him at bay. It's disconcerting to know that you aren't safe."
"Naturally." he said, looking up at her. "But there's something else isn't there? Something you're not telling me."
She finally looked over at him. "Something else? I don't know what you mean?"
Loki took a deep breath, unsure just how volatile she was at this moment. "Yesterday, when I arrived at the floor where Shaw was keeping you, he spoke of a deal. A deal which you then declined."
"And you want to know what it was." Lizzie finished for him. "He wanted me back in his ranks."
His brow furrowed. "What?"
She scoffed. "Silly really, but some men are so possessive it's ridiculous. There is a nice possession, and an irritatingly obsessive possession. Alex, unfortunately, belongs to the latter." she muttered to herself. "But basically he still views me as belonging to him – a prize, so to speak, against my grandfather. He created the power within me, and so he views it as his as long as it is in my body."
For the hundredth time, Loki plotted Shaw's death. Lizzie didn't belong to Alex Shaw... or Loki Laufeyson for that matter. She wouldn't stand for it. "So he wanted you to join him again, to fight on his side."
"Right." she agreed. "He thinks I can be useful... and that I can be bought."
"Romanoff told me that he has Saoirse." Loki tread carefully, knowing that Lizzie was not a woman he wanted to anger. As it was, she froze.
"She heard that?" Lizzie inquired. "Good. It saves me having to say it... yes, he has Saoirse – well, so he says, I have learned never to take his word for granted." she said, licking a spoon.
"Do you think it's possible?" Loki asked.
She shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I haven't spent much time with mutants, I never really came up against this problem." she replied. "Anything is possible... who knows. Who knows if time and paralysis are my only abilities? Those are the only ones I know about."
"If she is alive... what are you going to do?" Loki asked.
Lizzie shook her head, as if warring within herself. "I can't – that is to say, if she's alive, and if he actually has her, I will have to do something. I can't leave my daughter to my fate... I refuse." she said. "I have to save her, if she's actually there. But I don't know what I'm going to do. I have a week, by which I will be forced to act, or deal with the guilt of knowing that my daughter is going through horrors which I endured when I was older than she." She stopped, her eyes glazing over as if she was looking at something far away.
Loki got up, moving toward her and taking her hands in his. "Elizabeth..." he started, noting the way she clenched her jaw. "Don't keep things from me. I'm your friend."
She scoffed, nodding. "Yes... yes you are." she said. "You're my friend." Her brow relaxed, her entire posture visibly loosening as her eyes turned once more to the warm brown he was familiar with, fear lacing them. "But would you stay my friend no matter what?"
"Why would you even ask me?" Loki inquired.
"Because I'm afraid, Loki." she admitted. "I'm afraid of what's in that file that Natasha gave you and you left on the table. I'm afraid of going back to where I was... who I was. I'm afraid that doubt has been placed in everyones minds, and at the least provocation they'll all turn against me."
"I will not." Loki swore. "And you're wrong, they would not either."
"I'm not so sure." she replied. "Alex is very cunning, and I can play a good part."
"Why are you talking about these things?" Loki asked, his hands tightening around her own. "No one doubts you."
"No?" Her voice was light, yet challenging. "They don't?"
"No." He insisted, trying to reassure her. Yet, he could see in her eyes that she was not assured of her friends.
She gave a curt nod, forcing him to let go of her hands as she walked around him to check on the food in the oven. "I hope you're right." she said.
Loki pulled her up from looking into the door. "What has gotten into your head? Why are you asking these things?" he asked, his hands going to her shoulders.
"Because I know something you don't." she replied smoothly. "Something that would destroy me... and yet, save everyone."
Warning bells rang in his brain. "Tell me." he demanded. "What is going on?"
"Bait and switch." she answered. "A run of the mill bait and switch. But don't worry, as Shakespeare said: 'All that begins well, ends well.' I only hope he was right." With that, she walked out of the kitchen, leaving him worried and confused.
Logan walked into the Tower, already informed of what had happened the day before by Tony Stark. Alex had attacked Lizzie, this time not because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was clear to him now more than before that the other mutant hadn't had his memory erased when Lizzie went back in time, and that now that Alex had found her, he wasn't willing to let her go as quickly. That knowledge in his mind, he knew it would only be a matter of time before Alex struck again, possibly in for the kill.
