A week passes. Things were relatively well. The three were getting along better than they'd hoped they would. And when not in each other's company, each had their own thing to do.

Tony would be in the lab, working on prototypes for new suits. Loki would be in the library, reading through dozens of books. And Snow would be in her room, mostly working, or just relaxing.

But what about their relationships? How did that change?

Things between Snow and Tony were as before, mutual, friendly respect, with a growing friendship. Things between Tony and Loki were ever changing, from fun, to insulting, to interesting, and certainly amusing for Snow to witness.

And finally, things between Snow and Loki seemed to slowly blossom, but hadn't changed much. The heat of their last kiss was fading, and they were back to two people who didn't know each other that well, but wanted to.

The waters were steady, and Loki couldn't help but wonder every day, if anything would change, if something would happen to point him to a certain future.

What was there, waiting for him?

He didn't know, and he hated not knowing.

But he best not make haste. Amends needed to be made. The present had to settle, for the future to set foot.

A knock sounds on Loki's door. He doesn't reply, as usual. Snow opens the door, walking in, a soft smile held in place.

But something was wrong, he could tell.

"Hey," she calls, uncertain how to start. He flips through the pages of the book in his hand calmly, seated on the armchair next to the window.

Snow made her way to his bed and sat on the edge, trying her best to remain a steady posture. Loki's eyes linger to see her staring at her lap, lips pursed.

Now he had to know.

He closes the book, settling it on the table beside him. Loki straightens and turns to her. "What's on your mind, love?" he pushes. He'd been calling her 'love' and 'darling' quite frequently. She didn't mind it.

"Well…There's…something you should know," she starts uncertainly. He cocks an eyebrow. "Thor's coming to visit…today."

It takes a moment for her words to sink in. His brows furrow as if in disappointment, quickly turning to annoyance. He clenches his jaw. Snow was expecting his reaction.

"Why?" he asks. She didn't know how to reply to that.
"…Beeecause he's your brother-"
"He's not my brother," he states firmly. Loki avoids her eyes, clenching his fist, as if trying to compose his burning rage, which wasn't entirely directed on Thor, just the fact.

A moment of silence passes, Snow mulling over what to say. She speaks. "Blood does not define a family, Loki," she tries.
"It defines everything, Snow. Who you are, where you belong. Who you'll be…

I'm not one of them,"

he shakes his head, and she could see the sorrow held so tightly behind his eyes, just before it was replaced once more by anger as he rose to his feet. "I was never one of them." She rose as well.
"That doesn't mean they don't care about you. Loki, you spent your whole life with these people, I know you don't hate them. Don't push them away."

Loki exhales tiredly, avoiding her gaze. He didn't want to listen. She wasn't right.

She crosses her arms. "Are you angry cause they kept the truth from you…or because you found out…you really weren't one of them?" she asks, wanting him to face the truth.

He refuses to give in. She tries a different approach. Snow inhales deeply, looking to the floor. "You know, when I was a kid, my parents…died," she says the last word reluctantly. Loki does not meet her eyes, but she knows he's listening, and he picked up her curious hesitance. "A man named William, found out what I was capable." Snow fixes her gaze on Loki before her. "He could have walked away, he could have called me out, but instead, he took me in. Protected me…loved me as his own," she was unable to hold back her tears as she spoke, but her voice remained firm as she wiped at them. Alas, Loki looks to her. She locks eyes with his confidently. "I became his family, and he became mine."

Loki thinks her words over. He could feel himself leaning away from the rage, and to consideration. And it was briefly frustrating. He did not appreciate when his beliefs were questioned by anyone.

But she wasn't anyone. She was the girl he owed most.

She takes a step towards him, looking deeply into his eyes. "All I'm asking, is that you give him a chance…please," she says softly, toying with his heart strings. He knew what she was trying to do, charm him into agreeing,

but so what?

He owed her that much.

Loki exhales tiredly. "…Very well," he lets out. Snow smiles brightly, then chuckles nervously.
"Good, cause…he's kind of…already here." Loki's eyes widen at her. "Yeah…kind of unexpected, but…I didn't want you going in unprepared," she tells honestly, causing his gaze to soften. He sighs.
"Let's get it over with then."

