Chapter III

An hour or so passed. Faith had gone and sat in her room and made an attempt at reading, but she couldn't stop the little feeling of guilt from creeping up on her. Why did she always need to prove herself as good as anyone else? Now that she thought about it, his rant had sounded a lot like the little kids she took care of at her part time job. Working at a kindergarten taught one a lot about tantrums, and that was exactly what she had just observed. He wasn't mad at her really; he was just taking out his anger at his family. She should have been more understanding, she thought. After all, she knew what it was like to be abandoned by one's family.

She took another deep breath, and put her book down. What was really sticking to her was that part of his speech where he'd practically called himself a monster. What was that all about? A beast? Who was he kidding; he looked nothing like a beast. She doubted if he even had chest hair. She giggled. This was ridiculous. Who was she kidding; her temper had always been her downfall. She should go apologize. Well, she should, but she was going to let him do that, before her anyway. She reopened her book and finally started to read.


Loki sat with his back against a tree, staring off into space. He'd been doing this a lot recently, he thought. For the past hour or so he had been trying to calm himself and form some way of approaching his inevitable future. Not that what was in his future was inevitable, as of now he had no idea what that was. No, it was inevitable that he had a future within which he could make plans.

He rarely let his anger reveal itself in such wild demonstrations as he just had. He chose to assess and evaluate his emotions, somewhat like a scientist, and weigh the pros and cons of the various ways he could act upon said emotions. He'd become used to this his whole life. Keeping the hurt locked away, packing away every new surge of feeling, storing them up in a cabinet in his soul. He let the contents of this cabinet come flying out when he discovered his true parentage. He had been nearly blinded by the stream of impulses.

When he was young it was simple. Thor fought most of his battles for him, defending him from the cruel words of other Asgardian children. A good beating stopped each tormenter for a time. It was the way of young boys, punch each other into accordance, but Loki never was one for physical violence. So Thor saw to it that those who teased and taunted would go home black and blue. When they were older, Loki had learned he had the talent for sorcery and magic, and an eloquent and witty tongue, and so fought his battles with these. But, just like being defended by his older brother, using magic and trickery was a double edged sword, opening him up for even more ridicule, suspicion and contempt.

Thor would say they were jealous, but Loki never really believed that. While being strong for his size, and limber, he held no love of fighting. The Asgardians valued strength and bravery in battle, less so cunning of mind, and most were uneasy about his abilities. Unlike any other Asgardians, he could change and multiply his form, cast illusions and spells and, little known to others, control minds if he really tried. Perhaps they were jealous, more likely they were repulsed, he thought. All this should have been an indicator, he should have suspected, he should have seen the evidence. He wasn't of Asgard at all, he was of Jotun blood.

When he and Thor were children, they used to love to listen to their father and uncles tell stories of their battles and adventures across the nine realms. And most frightening of all were the stories of the Frost Giants, huge, disgusting, blue beasts, who would impale you on icy-spears with their bare hands, or freeze you to death slowly. Cruel, vicious creatures, which would devour you sooner than look at you. Thor had taken great delight in frightening some of their female cousins with retelling of frost giant tales.

And this is what he was. A creature he had grown up despising and fearing. What irony and what punishment. For being a failure, he thought. But how could his father have allowed him to grow up despising the Jotunns when all along he knew he was one!

Loki pushed all these thoughts to the back of his mind. It was almost impossible for him to trap them away now. They were free, and they were his tormentors. He thought again of how he let his frustration go at the girl. What did she say her name was? He really should have her as an ally here, and maybe he felt a little guilty. But she had fought with him! How her eyes had flashed with indignation! He had to admit he hadn't expected it from such a small mortal.

He debated returning to the house to speak with her, his curiosity about her almost getting the best of him. But no, he thought, she had no reason to be angry with him. Loki leaned his head back and closed his eyes. She would make peace with him in time.