"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?" Rogue, or Anna-Marie as her name was, said from his side once they entered the elevator.
"Alexander Shaw." Logan replied.
"Well that was 'bout as clear as mud." Anna-Marie replied. "What 'bout Alexander Shaw?"
Logan sighed. "How to kill him." he answered. "Do you think your ability would be able to stop him?"
Rogue shrugged. "Ain't met him before. How am I supposed to know what fightin' him's like?"
"You wouldn't. At least, not in this timeline." Logan muttered to himself. "Hopefully he's not immune to you."
"Yeah, he sounds like quite a doozy to get rid of. I almost wish that I did know what his fightin' style was like. Make things easier." Anna-Marie said. "Say, what's this Lizzie Donovan like anyhow? I ain't met her either, but seems to me, Wolvie, that you're pretty protective."
Wolverine nodded, looking up as the numbers continued to climb. "She's a great girl, but she has a bad past." he answered. "She's got similar powers to you, except she doesn't actually kill people unless she wants to... well... that's a loose term anyway."
"Too bad I don't remember. Did she ever fight me before?" Rogue asked.
A chuckle emitted from her companion. "Yes... twice."
"Who won?"
"I refuse to answer that question." Logan answered. "I'm not causing a problem between you when you haven't seen each other yet."
Rogue huffed. "Spoilsport." The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival. Logan led the way, entering the main room where everyone was gathered... all seventeen of them, which included the Fantastic Four. "Big crowd." Rogue continued.
Logan wasn't listening, already spotting Lizzie and going to her side. Loki was already there, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth, even though he was a foot away from her. Wolverine's eyebrow lifted, wondering just what had happened while he was away, whatever it was it he didn't like the way it looked. He sat down on her other side, Rogue seated next to him. Lizzie turned to him, smiling in greeting, although it did not reach her eyes. "I was wondering when you'd get back." she said. "Did you hear what happened?"
"Yeah, I did." Logan replied, looking over at Loki. "I was told that you were the one that got her away from Alex."
"I did." Loki responded, his eyes looking out the window.
"Alex had better be glad I wasn't here," Logan said. "I would have gutted him."
"Honestly, Wolvie, you got to stop saying that." Rogue interjected. "It's ain't a pleasant way to dispose of anyone."
Lizzie looked past Logan, her eyes focusing on Anna-Marie, her brow rose. "Well, well, look who it is." she said. "Long time since I've seen you."
"I'd say the same, but I've been told that you somehow erased my memories." Rogue replied. "Miss Donovan, I presume."
"Your presumption is correct." Lizzie replied. "Although I'm curious as to why you're here? After all, we have never gotten along." She looked at Logan, expecting an answer from him.
"Well, Professor X sends his love, but he sent Anna-Marie because he said you might want a blast from the past." Logan answered. "Not that it makes any sense to me, but..."
"I get it." Lizzie replied, chuckling ever so slightly. "Poor Tony, he's already got fourteen people living here, I don't know what he'll do about Rogue."
"He ain't gonna do nothin' 'bout me." Anna-Marie replied. "I can take care of myself."
"Your grandmother is supposed to go back to Brooklyn tonight I was told, and Rogue is going to go with her. Keep her and Bella safe, and keep in touch with HQ." Logan supplied.
Lizzie nodded. "Makes sense, I know she can do it too. Bella maybe not as much, but I'd feel a lot gladder if seanmhathair was kept safer. There's a reason they call her Rogue."
"Do what? What do you know 'bout me that you're so trustin'?" Anna-Marie asked.
"Oh, lots. You were my pet project once upon a time." Lizzie answered. "But for me to tell you everything would only confuse you."
"I ain't an idiot." Rogue replied hotly.
A laugh came from Lizzie. "Oh, Rogue... no need to get so uppity."
Logan looked over at Lizzie, noticing a familiar glint in her eyes, a glint he didn't like. "Loki, can I have a moment?" he asked, getting up and walking out of the room. Loki followed, unsure of what the mutant wished to speak with him about.