XXXXX

"Oh! Yes. He's been…great!" Tony smiles nervously at the queen of Asgard. Thor stands by her side, perfectly content.
"Really?...So he's…happy?" Frigg asks hopefully. Tony can see in her eyes, she wanted so badly for him to say 'yes'. But she was Loki's mother, she deserved the truth.
"He's…coming around," he tells. That was seemingly enough for her.

Speaking of his mother. Loki and Snow had no idea she was here. Tony thought he should warn him, honestly worried how he'd react if not warned.

"I'm gonna go see what's taking him so long," he tells.

Tony uses the elevator. It opens on their floor, where Snow and Loki were right outside, waiting to use it. Tony hurries to them frantically. "Dude, your mom's here," he tells. The two opposite him are shocked.

Loki is unable to comprehend the situation, feeling panic rise in his chest. Snow's eyes immediately dart to him. "Hey," she calls, placing a comforting hand on his forearm. He turns to her. "You can do this," she told firmly.

Tony's eyes them worriedly. He too was feeling the fog of tension in the air. They'd made such progress. And him and Loki were just starting to get along. He didn't like putting him in such a situation either.

Once he'd let her words sink in, Loki's features hardened with confidence, enough for him to give a sole nod.

He moved forward, Snow and Tony on either of his sides. They walk into the living room, where Frigg and Thor stood patiently near the furniture. He froze, feeling his heart ache.

How Frigg ever so glowed like an angel, he did not know, but to him, she was, and seemingly always would, no matter how hard he fought against it.

Snow touches his shoulder to grasp his attention. He tilts his head towards her. "We'll be in the kitchen," she states, reaching behind Loki to pull Tony by the sleeve, flashing Thor a quick smile in greet.

They part ways, and Loki feels exposed. The world bodes heavy, his feet seemed weakened.

Still,

he moved, with what little strength he'd gained from his supposed friends.

Frigg smiles sympathetically at him. Seeing him specifically in Midgardian clothing, stung her. She could not feel sorrier for him. She felt herself tearing up at what had become of him, once prince.

But no.

She would compose herself.

At least he was well and alive.

Loki takes scarce steps towards them, and Frigg closes the distance, taking him into her welcoming arms.

Overwhelmed with emotions, Loki froze. Conspiracies rose in his mind, screaming harshly that she wasn't who he'd grown to know, wasn't who he'd grown to call.

She wasn't.

And still, his heart won the battle against his thoughts, for the people it found closest. As if in sudden relief, Loki returned his mother's embrace, shutting his eyes at the shredding pain of missing her so deeply.

Thor stood opposite them, smiling happily at the scene, and Snow and Tony from the kitchen, watching curiously.

"I've missed you, my son," Frigg tells him. And it was as if her words awoke his temporarily fogged mind, and he fell back to doubts, and anger, and disappointment.

Frigg pulls back. "Come," she takes his hand in hers, leading him the couch. He turns his gaze away as Thor sat on a nearby armchair. "How've you been?"

Her question goes unacknowledged, and Snow's earlier words faded.

And as he battled within, a dense moment of silence passed, and Frigg knew, like she'd known for long, after the truth came out, this moment wouldn't dare be easy.

"Why did you come?" he questions.

XXXXX

"What'd you think they're saying?" Tony asks Snow, making himself a cup of coffee.
"I don't know, but it doesn't look good." Tony shakes his head.

How selfish was Loki, to have parents, and deny their presence, deny their importance, deny their love?

"What's his problem, anyways?" Snow turns from attempting to listen.
"They lied about his heritage, Tony."
"So?"
"So A: They lied about him ever having a chance at the throne, as Thor. B: His real heritage is something his family considers monsters." Tony falls silent, evidently surprised to hear this.
"Oh," he lets out, taking a long sip from the mug.

Her own words put her back to the moment he'd reveled himself to her, and she thought his family was exaggerating.

XXXXX

Frigg furrows her eyebrows at Loki's question momentarily. Thor was expecting he'd act this way. Frigg then lets out a light chuckle.

"Is a mother not allowed to see her son?" she asks humorously. Thor winces as her words come out, knowing exactly what Loki would say to that.
"You're not my mother," he lets out firmly, as steady as he tried to sound as his own words punched him, and stabbed a dagger through Frigg's heart.
"Loki," Thor scolds. Frigg raises a hand to silence him.

She looks intently at Loki's broken form and glass eyes reflecting a thousand wound.

"I need no blood-bonds…to call you my son," she says. Loki pulls away from her gaze, refusing her words. She notes this. Her heart sinks in disappointment.