Gramp's shift at the mechanics, where he worked every day, was done and he was rattling along the dirt road in his little green pickup. His mind was set on gears and engines, when he noticed someone sitting against a tree not far from the edge of the road. He recognized him, and pulled over.

The boy was facing down the road, the way gramps had been driving, and he had his eyes shut, head back.

What was he doing here? Gramps had hoped that leaving him and Faith alone would let her cheer him up a little, Faith had a good way with people, and pretty women were always better at dealing with men right?

"Hey there…son," he called, walking over to stand near him, "what're you doin' way out here?"

Loki opened his eyes slowly. "Thinking. Your granddaughter didn't allow me to stay in the house in peace."

"What? She kick you out? What did you do?" gramps chuckled.

"I believe I angered her." Loki glared at the ground.

"Oooh, well, that wouldn't be too tough I s'pose. But it's just as easy to get her back on your side you know, if you speak reason she'll listen. She might have a hot head, but its level, I'll tell ya."

Loki stood up slowly. He had walked farther from the house than he'd thought, and was sore all over, and several more of his bandages had come loose. "Yes…I think I require her assistance."

"Well, get in the truck and we'll have you two makin' up in no time." Gramps said with a smile, turning to walk back to the car.

"I am sorry I upset her." Loki called, suddenly and genuinely contrite.

"Aw well, tell her that. I'm sure it's nothing you can't fix." Gramps waved him over.

Loki eyed the rattling contraption in front of him. "It's not going to explode is it?" he looked through the window incredulously.

"Naw. Get in, get in."

"Hmm." Loki looked a bit repulsed, but got in anyway. Within minutes he developed a dislike for motor vehicles.


Faith heard the pickup pull up alongside the house. At first she was going to rush down stairs to meet gramps, but felt suddenly shy when she looked out her window and saw Loki get out of the truck. Darn him, he was handsome. She sat back down on her bed. Why had she ever yelled?

A few minutes past and gramps entered the room. "Hey, Hun you in here?"

She rolled over, "yeah I'm here."

"The boy's down stairs, askin' for ya." Gramps winked.

"No he's not! He's mad at me." Faith laughed.

"Well, you wanna tell me why you ran our guest out of the house?" he sat down on the end of the mattress.

"He called me a pathetic mortal, and he said he didn't want my pity…and how we should be worshipping him as king because he's a god or sum such." Faith ended in a grumble.

Gramps raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

"He was screaming, grampa, about his father and brother, about how he might be killed if he goes home…"

"He scared you."

"A little yeah, but I just blew up in his face about the pathetic part, I mean, after how we've been helping him!"

"So, what you're sayin' is, you got mad when he took out his fears on you, which made you scared and mad, which made you yell, so you two fought."

"Geez. Gramps."

"Well? I am I right? Did you even try to calm him down?"

"No, and I'm not happy about that ok? I feel bad. But I don't pity, him, that's nonsense. I don't even know his story really." She looked down at her feet. "I'd give him the chance." She whispered.

"Well, I'm gonna go work out in the garden, if you catch my meaning, you should go tend to his wounds." Gramps leaned forward, wiggling his eyebrows dramatically.


She waited till he'd gone, then started down the stairs, and almost bumped into Loki, who was coming up them.

"Oh. I was just gonna look for you, gramps said you needed something." Faith stepped back into the hall letting Loki step up next to her. He was a whole head taller than her. Faith stared dead ahead…her nose level with his collarbone.

"Yes. Your Grandfather suggested I ask you to help me with the cut on my forehead."

She glanced up. Huge, sad blue eyes looked down at her. She couldn't help the blush that crept up her neck. Then, something snapped.

