If she thought she could hurt the big alien jerkwad, Kitania would gladly have sent him face-first to the floor. Instead, she sent a scathing glare straight through his head. If looks could kill...
Loki merely raised an eyebrow at the healer's petulant tantrum. The girl could use some growing up, and he would cut her no slack now that she was here. She could become a woman or die a child. It was entirely up to her.
He turned his attention to Paige, stiff and unyielding as she was. He swallowed to force the words out, because he meant them but did not think Paige would take it as such. "I've come to apologize, little telepath."
Her tears flowed freely, yet she would not turn. No. Don't. You've nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should apologize to you.
"No. I know where your affections lie, and I should never have overstepped my bounds. It will not happen again." There. He had said it, though it tore his heart in two. He would not touch her again without her permission. He nodded at Kitania, the healer at the piano who spoke no words. More than likely out of disdain, but he appreciated that for once his hostage was silent. "I will feed you sometime in the near future."
But I don't want to lose you. Paige finally turned to look at him then, her own hurt showing through her eyes. She'd caused this. Led him on, then pushed him away. But, even with everything she thought she wanted, she knew she would never survive without him. How could she return to Drake after all Loki had done for her? After all her had shown her.
Loki kept his best, practiced look of indifference on his face. He knew better than to let others see his hurt. They didn't care, and would only turn on him when he had bared his weaknesses. "Paige, please do not make this more difficult for me. Moments ago, you assured me you could never do this."
"Darn right." Kitania folded her arms. He didn't like the look on her face, either. The one that despised him and told him he hadn't a chance with any sane woman.
Loki growled low in his throat and sent an icy glare her direction. "Shut up."
Paige glanced between them, feeling trapped. Trapped and guilty and exposed. She slowly backed away, then turned and fled out a side door. It didn't take her long to find the stairs that led back to her room. She dropped onto her bed and buried her face into her pillow, silent sobs wracking her body.
"See what you've done?" Loki threw an arm out, motioning to the door. How would he ever manage to speak to Paige again after this? The healer was more trouble than she was worth. He should never have brought her here.
Kitania rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. That was all you."
"Silence." The growl he issued this time was hardly human. If she did not shut up after that, he didn't know what would cause her to be silent.
He had to remedy this. He had to be the bigger person, to apologize for whatever he had done to cause Paige to run from him. He hadn't said it, but he didn't want to lose her, either. In a flash, he had teleported to her door. There was only one way to decide if she would forgive him, and it must start with acceptance. He knocked softly on the old wood.
Come in if you must. Paige sobbed, never lifting her head from the pillow. Go ahead and throw my words back at me again.
Loki stepped into her room and tried not to fall to his knees at the sight of her tears. Why had he let one tiny girl have so much power over his emotions? He could barely control them himself. How could he trust them to one who could destroy him? "I only came to see what I may do to repair the damage."
Nothing. I caused this. With a sigh and a deep breath to calm herself, Paige turned her head to the side to glance at him. But, just so you know, my 'affections' donot lie with Drake. I love you. I just have a bond with him. It's… difficult to explain.
"Care to try?" Loki took another step forward, inviting her to open up. If she would explain it, he would listen. He wanted to understand, but she hadn't given him the chance. She had assumed he would not listen. Perhaps that was his fault, but both of them needed to work on their communication skills.
With another breath to calm herself, Paige finally sat up and dried her eyes. What we had began as a friendship. But then he became my protector. Then, the only one who vaguely understood. It was a mutual partnership. Nothing more.
"And it lingers still?" Though it still stung, he understood those feelings. A mutual partnership. Once, he had held to those as friendships, until they all betrayed him. He still couldn't believe they had thrown him aside like so much garbage. Like Paige had when she ran away from his kiss. No, Loki scolded himself. That wasn't true. She was confused, that was all. She would come around, in time. Or so he hoped. He wanted desperately to understand her, but sometimes she made it so difficult.
Only that I owe him. He stayed with me when no one else did. Learned Sign for me. Loved me. But I never loved him. Paige finally allowed her gaze to meet his. I'm sorry for how I acted. I shouldn't have run away. But… that song. It was his favorite. Then I started feeling guilty, and… She shrugged. I feel like I'm betraying him. Drake is all I've ever had.
Loki sank onto the bed beside her and resisted putting his arms around her to comfort her. She hadn't exactly apologized for turning back to Drake yet. Perhaps she never would. If only she understood. Could he make her understand? He had to try. "But... You have me."
But how do I know you won't just leave me when you get bored? If I reject Drake now, I'll have no one.
Loki reached for Paige's hand and folded it inside his own. He could not offer her any tangible security of his affections. He had only words, the most important things in his line of work. "You don't, except you have my word. You must trust."
A loud banging on inside of the front door assaulted his ears. Following, he heard her screeches. Like an overzealous macaw. "Loki! Let me out of here this instant!"
"Pardon me." Loki winced at another loud bang, probably her foot against the door this time. She couldn't be allowed to continue that racket. "I must go feed the cat." Loki kissed the back of Paige's hand before he stood and marched for the stairs. Leave it to the healer to undermine his plans and ruin a perfectly good moment. She should pay for that. He wasn't sure how, but somehow she would.
