Loki stayed in her room that night. If she had known... he shook the thought away. He was not going to attempt anything he merely liked to watch her sleep. She wore an oversized shirt and fleece pants to sleep in. Her dark red hair pooled around her and framed her face. He heaved a sigh. He loved to see the peaceful innocence of her face and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept. He would never admit it but she calmed him and made him want to change. He was drawn to her and he would make sure she was drawn to him as well. He ran his fingers gently down her arm and froze as she stirred.
"Loki." she murmured. He quickly took on the form of his brother as Aaliyah's eyes fluttered open. She launched herself from her pillows when she caught sight of him.
"Thor!" She cried "what..." he cut her off, seizing her hands. They were soft and warm, and so small he was half afraid he'd break them.
"Hush." He pleaded gently. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to startle you I just..." he lost his train of thought as she stared at him with those vibrant blue eyes he had come to adore. They were such a beautiful light blue with flecks of green. Her gaze was so gentle, but she had such a hard, almost frightened look on her face. "I merely take pleasure in watching you sleep..." he admitted. The expression on Aaliyah's face softened as she smiled at him gently. This was a tenderness he had never experienced. She slid over and patted the empty space on the bed next to her. He cautiously made his way to the bed but stopped as her melodic voice broke the silence.
"Don't you try anything." She warned as he lay down on his back next to her. He tried to hide his smile as she wrapped her arm around him and rested her head against his chest. He ran his fingers gently through her hair. It felt like silk. Soon her rhythmic breathing returned as she fell asleep.He changed into his own form and a smile graced her face and a smile teased his own lips as she snuggled into his chest. He could feel her warmth through his tunic. A sigh escaped his lips.
"Darling." he whispered to to the angelic sleeping figure as if she could somehow hear him. "I am captivated by you even in your sleep." He brushed some hair from her face " The flutter of your eyelids, the warmth of your skin the soft thoughts you murmur aloud..." an overwhelming emptiness flooded him. "I do hope you're dreaming of me." He continued to stroke her hair. "Your power over me is maddening." He murmured. "You look at me and I feel breathless from your beauty. You look at me again and I feel ever so unworthy of even my name passing your lips."
He carefully slipped into her mind glancing through her past, the lost love the feeling of rejection she carried, the emotional disconnection from her family. He could see the emptiness Aaliyah felt; her constant wondering if she would ever be good enough, her fear of always being alone. He saw every night on which she cried herself to sleep.
He soon returned to the present "Oh my love," he said softly "watching you sleep; looking so innocent and pure makes me wonder how someone like you could have experienced the pain that I have..." she stirred again. "Don't worry my dear." He kissed her head. "I will be here for you to make you forget all that pain." He promised "I will stay with you for eternity." And soon he too drifted to sleep, finding comfort in her arms just as she had in his.