It was in those eyes, his sad eyes, that Faith felt the first pang of something inside her. She could hear things, his voice, mixed up confused words, those of a scared child craving something he couldn't find. In his eyes she had seen things that scared her, not horrible things, but the fact that they were played out in front of her in his eyes, like moving photographs, and splashes of color. Smells and sounds hummed in her ears and she felt something smooth brush along her forearm. The hairs on her neck stood on end and her blush deepened. She felt like she was flying, she felt invincible, and it scared the breath out of her…

Her eyes, the darkest blue he'd ever seen. They were like sapphires glinting in the setting that was her face. Cream colored skin framed by golden hair, offset those gems, the windows to her soul. Loki felt the rush that accompanied the rare times when he could read and control minds, but he was powerless to it, he had no control over himself. His charade of arrogance and strength crashed around him and he felt, like a wave strokes the shore, accepted. He saw in her eyes that his deck of cards would be fairly dealt and his to play. No preconceptions or prejudices. His fate with her lay in his hands, and was his book to write. This information made him feel as if he were the tallest, strongest man in all the nine realms, he felt like…a king. And then it was over.

Loki looked at the ceiling so quickly his neck cracked, and Faith took a great interest in the baseboards. She knew her face must be red as a tomato.

"Follow me." She almost whispered, walking quickly down to the end of the hallway, entering the bathroom.

She took the first aid kit down out of the medicine cabinet, and got out an assortment of bandages.

When she turned around he was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, examining the floor tiles.

"Okay, just point where the bandages fell off and I'll help you replace them." Faith let herself smile at him.

"Would it not be easier, I mean if you have such a thing, to use some healing stones?" Loki asked watching her sort through the small white packages.

"Healing stones, no I don't think we have those here, what are they?" she cocked her head to the side, curious.

He smiled slightly, faith beamed. "They are stones…and they heal." Faith laughed gleefully. "No! Really, explain, I want to know about where you come from."

"I thought you didn't believe I was from another realm, that I was just some guy who was a little confused because I'd just flown through a, pardon me, freaking? Twister."

She blanched. "You heard that"

"I did. I suppose it's a logical assumption… for a mortal." He made an innocent face.

Faith grinned and pulled the sticky paper off a Band-Aid. "You sorta smiled for a second there." She said, leaning over to stick it on his forehead.

"Yes I suppose I did, why, does that please you?" he raised his eyebrows interfering with her ministrations.

"Relax your face please," she maneuvered another Band-Aid into place. "Well, it doesn't make me especially happy; I've just been interested in seeing the state of your teeth." She shrugged.

"Oh dear, was that an attempt at wit? Best stick to baking." Loki grinned.

Faith rolled her eyes. "I'll make you a pie." She reached for the butterfly bandages. "Let's take a look at that gash on your hip.

Loki stood, tucking the hem of the t-shirt under his arm and pulling the jeans down an inch or two. Faith gently removed the gauze and inspected the injury. "Well, it looks much better than yesterday. I hope the stiches work though, that's the largest cut I've had to work on. I've done some on gramps, we live four or five hours from the nearest hospital, so I learned"

Looking up, she saw his face had gone neutral. "Does it hurt?"

He didn't answer.

"So, these healing stones," she began to clean around the stiches. "Better than Band-Aids, huh?"

Loki nodded. "Yes. They are grey and smooth, like some of the pebbles I saw along your road. One takes some in hand, once they are heated by fire, and crushes them into a powder, sprinkling the dust over open wounds. It heals within seconds."

"You can crush rocks…with your hands."

"I wouldn't call it easy, but yes I can." He grinned down at her.

"Geez." She put some antibiotic on the stiches and new gauze to cover it.

Loki put his shirt down. "I'm able to do much more than any mortal man, Faith."

She felt like giggling, but instead she grinned and said, "You'll have to show me."

"Is that a challenge milady?" He mimicked shock.

She chuckled, "You bet, sir."


Faith glanced over at Loki and grinned. He obviously hated being in the car. They were bumping along the road heading into town to get Loki some new clothes. She hummed to herself, enjoying the breeze.

Loki looked at her. They had the window open to let the wind into the stuffy little vehicle, and it was playing tag with waves of faith's shoulder length hair. Her face was profile to him, and he noted how different her face was from any other girl he'd ever seen.