Paige gave an airy chuckle, dried the end of her tears, and followed him. You know, I think I'm starting to like her. Can we keep her? I think she'd make a nice friend. And servant. And possibly footstool if I'm in the mood. It felt good to smile again after so much gloom.
"We have to keep her for now. I've nowhere else to put her."
"LOKI!"
"Quiet, pianist!" Loki smirked as he hit the halfway point down the stairs. Unless... Oh, it could work. She would be out of the way and he wouldn't hear her cries. "Unless I move her to the powerhouse with the ill girl."
Paige's smile dissolved. She quickly stepped in front of him and blocked his path. They were going to address this, here and now. Ill? Is that what you think? And do you think the same of me behind your little veil? She was so much like the other woman. Cut into pieces and sewn back together.
"Absolutely not. You are at least sane. She..." Loki shook his head. He could not describe her in words. Kicking and biting and fighting him every step of the way. He hadn't expected such fire from one so small and so... not in her right mind.
"Let. Me. Out!" Kitania demanded, hitting a foot against the door again.
"Kitania!" Attention diverted, Loki jogged down the remainder of the stairs. Would she never obey? He wrapped one hand around her small, fragile arm and pulled her with him toward the piano room. She could hardly refuse him. Loki knew he was far larger and stronger than she, and he would do as he pleased. She would bow to his plans or he would tie her down. Even now she resisted, but if he bound her she wouldn't be able to resist. Not a bad idea, now that he thought about it.
Paige easily matched his stride. When you finish with this one, we're going to talk. Whether you like it or not.
"This one?! I am not a pet!" Kitania waved a finger in the air as though to make her point.
Unfortunately, Loki grew tired of her antics and her shouts. He stopped and yanked her close, until she was flush against him. His green eyes spit fire when he looked down into her face, all seriousness. His glare should tell her that. He lowered his voice an octave and held her helplessly still. "Silence or I will silence you."
Kitania barely nodded, but she did not open her mouth again. Like a good girl.
Loki pulled her the rest of the way to the piano room and pushed her inside. Good riddance to bad rubbish. She could rot in there for all he cared, with her precious instrument. Let her find peace in silence, as he would relish it in the coming hours.
Just be thankful he's letting you have the piano. Paige broadcast to Kitania. Then, just to spite her, she froze every third key. How could she play any chord if all the necessary keys were stuck? A wicked smirk spread across her face.
Kitania slammed a hand against the keys, creating a horrendous cacophony. "I HATE YOU BOTH!"
Loki sealed the doors with a chuckle, sure to put a thin shield to tone down the noise Kitania insisted on making. He turned to Paige with a sly smirk. "Darling, that was gleefully evil of you."
You saw? Oh, that was just a bit of fun, really. I'll release them in an hour or so. Paige shrugged. It was no big deal.
Loki laughed softly. It was too soon to fully let her back in, but she gained ground quickly. He glanced to the doors he had sealed. "I do wish she'd shut up."
With another smirk and the slightest wave of her hand, Paige froze Kitania's mouth, too. Like that? She'd release her once the girl calmed down.
"No. I had other methods in mind." Loki turned fully to face her. Now or never, they had to converse sometime. He would rather get it over with. "You wanted to talk?"
Yes. Paige crossed her arms. I want you to release the other one.
"You..." Had she gone mad? Loki gaped at her. What had she done with the Paige he knew and loved? The rational one who would never ask him to release a roaring psychomaniac from her cage. "You what?"
You heard me. I want you to release Brooke.
His dubious laugh came out in a huff of breath. Of course. She tested him. And yet... her expression bespoke sincerity. "No. No. No!" Surely, she must be joking. He couldn't release that animal into the telepath's care! Had she no idea what the girl was capable of? What would happen if he did as she asked? "She attacked me!"
I attacked you. Paige glared and made the sign for 'now', sure it would emphasize her point. Release her.
"She is not you." Loki folded his arms. He wouldn't allow it. They would all be dead before the night was out. "Absolutely not."
Fine. Be that way. If that's how he wanted to play it, fine. She just wouldn't speak to him for the rest of the day, then.
He had offended her again. When would he learn? He could always put up a shield that allowed no one—especially that girl—through. He rubbed his forehead to ward off the oncoming migraine. If he were in his right mind, he wouldn't even consider this. The things men would do for a woman. "Wait."
Paige stopped and turned, raising her eyebrow in a silent question.
Loki shook his head. Ludicrous. He had officially gone insane. "I cannot believe I am agreeing to this." He lifted his hands in a soft shrug, a sign of surrender if he had ever given one. Paige had officially wrapped him around her little finger. Sadly, he didn't mind one bit. "I will fetch her and bring her here."
Paige smiled and walked closer. He deserved a reward for being so obedient. She gave him a soft kiss, letting her lips linger as she pulled away. Thank you, my prince.
Loki smiled widely. Perhaps this was worth it, after all. An endearment, a kiss, she might as well have given him the moon. "Do go on."
Go fetch her and bring her to me. I'm going to find my way to the kitchens and see if there's anything I can make us to eat.
"Of course. Do be creative." With a sigh and a resolve of Asgardian metal, Loki marched out the door and toward the power house. He would do as his telepath asked, or he would nearly die trying.