"What do you want?" Loki asked as soon as they were out of hearing range of the rest of the group.
"What happened yesterday?" Logan asked. "She isn't herself."
"You're telling me..." Loki replied, looking over at Lizzie. "It was something Shaw told her, I'm sure of it. Last night she seemed normal, herself, tired and in pain, but still the same Elizabeth we all know." and love. His mind added, although he quickly banished the thought. "But then this morning she was... different. Moodier. At war with herself over something although she wouldn't tell me what."
"Do you know what Shaw told her?" Logan inquired.
"Not precisely," Loki replied. "She told me that he said he wanted her back in his ranks, but there's more to it. He wanted to make a deal, and it has something to do with Saoirse."
"Saoirse?" Logan grit his teeth at the name. "That's not good. He knows how to get to Lizzie, even though he hasn't seen her in years... he knows her weakness. Target those she cares about, use them against her." he said, following Loki's gaze. "Moody... how?"
"She's afraid that something will happen that would turn the Avengers against her."Loki answered.
"Why would she think that?" Logan asked. "It's clear to anyone who watches them that they don't doubt her. Damn it, she's living here."
"That was then. Yesterday Director Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D gave them cause for doubt, via a file which somehow made its way from one timeline to another. He told them that she was a threat, and that she wasn't to be trusted." Loki replied, feeling absolute distaste for the one-eyed agent. Clint made his way to Lizzie's side, obviously asking how she was, she smiled, but in her eyes was a sadness, one which Loki didn't like seeing there. "That she could turn on them at any moment."
"And so she's worried that they will think that she's against us." Logan finished. "Sounds like when she came to the school for the first time after being a criminal for ten years. Rogue didn't trust her, swore she never would."
Loki nodded. "And then there's Saoirse. She said that she'd have to do something, although she didn't know what." Loki said.
The mutant scoffed. "She knows what." Logan replied sternly. "I don't know what she's going to do, but she does. She was always a strategist, always had a plan and a backup plan. And those plans were ruthless, you didn't know her then, but by God she was a force to be reckoned with when you pissed her off. Even more so when you touched her family."
"Hmm..." Loki looked around the room. "I know she's dangerous, but no one else does. If she confirms the information in the file, they'll treat her as they do me – with caution. If she doesn't tell them, and acts, they won't trust her again as they'll label her a liar as well as a killer. She's in a tough spot, and I don't know how to get her out of it."
Logan looked over at Loki with his choice of words, and subtly smelled the other man. Lizzie's scent was all over him, not just on his hands where he would – perhaps – touch her shoulder. No, something had happened that made him get closer to her, something to make him embrace her like he hadn't done before. Pulling out his phone, he remembered that Jarvis had sent him a video which he had ignored, maybe that was the key to his curiosity. He pocketed it again, not wanting to let Loki know that he'd gotten it.
"You don't think she'll do anything alone?" Loki asked, completely oblivious to what Logan was thinking in that moment. "She wouldn't be that foolish."
Logan shook his head. "She always preferred to work alone when she was under Shaw, and was forced to work with others. I don't think that particular trait has changed." he answered. "As for her being foolish... she's level headed, but her one major fault is that she always thinks she right. Whatever she has planned, she think will work completely – but I'm guessing it will fail."
"What makes you say that?" Loki inquired, looking at the mutant.
"My experience with her impromptu plans. I know she told you everything, so no doubt she told you that she got me out of Shaw's dungeon?" Logan looked over at him.
"She did." Loki replied.
"That plan failed entirely, got her sister killed, and nearly killed herself. Her only saving grace was that when her sister died, her powers were transferred over to Lizzie, meaning that Lizzie could get us out of there before they closed in so much that we couldn't escape." Logan explained. "She only thought through that plan for three hours. I don't know how long she's thought this one through."
Loki sighed. "Is there any way we can help her, even though we don't know what the plan is?"
Logan scoffed. "Even if we could, she wouldn't want it." he replied. "She's stubborn, and she wouldn't want more people to get hurt that she cared for. She wouldn't let you help her, or me, or Bella – no one."
"Do you think she'll meet his demands?" Loki asked the mutant. "Do you think she'll join him just to keep Saoirse safe?"