Not that he'd had very many encounters with females in the past; he'd been too obsessed with his magic. As he'd grown older several women of the Asgardian court had been interested in him, but he hadn't noticed until Thor had teased him for his blindness in matters of the opposite sex.

The two women he was closest to were his mother, Queen Frigg, and the Lady Sif. He thought his mother the most beautiful of the court, gracious, and gentle. She had round, soft features. And the Lady Sif, well, he had never really been in her favor. She used to pick on him and beat him up when they were little, and though she was fair of face, she acted too much like a gentleman for Loki to really think of her as female.

The ladies of the court put on such airs and graces that sometimes even Thor grew weary of their company. They all looked much the same as well; tall, proud, and most were buxom. Faith, she was different. She was small, natural. She had a wide forehead and a turned up nose, but her huge, dark blue eyes were soft, and her mouth seemed always in a smile.

They had sat in silence for a while, but Faith decided to break it, she worried her curiosity would make her burst if she didn't.

"So, since I'm about to show you what it's like around here, tell me more about what it's like in your world." She said shifting in the driver's seat, noticing Loki had been watching her.

"What do you wish to know?"

"Um, what does your home look like?" she asked, shrugging.

"My home was the palace," he said taking a deep breath. "It looks like a golden wave when the suns rise. It stands in the center of Asgard, pillars of gold surrounding it on all sides. Well, it's very impressive, but it was also my home." He said wistfully.

"Yeah no kidding, it sounds amazing!"

"It was. My chambers had large grey doors, I had inscribed with runes, and they read out one of my favorite poems. I had my bed chambers, and my workroom, where I practiced…my…" Loki looked out the corners of his eyes.

"Your…what?" Faith raised her eyebrows.

"Skills?" He said finally

"I…don't want to…pry," Faith said softly.

"No! I mean, no it's fine. What more do you want to know?" Loki felt incredibly torn. Some part of him was begging him to tell her everything, confide in her and cry to her, but he would not. He absolutely would not do that!

"Alright, I'm just going to ask, 'because I've just got a feeling you need to talk about it, what did your dad do to you?" Faith spoke quietly, but unapologetically. She hoped she hadn't made him mad again. She had been hoping to ask him about it, ever since she had seen things through his eyes. Literally. It still made her uneasy to think those images, sounds and things had been more than her imagination.

Loki sighed. Man up, he told himself. "It turned out that the man I thought to be my father had really kidnapped me as a baby, from another King, a frost Giant, a Jotunn, who he had defeated in battle."

She didn't say anything for a second, Loki wondered if he had actually spoken, but then she said, "So your whole life you've loved a man who is a kidnapper?" she looked over at him. He nodded.

"Damn. What a bastard." She said. Raw hate tinged her voice. "What, uh, what did you do when you found out?"

"Do you want to know the truth? It may shock you; midgardians… don't behave the way we do."

"Hey, look, I've accepted that your…not from earth, I can't believe I said that, but don't insult my intelligence again ok?" Faith gripped the wheel.

She looked him full on, then spoke quietly, "When I was ten my parents abandoned me, just left me on the porch of my grandmother's house. I had never even met her. I…was later told that I wasn't well. I had some mental issues apparently." Faith was nervous, she didn't know why she was even talking, she hadn't told anyone this. She exhaled, "And when I found out my parents weren't coming back, well I, broke things, and screamed at everyone I saw, attacked my gramps once or twice, and even tried to kill myself, so whatever you did, it's not going to seem that scary to me alright?" she breathed a little harder and kept her eyes on the road.

Loki thought this over for a minute, shocked, then said. "When I discovered the truth of my birth, that I was of Jotunn blood, and a bastard child, I told my real father that I would let him come and kill Odin where he slept, defenseless. When the Jotunns came I killed them, my true father included. If my brother had not managed to survive the killer I sent to destroy him and returned from earth to stop me, I would have wiped out their entire race. And become king. Instead Thor, my onetime brother, destroyed the bridge between the realms and as we struggled, I let go."