A mother always expects too much.

"Perhaps one day…you will understand…And find it in you…to forgive me," she tells. Loki shuts his eyes at the burning flame within. "And your father."

At that Loki snaps to her in utter frustration, feeling every nerve break loose. He wanted to yell. To shout. But Frigg gave him no such choice as she rose to her feet, readying to leave. Thor rises after her, and Loki stays his place on the couch.

At the sudden motion, Snow hurries from the kitchen, Tony close behind. Frigg smiles softly at the sight of her, walking to her. "Snow. A word, if I may?" she requests.
"Of course," Snow nods seriously, unwilling sparing Loki a glance, who was eyeing her intently.

Snow and Frigg walked off. Tony approached Thor and Loki. "So," he starts, "this is nice," he says sarcastically. Thor ignores him, and Loki is elsewhere. "You know what would fix this? You two should hug it out," he grins. At that, Loki and Thor turn to him irritably, two very dangerous glares from two very dangerous people. "Or not. It's cool," he brushes off with ease.

XXXXX

"I wanted to thank you," Frigg said, stood in the kitchen with Snow.
"For what?" Snow asks.
"Everything, my dear. You didn't have to, but you stood for my son…you saved him."

Snow, turns to the ground, smiling dismissively. Frigg eyes her adoringly. "You're helping him still. He may not forgive me yet," she pauses momentarily. Snow eyes her sympathetically. "But, my coming her showed me something I needed to see, he's recovering. He's safe. That is something I can never thank you for enough."
"And you don't have to," Snow smiles in assurance. Frigg chuckles, placing a light hand on Snow's cheek.
"Such a sweet girl," she said, removing her hand, weaving silly thoughts of setting her up with her son.

XXXXX

Thor and Frigg take their leave, and the minute their out of sight, Loki hurries to his bedroom, needing to be alone. Snow and Tony share a concerned glance.

"I'll talk to him," Snow says, following after him.

Loki stood inside, facing the window with darkening skies above, as if reflecting his soul.

It was treacherous, how badly it hurt, having to face them, to face her, to face the truth time and again.

To face them leaving without him,

knowing he could never follow, could never reclaim who he was.

And who was he now?

"Hey." He turns at the voice. Snow's leaning on his closet by the side, arms crossed, bearing a soft smile. "You okay?" she asks in concern. Loki nods dismissively, turning back to the window.

She steps to him, standing beside him. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
"…No," Loki shakes his head, refusing to make eye contact.

Snow eyes him sympathetically. She felt this untamable urge to comfort him, to make him open up to her, and she barely comprehended her own reasoning.

But she didn't want to push.

"Well, if you change your mind...I'm here for you," she tells softly. Loki eyes her with the corner of his eye, pained by her words, as if it hurt to think she was being serious. That she meant it.

But she did.

Snow turns to leave, halting when his voice called her name. "Snow."

He's turned to her, eyes fixated on the floor, fists clenched by his sides, the moon's light shimmering in his tightly held back tears.

Even though they weren't touching, her heart picked up on all he felt.

As if on instinct, Snow walked to him, taking his face into her hands, and his conflicted eyes locked with hers, skin numbing at her touch.

She pulled him into her arms, and he did not resist. It only took a few seconds for his body to react, embracing her tightly. And all the same, trying stubbornly not to fall apart.

But, slowly, he felt relief seep through, just by being near her.

When she'd felt his arms wrap around her, she couldn't help her racing heart, couldn't even begin to comprehend how he made her feel.

She let his pain flow through her. It was crushing,

but not unfamiliar.

Maybe that was why. Maybe, in some way, she saw herself in him, a reflection of an un-survivable time in her life.

This helplessness.

And she was determined

to free him from it.

But he had to open up.

Snow pulled back, resting her hands on his shoulders as his laid on her waist. She smiles. "Come. I have something to show you," she says.

Loki follows without questions. She leads him to the kitchen/living room floor, pointing to a glass door that led to the terrace. "Wait for me in there."

Loki enters the balcony, the cold air washing over him like a welcoming blanket. Ironic that he now knew why.

Snow enters minutes later, two steaming mugs in her hands. She approaches him by the rail and hands him one.

"Hot chocolate. You'll love it," she smiles. Loki takes it from her and simply holds it, not really in the mood. At least the air was somewhat relaxing, and the fact that she was there with him was somehow reassuring.

