Chapter 6

Hello! :D I had both a fun and hard time writing this chapter. I hope it came off as believable and not too miserable or angsty. I'm hoping I didn't lay it on too thick, lol.
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Deidra looked at Loki. "Your brother?" She said. "How is a storm your brother?"

"Oh no," Loki said looking back at her. "He simply brings the storm."

She frowned. Yep. He was definitely crazy. She decided not to push the issue and stayed quiet.

She looked up into the sky and then left the window to sit back on the couch to wait it out. Loki didn't move from the window.

"You should sit down," she suggested.

He didn't respond, but continued to look out the window. He seemed anxious.

The storm raged on until finally it suddenly stopped. The dark clouds moved away from the sun and the daylight shone again.

"Well that's weird," Deidra remarked standing up once more. She walked up to look out the window next to him, their shoulders touching. "I've never seen a storm like that."

"No, I don't suppose you have," he replied.

Suddenly a loud knock sounded at the back door, causing them both to jump; Deidra more than Loki.

She looked up at him, eyes wide. He looked back at her. "You might ought to answer that," he said, motioning his head to the door. "He will break it down if you don't."

She looked at the door, worried. Obviously someone was at the door, wanting inside. Loki seemed to believe it was his brother. Maybe he was right?

She stepped away from her dark-haired companion and inched her way to the back door in the kitchen.

The door banged again and she jumped. She looked back at him. He raised his eyebrows at her as if to say, "What are you waiting for?"

He watched her inch her way across the house to the backdoor. It was amusing, he admitted, to see her so nervous and edgy, but then again he couldn't blame her. He was more than happy to wait right where he was. He couldn't imagine any good reason his brother would come all this way to see him. In all honesty he was glad it was she and not him who had to open the door.

Finally Deidra made it to the back door. She reached out for the door knob. The door banged again, louder than ever, causing her to jump back with a squeal. She took a deep breath and reached for the door knob again and just threw the door open without any more thought.

She looked up at the tall blonde man in front of her. He had a stern look on his face, but that look softened when he saw her. It was obvious he hadn't expected it to be her to open the door.

Her eyes widened and she subconsciously leaned back as she stared at him.

'Holy crap,' was the only thing she could think. She knew this guy. She had seen him on the news. He was one of the people to help save Earth from the aliens. He was dressed the same and everything. He even had the hammer. She couldn't remember his name, but it was definitely him.

If he was there that could only mean one thing. He was Loki's brother, which also meant her companion really was the Loki who helped destroy New York.

"Holy shit," she said out loud, not dropping her stare.

Her staring was obviously awkward for the visitor. He cleared his throat. "I'm searching for a man," he said. "I was informed he is in this area."

Deidra couldn't make herself speak. She just dumbly pointed over into the living room, never dropping her stare off the golden-haired man.

'This can't be happening!' her thoughts raced as he stepped around her to enter the house. 'I have aliens...no gods in my house. There are two gods in my house! This doesn't happen to people. Gods don't just show up at your house!'

Loki rolled his eyes at Deidra's sudden muteness and stepped away from the living room window. "Hello, brother," he said, careful to let no emotion show in his voice. It was harder than he had thought it would be, though. As soon as he laid eyes on his brother all sorts of unwanted emotions flooded his entire body. He was angry, sad, embarrassed, jealous, and homesick all at the same time. He realized, however, he was very happy to see him. He had missed Thor more than even he realized.

Thor smiled and closed the gap between them. "Loki!" he greeted, his voice honestly happy. "Heimdall said you would be here and here you are!" He clapped his brother hard on the shoulder, knocking Loki off-balance.

Loki rubbed his shoulder. "I can't help but guess that you didn't come for idle chatter," he said.

Thor's smile darkened. "You're not wrong," he admitted. Loki frowned. "But it's happy news!" Thor assured, seeing his face.

Deidra slowly inched her way closer to the two, trying to keep out of notice, but couldn't help but want to hear every word of the conversation.

Loki raised an eyebrow. "How could you have happy news?" he asked. "I've been stripped of my powers and banished from Asgard. How can any of that be made better with good news?"

Thor frowned. "I understand your frustrations," he said. "However, some of our people have studied the staff the Chitauri gave you. They have determined that it causes its wielder's mind to bend under the Chitauri's commands. You were not in control of your own mind! You were not at fault for all that happened here."

Thor waited for Loki to smile and act relieved, but he didn't. He just stood there silently. Deidra thought over what he had just said.

"You mean the aliens used mind control on him?" she spoke up.

Both gods turned and looked at her, not realizing she had been listening.

"Yes," Thor answered. "Loki's thoughts were not his own."

Loki frowned. "I remember everything that happened," he said darkly. "I was in control. I wanted it to happen. That was me, not the Chitauri."

Thor shook his head. "That is how the staff works," he said. "They trick you into thinking that their commands are your own thoughts and ideas." He looked at his brother. "Have you been having headaches?" he asked suddenly.