Faith's expression was unreadable, though she looked hard at him. "You let go?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"I fell to earth."

"Yeah I guessed."

They sat in silence for a long time. Finally faith spoke. "That's…what you just told me; that's hard for me to understand, I'll admit. But I just can't see… I can't be scared of you. You say you're a killer, that you're a monster? I don't know... I believe you, but I'm not scared… I've… always had a really good sense for people… You don't scare me. Maybe I'm an idiot, but… I know what fear and anger can do to a person, how it makes you act…it doesn't mean your guiltless but, I just," she looked at him. "I feel you." She half-grinned. "If you know what I mean." she shook her head. What a ridiculous speech. I'm not scared of you. He probably was scared of her now. Thinks I'm off my rocker probably, she thought.

"We are of like mind then, Faith. I too, feel you?" Loki raised an eyebrow. What strange colloquialisms they had here.

She looked a little shocked then smiled. "Yep, we are." She nodded.

They sat in comfortable silence until they turned onto a paved road, and came in sight of the town. Only four or five main blocks and some surrounding houses made up the village of Umpamine Oregon.

Faith drove down the main street, pointing out the various buildings and what they were. She parked and the got out next to the town's only shopping center, consisting of an ice cream parlor, a farm goods store, a Salvation Army and a McDonalds.

Faith led Loki into the Salvation Army. The bell on the door jingled, and while he would never show it, Loki felt complete and total unease. Yet, eyes wide, he sauntered next to Faith, as they made their way to the men's section.

Faith stopped by a rack of trousers. "Ok, so what's your size?"

Loki looked at her blankly. "You can see me before you; my size is as you see it."

"Right. Ok then we'll just have to eyeball it…oh just pick out a few you like and we'll go from there." She said, moving on to a round rack of dress shirts.

He's not a t-shirt and jeans boy, thought faith. "Hey, so what are you gonna do with yourself after this? You need to get a job; I guess you'll be staying with us though." Gramps wouldn't have it any other way, she chuckled.

Loki picked up several pairs of black trousers off the rack and eyed them in turn. Midgardian clothes were so unrefined, he thought. "Job? Does everyone here work for a living?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Unless you want to run for king of Idaho or something." Faith snorted.

"I advise you refrain from all jests until you know how to properly spin one." Loki narrowed his eyes, a little miffed.

Faith laughed, "Sorry but I can just see you walking up to the governor and saying, "For sooth, I do take reign over all you puny mortals of Idaho, kneel before your glorious King!" she imitated his voice as she grabbed a few more shirts.

Loki turned his back to her, pretending to inspect a rack of bowling shirts, but he smiled to himself. She was kind of amusing.

"Hey, I'm kidding, I like the way you talk, it's very… classy." She smirked.

"Thank you," he replied, nodding his head. "After all I am a prince, no matter my parentage." He said it somewhat bitterly though he pretended to be facetious.

"As a prince, what did you used to do, or what do you do? I mean, what are you good at?" Faith kind of stumbled over her words, mentally kicking herself.

"Causing women to fall over themselves in awe of me."

"Pssh, yeah I'm sure you get all the ladies back home."

Loki's face darkened again, "It isn't my home. I don't have-"

"Here is your home. For now. If you want." Faith said firmly.

Loki watched her as she coughed and went back to looking through a rack of pajama pants and t-shirts.

"Faith," he said, low in the back of his throat. She turned, looking up at him through her lashes, eyes wide.

"Um, yeah"

"You have a "Sale" label on your backside." Loki said, like it was the most serious thing he could say.

Faith stared at him for a minute before she burst out laughing. Loki's face widened into a smile.

She stifled a gasp as he laughed. He had the most amazing smile. She made a promise to herself to make him do that more.

When they had picked out armfuls of options, they went to the dressing rooms. Faith called over the sales clerk, Mike.