The other man shook his head with a frown. "I don't know. I hope not, but I can't leave it at 'hope'..." he paused, looking at Lizzie again. "I don't think so." Loki gave a sigh of relief. "Look," Logan started again. "I don't know what the relationship between you two is at the moment, but she cares about you more than she lets on, and if you dare to hurt her in any way – as a friend, or something more – if you break her heart... I warned you once before if you weren't straightforward you would know what my claws in your gut would feel like. I don't care if she kicks and screams, I will kill you without hesitation." His eyes showed his threat as strongly as his gruff words.
Loki nodded, somewhat relieved that the man didn't give him another speech on how he needed to realize his affections for her. "I swear to you, that if I ever hurt Elizabeth, I'll not struggle. You can do as you will." he promised, his voice barely above a whisper. Logan gave him a curt nod.
"Glad we understand one another." Logan said. "But let me get this straight from the horses mouth: what is your relationship?"
"Friends." Loki answered quickly. "We've settled on friends."
"You settled? You had a conversation?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Loki paused, that new feeling of his gut clenching made its presence known. "I kissed her." he finally admitted. "But I know I cannot care for her more than I do."
That explains the scent. Logan thought as he pursed his lips. He had eyes, he knew what the pair of them were like together... but he also could see they were both stubborn. "Fair enough." he said. "She agreed to it?" Loki nodded. "Of course she did." They really were perfect for one another. "Shall we go back to the ladies?" he asked rhetorically, moving back over to where Lizzie and Anna-Marie were. Loki followed sitting back where he had been originally. If Loki were honest with himself – which he rarely was – Logan was probably the only one, other than Elizabeth, that he could stand. The gruff mutant being quite straightforward, and not in the habit of letting other people get in his way. He could understand why he had been chosen as Elizabeth's protector... he was as fierce as his nickname implied.
"You were over there a long time." Lizzie commented lightly, looking straight past him and out the window.
"Well, I had explain what happened yesterday." Loki replied.
"Ah... and what did Logan say?" she asked.
"About what?" he asked in return.
"About the price of tea in China?" Lizzie quipped irritatedly, her look sharp as she turned her gaze in his direction.
"I'm afraid I didn't ask what he thought of that, even if I did, I don't think he'd care about what something costs in another country unless he was there – and even then I don't think he would as I doubt he drinks tea." Loki replied, wanting a bit of the bantering Elizabeth to come out again, the one who enjoyed going back and forth. He didn't like this new one.
He felt happiness again as her lips stretched into a real smile, her eyes finally matching the look on her face. Unwittingly, he felt himself match her amusement, his own smile beginning to make itself known. She shook her head at his antics, giggling lightly to herself as she looked over at Logan. She turned back to Loki, leaning forward and burying her smile in his shoulder for a moment before pulling away. Loki dared to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her slightly closer to him, and she allowed it. "Good reply." she finally said. "I don't think I've ever gotten quite that kind of an explanation before."
"Glad I could be of assistance." Loki replied completely without malice. He was simply happy that she wasn't pushing him away anymore, wasn't so engrossed in her own mind that she didn't remember he existed. He knew, in the back of his mind, that it was truly his own fault, he had decided to keep their relationship platonic, and now he suddenly wished he hadn't. She owed him nothing.
She shook her head again. "Okay, but seriously..." Her face fell again, and with it, it seemed the room had darkened. Loki felt awkward holding her to him once more, yet he stayed where he was in hopes she wouldn't pull away. "What did you guys talk about regarding yesterday?"
Loki sighed. "I told him—"
"Okay people, let's all gather round over here!" Tony's boisterous voice interrupted, pulling everyone from where they all were scattered around the room.
The billionaire's brown eyes landed on Loki and Lizzie, noticing how Loki had a hand around her waist, but that he was looking out the window, completely engrossed in the skyscrapers. He had been watching them all morning, and was definitely disturbed. After yesterday, he was sure that they would have finally realized their feelings for each other and gotten together, but this morning was evident that it had only pushed them further away. Yet, there was a glimmer of hope as she hadn't shrugged his hand off yet, which she had been doing every time he tried to touch her. Obviously Loki was feeling more impacted than she was. Maybe something had happened between them while Jarvis was down?