They stood in silence for a few moments, a foot away from one another, shoulders almost touching.

"When…When was the last time you saw her, your mom?" Snow asks carefully. Loki turns to her slightly un-expectantly. He inhales, looking away.
"A long time ago. Before this all…started," he sighs, eyeing the skies yearningly. She observes him intently.
"And how did it feel, seeing her after all this time?"

Loki cocks an eyebrow at her, chuckling upon acknowledging what she was doing, causing her to unwillingly smirk.

"Seriously?" he asks. 'Busted' she thinks. She chuckles as well, pumping his shoulder with hers.
"Come on!...Talk to me," she requests. He sighs tiredly, contemplating it.

Loki wasn't used to talking about his feelings, if anything, he despised sentiment. But everything was ablur these days, and all he could feel, was a need to give in,

to let it all out,

as if he'd explode if he chose to hold it in forever.

And Snow…

She was…

He trusted her, that's all there was to say.

It takes him a moment, but he eventually, reluctantly, speaks his mind. "…Guilt," he half-whispers, furrowing his eyebrows at the bitter word, studying the contents of the full mug in his palms with little interest.

However, upon hearing this, Snow smiles as if proudly at him. "Believe it or not, that's a good thing," she says. He turns to her in denial. "I mean, let's face it Loki, you're more angry at the truth than you are at them for keeping it from you."

Loki turns away once more. Despite not wanting to, he listened still, to her every word.

"You're directing that anger at her, but deep down, you know you shouldn't. You know she loves you…yet you can't bring yourself to forgive what she'd done. That's why you feel guilty," Snow says.

Every word sinks into him, no matter how badly his heart fought the pain that the truth inflected.

"But you have every right to be angry…And I can't promise that that'll ever go away…but, if there's one thing life's taught me, it's that time will make it easier," she says, a distant look in her eyes that he far from missed.

She noticed him looking, and cleared her throat, quickly turning away. She feels panic rise within her, threatening to consume her, and she was afraid of getting caught.

Snow flashes Loki an awkward smile, scratching her scalp as if casually. "I'm, uh, gonna go inside…get some sleep, but…think about what I said," she tells the last part seriously, touching his shoulder for emphasize before turning away once more and leaving somewhat hurriedly, sighing in relief the minute she'd reentered the building.

She wasn't.

She wasn't ready to tell him.

She wasn't ready to say it again.

She knew he'd crack her, and she couldn't afford it, neither could she afford refusing to share, after all, she was making him talk. It wouldn't be fair.

But she wasn't ready.

Loki stares after her in confusion, his mind working ethically to place an explanation to the sudden flip in her mood.

And only one puzzle piece fit.

XXXXX

"Five hundred and twenty-three per hour, sir," Jarvis tells Tony, who was looking at the screen, ironically watching someone a few kilo meters out the city fighting Chitauri and wearing a suit quite similar to his.

A few days back, Tony had received a call from Fury himself. He sent him a file of security footage showing someone, a girl, fully armored in a suit that looked like one of his own.

At first, Fury thought the Stark was stupid enough to lend a girlfriend one of the deadliest weapons on the planet, but Tony assured him it wasn't his.

Apparently, she had been present the day the wormhole tore through, and had discreetly participated in the fight. Afterwards, she disappeared.

For his own reasons, and knowing that he wouldn't refuse, Fury put Tony in charge of figuring out who the hell that was, and where they got the suit.

It sure as hell wasn't one of his, just similarly designed, which posed both a puzzle and a threat to Tony. If the government found out that the science behind his builds had been cracked, the chaos such a thing could havoc.

He'd be called back to court, confiscated of his stuff. Too much bad.

And despite all that bad, Tony couldn't stop himself from being rather intrigued by the design, and its maker.

"Not fast, I guess. Still, not bad." Tony notes to himself. He watches her, who was hiding behind an iron-made mask, as her suit, or rather, suit parts were. She hadn't fully covered the joints. The weak spots.

And though Tony thought that a disadvantage, it allowed her better movement. She was quick, well-trained. Her suit was black, purple lights here and there. It could shoot blast-forces, just like his. Her eyes area was lit up, which meant she'd probably concocted some kind of targeting system.

Tony watched her round house the last of six Chitauri, placing her hand on her knees and kneeling, as if catching her breath, and he couldn't help smiling.