"Ok, so just try on a pair of pants, and a shirt, and if they fit alright, come out and show us." She said, dumping her pile of clothes into Loki's arms.

"I'm not a child Faith, just unaccustomed to such ridiculous apparel."

He said, glancing at Mike with a hint of reproach.

"Hey don't look at me, I just put em on the hangers when folks drop them off!" said Mike. Faith laughed.

"It's used clothing?" Loki glared at Faith. She laughed even harder.

"Just go on!" she said, giving him a little shove into the tiny dressing room.

Inside the closet-sized room, Loki allowed himself a moment to think. Perhaps he would let this mortal girl show him what was acceptable on Midgard, but he would not let her boss him around. What had transpired between them, the crackle of magic that had shocked him, was something to consider. He wanted to trust her. But he didn't trust anymore. He hadn't for a long time.

On the other side of the door, Mike leaned over to whisper to faith. "Boy, where'd you dig him up?"

"What do you mean?" she raised an eyebrow and leaned away from the acne-faced teenager.

"He's obviously a city boy, and kinda gay lookin' too. Just wondering how you know him… he obviously doesn't live here."

"Obviously." She huffed. She'd never liked Mike, now that she came to think of it.

Mike laughed, smelling like cigarette smoke, "and he can't possibly be your boyfriend."

Faith's eyes widened. She was just about to snap at the little jerk, when Loki stepped out of the dressing room. He looked great. He had put on a pair of black pants and a dark green button down.

"Why do you not consider me Faith's friend? I'm sure she would prefer me to you."

"Loki, I'm not sure really get it-"Faith started, warily.

"Ha, really? You don't know her very well then do you." Mike puffed up, crossing his arms.

"Yes, we've just met, yet I believe I know her better than the cretin I see before me." Loki spat.

"What?" Mike looked confused. He obviously hadn't graduated high school, thought Faith.

"As I thought, an imbecile." Loki didn't need to roll his eyes to give off an air of contempt.

"Now boys, let's not-" Faith started again, getting annoyed by both males now.

"Hey Pretty Boy, like I said, Faith doesn't have boyfriends, she's a loner. Something's wrong with her in that vi-cinety." Mike bobbed his head back and forth. He looked like a dwarf who'd had a run-in with a firethorn bush, thought Loki.

"Excuse me!" Faith yelled, shocked by Mike. She knew some people thought she was sort of different, but… that stabbed at a deeper insecurity.

Loki grabbed Mike by the front of his sweatshirt and raised him almost a foot in the air. "She may not like to be friends with disgusting little boy's like you, but that is a testament to her wisdom. There is nothing wrong with her you vermin, and if you think you can stand in my presence and insult a lady who's company I am keeping, you are even more ignorant than I first assumed."

There was a heavy pause, as Mike struggled for breath.

"Loki…" Faith got a little worried, until he began to set Mike down slowly.

"Now apologize to us both, scum." Mike's face was drained of all its color, and he was choking for air, but he needed no threats to pick up on how Loki fully intended to retaliate, unless he said sorry.

"Sorry Faith. And…you." Mike took a step back, gulping. Loki took the rest of the clothes from the dressing room and stuffed them into one of the large plastic bags from behind the counter.

"Come Faith. We're leaving, and I doubt we will be gracing this establishment with our presence again."

Faith stared at Mike rubbing his throat. She didn't quite know what to make of the situation. On the one hand, Mike was being a complete asshole, and she had no idea why, and on the other hand Loki was defending her like she was a damsel in distress. But someone made her mind up for her.

"Yeah, get out of here. He's probably just as loony as you are. You two make a great pair." Mike yelled hoarsely.

Faith turned slowly, smiled at Mike, and then slapped him. Hard. "Not as good a pair as you and your own hand, Mike."

She grabbed the bag from Loki, whose turn it was to be stunned, and strode towards the door. "And there is no way I'm paying for these." She said calmly, and she and Loki let the door jingle shut behind them.


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