"Tony?" Pepper's voice broke him from his reverie, and brought his attention back to the present. He looked at his fianceé, sitting down next to her and placing a hand on her own waist. "What's wrong?"
"Project Cupid isn't going very well." he whined. "They couldn't be further apart in the love area."
"Well, I'm sure everything will work out." Pepper replied. "But you know, Cupid, you can't just sit around with a bunch of arrows and think things are going to work."
Tony's brows furrowed. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means, Mr. Stark, that you can't expect them to get together on their own." she answered. "Those two are stubborn, and on top of being stubborn, I was told by a little bird that she is as damaged as he is. Put those two together and you will have two people very much afraid of love, and you can't leave them to Fate. You have to help them a little."
"Tell me, Aphrodite, how do you help them when it's obvious that she wants nothing to do with him at this point?" Tony asked.
Pepper looked over just as Lizzie got up from her seat and went to the kitchen, leaving Loki looking awkward on the couch. "I wouldn't say she doesn't want anything to do with with him... I'd say something happened, and she's now fighting it."
"What do you mean?" the billionaire inquired, looking over at Loki, who looked like his puppy had been kicked.
"He's obviously head over heels for her, and I was told that had a discussion and are leaving their relationship at 'Just friends'. Now, I'm assuming that after that kiss she was in a state of complete confusion, and Jarvis tells me that he had a visitor – his mother to be precise. Now, Alex attacks, she is put in danger, and I have never seen a man... besides you... look so determined to get anyone back. I was surprised he didn't just obliterate Alex on the spot, with the look he had in his eyes."
"So let's get this straight: he kisses her, mom comes calling, Alex attacks, he goes batshit crazy to get her back, she goes unconscious in his arms, he panics, they return to her room... then what?" Tony counted off on his fingers, looking at his girlfriend.
"Then they have a discussion, and they decide that they need to keep their relationship platonic." she finished.
"Why on God's good earth would they do that?!" Tony exclaimed.
"A couple of reasons, actually." Pepper replied. "But let's continue with the process of what happened. So then after their discussion, Lizzie starts thinking – very dangerous in her situation as by this point she's been elated, confused, in love, and then told that she isn't wanted. Alex made some kind of statement about a deal yesterday, he gave her an offer – don't ask me what, Tony, I can't tell you – but whatever it was, it had her crazy with fury, which you saw in the very end where she told him off in German. That offer is hanging over her head, and obviously someone's life is attached to it."
"What makes you so sure about that?" Tony asked.
"He mentioned a 'she' being on one of their tables if Lizzie didn't respond to his offer in a week." Pepper answered lightly.
Tony's eyes got big, his mind finally remembering those words. He looked over at Lizzie. "She's planning doing something about it." he pieced together. "So she's pushing him away so that he won't get hurt by what she's going to do. Aw, shit! Why do people have to be so stubborn?"
Pepper chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "So you see," she ignored his question. "She doesn't want 'nothing' to do with him... she is simply pulling herself from him so what whatever she does it won't hurt him."
"Do you know what she's going to do?" Tony asked, Pepper sighed.
"No." she answered, getting up. "I'm going to get something to drink while you settle this rabble down." Tony nodded, shaking his head while muttering about how sorry he felt for the poor couple. Leaving the room, she went to the kitchen to find Lizzie already there. "Hello, Lizzie!" she exclaimed. "How are you today, I haven't really talked to you?"
Lizzie nodded. "No, you haven't." she replied morosely. "Pepper..."
"Yeah?" the redhead looked at the brunette, noticing the stress on the younger woman's face. "Lizzie, I know what happened with Loki yesterday, and today I can see that you're trying to keep away from him... but honey you should leave him like that—"
"I have no choice." Lizzie replied, sighing. "Pepper, if I told you something, something which I cannot risk anyone else knowing... would you keep it a secret?"
Filling up her glass with water, Pepper leaned against the opposite counter. "Of course." she replied.
"Good..." Lizzie started, here brown eyes filled with fear. "Because I need your help."
Dun, dun, duuuunn. Oooh, what is she planning? Any guesses? Let me know below :) I love to hear from you all.