Then he noticed.

She took her mask off, just then.

He couldn't see it from this angle, this camera. But he was certain there was another one there. Much was damaged during the war. If the camera was there, just damaged, he could fix it, and crack the case.

"Stark," Loki calls from behind him, entering the lab. Tony turns to him, as if he'd been caught. He shuts the screen off and turns to Loki.
"Yeah," he replies dismissively, slightly panicking by the fact that the mischievous, still boded dangerous, God of Mischief was in his high-tech, weapon-loaded lab.

Loki smirks. "What were you doing?"
"Uhhh none of your business," Tony states. Loki stops a few feet from the Stark, crossing his arms at him, smirking still. "Something I can help you with, Snape?"
"As a matter of fact, there is…" Loki replies. He then frowns. "Where are your parents?"

Tony is baffled by the question, his face falls and heart clenched painfully at the topic. Tony cleared his throat in an attempt to calm himself. "Why?" he asks curiously, failing to mask the sadness in his eyes.

A look of realization falls upon Loki. "They're dead," he notes as a matter of fact. Tony's face falls grim, conferring his guess. Was it a mortal thing? Adults with dead parents?
"Dude, you seriously better have a point," Tony tells in a threatening tone.
"…What happened to Snow's parents?"

Tony's face clears. Of course this was about Snow. He feels his heart clench at the memory of what he'd read. It wasn't a pretty story. And he avoided bringing it up in front of her, ever. And he sure as hell didn't want Loki doing otherwise.

He pinches the bridge of his nose tiredly, collecting his thoughts. "Uhhh," Tony falls into the wheeled chair near his desk. Loki takes the one opposite him. "I'm only gonna tell you because I don't want you bringing this up in front of her…and because I know you care about her," Tony states reluctantly.

The last statement pricked Loki's chest.

He wasn't good at caring. Not even a little bit. But…

he did care about her, and he was worried he wouldn't do it right.

Loki's face falls serious, now dying to know. Why was the Stark being so secretive about it?

Tony leans forward, speaking seriously as he rarely ever does. "Few years back, a freak accident happened where Snow used to live. A quarter of the town's inhabitants, including Snow's parents, disappeared…she was the only survivor." Loki listens intently to every word, now fairly concerned. "But…they…didn't just disappear…

they turned to dust…"

The word hit Loki like a brick. His brows furrow, and mouth agapes. He falls back into his chair.

It couldn't be…

"She-"
"Yeah," Tony cuts off, grimacing. Loki is baffled still.
"…How?"
"It was when she'd first gotten her powers. She was twelve. I don't think she knew what she was doing…and I never asked," he says sorrowfully. "Neither should you." Loki eyes him absently, too caught up with the information he'd just been shoved.

The topic proved heavy on both their chests.

A moment of silence passes as Loki tries to make sense of things. "How did she get her powers?" he asks. Tony shakes his head.
"I have no idea, and neither does she. After I…found out what happened, I never exactly asked, and I don't intend to."
"Does she know?"
"If she does, then that makes her the strongest person I've ever met cause…if it was me, I don't know how I'd ever get past something like that."

Loki takes this into consideration, as if seeing Snow for the first time. He couldn't help feeling sorry for her,

and more so,

he couldn't help feeling closer to her than ever before.

Tony watches Loki rise to his feet, washing a hand through his hair. He takes his leave, and Tony sighs as if in relief for sharing this with someone other than himself.

Loki's mind ran restlessly, putting together piece by piece, attempting to comprehend where the White was coming from, how she was who she was today, and he wasn't referring to her abilities.

How did she get past it?

But then it became clear.

She never did.

Inside, she was broken,

just like him.

He felt a sudden need to protect her, and he wasn't even sure from what.

It had never occurred to him that she was hurting, that she was carrying around this weigh of grief. Knowing this now, he refused her pain, he despised it. And it was like it wasn't fair, for someone like her.

Someone like her.

Loki felt his heart grow restless as well, a feeling he couldn't quite comprehend,

a feeling for her.

Hours through the night, he'd found himself in her room, watching her sleep, and hoping he wouldn't make a habit of it.

But it was like he needed answers. Answers for why he was feeling whatever it was that set his heart ablaze when his eyes would fall upon her.

But the answer seemed too stubborn to present itself so hastily.

XXXXXXXXXX