Loki's brow furrowed. "Headaches?" he repeated. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"The men who studied the staff also learned that being apart from it after a certain time, the hold the Chitauri has on the wielder grows weaker in phases until the hold is completely gone. These phases are marked by severe headaches."

Deidra remembered. "You've had headaches," she said softly.

Loki looked at her and nodded, taking it all in. Yes, she was right. He had had horrible headaches since he had arrived there. "Yes," he said equally as soft. He looked at Thor and his voice boldened. "But they've stopped. I haven't had any in a while."

Thor nodded. "Well you seem to be back to your old self again," he said. "When I look at you now, I see my brother, not some villain that I met in New York those months ago." He reached out and put a hand on Loki's shoulder. "It gladdens me," he said with a smile.

Loki looked at him. "Father knows about this discovery?" he asked. Thor nodded. "Then may I come home?" he asked with a hopeful smile, unable to stop the shimmer of emotion in his eyes.

Thor frowned. He backed off of his brother just a little and shook his head sadly. "I am afraid not," he said, avoiding Loki's gaze. "Father says that you are still responsible for the crimes you committed during your reign as King of Asgard. He also says that you had to have opened your mind to the Chitauri to let them in. You took the staff, so you are still partially responsible for what happened."

Loki's hopeful expression crumbled into a look of complete hopelessness and despair. He reached out and clutched Thor's hands in his. "Brother, please," he said softly, tears shimmering in his eyes. He stared up into his eyes, hoping he would change his mind, though he knew it was hopeless.

Thor shook his head and took his hands from Loki's. "I am truly sorry," he said. "I tried and tried to convince him to let you return, but he has made his decision. I can't go against him."

Loki thought back to when Thor had been exiled. He had visited the blonde-haired god on Midgard and said nearly the exact same thing to him. Now he knew how it felt. It was horrible.

Loki's face became expressionless and he wiped at his eyes. "I suppose not," he said in a cold, yet cordial voice. "After all," he continued, his voice growing louder and more harsh with each word. "you wouldn't want to risk your place on Asgard's throne to speak up for me!"

Thor frowned. "Loki, you're wrong," he said, but the dark-haired god wasn't finished. He had been wounded and couldn't stop himself.

"You go back to your Asgard," he spat. "I'm sure it's much better up there without me now. I was never wanted anyway. This is the perfect excuse for the All-Father to be rid of me."

"Loki," Thor said. "Your anger will lead you nowhere. You are not as hated as you believe."

He looked at Loki sadly and turned to leave. "I only came to tell you about the staff. Father doesn't know I'm here, so I must return quickly." He paused at the door and looked back at him. "We are rebuilding the Bifrost, so perhaps I shall visit again, brother."

And at that he walked outside, shutting the door behind him. Not long after, the sky got dark and the storm began again. Deidra rushed to open the door and look out. There was nothing except the same design on the ground as she found in the woods that day she met Loki. She looked around for a moment and went back inside. Already the storm was letting up.

She looked around the room. Loki wasn't standing where she left him. She frowned and walked into the living room and into the hallway. His door was shut. She knocked softly.

"Hey," she said. "Are you in there?"

Loki was in the room, sitting on his bed. He felt helpless and hopeless once again. Any hope that he would ever return to Asgard had been destroyed during Thor's visit. He realized for the first time that he was truly stuck here; probably for good.

Deidra knocked again. "Loki?" she said.

He sighed. "What is it?" he responded, not moving from the bed.

She heard his voice through the door and felt such pity for him. She slowly turned the knob and opened the door a crack. She peeked her head in. "Are you ok?" she asked softly.

He glared at her. "Leave me," he said darkly. He wanted nothing more than to just be left alone.

"Are you sure?" she asked, opening the door wider.

"Now," he warned.

"Loki, come on," she persisted.

"Get out!" he yelled, getting to his feet. He made it two steps towards her before she slammed the door shut.

Deidra backed away from the door against the hallway wall, breathing heavily. The look on his face was scary. What would he have done if he had made it to her before she got out of the room?

'Nothing good,' she thought.

She went to her bedroom and locked the door, afraid.

Loki stood in front of his own door and looked down at his hands, balled into fists. He slowly relaxed his fists and tried to stop the shakiness in his breathing. What did he just do? What was he going to do if he had caught her? He didn't even know. He felt the anger drain from him. This wasn't her fault. She had nothing to do with this. She simply wanted to offer comfort, he knew, and he literally ran her off.

He sat back on his bed and took several deep breaths. She didn't deserve that. He had no right to treat her like that.

'Maybe I am the monster people think me to be,' he thought miserably.

He shook his head. 'I'm not,' he said to himself. He was many things, but a monster was not one of them. And he needed to prove it, starting with Deidra.

He would apologize to her, something he hadn't done in many, many years. He couldn't remember the last time he apologized to someone.

He stood up and checked his face in the mirror, making sure he looked presentable before opening his door and going to hers.

He stood outside her bedroom door for a few moments, not knowing exactly what he should say. He took a few deep breaths, brought his hand up, and rapped quickly at her door.