When Aaliyah woke Loki was gone. She wasn't surprised, but she felt a twinge of disappointment. Staring at the ceiling she tried to sort her feelings concerning Loki. She didn't trust him. She knew that much, and there was still that underlying fear she had of him...no not of him. She was scared of her attraction to him, of how easy it was for him to cloud her mind with nothing more than a simple touch. She shook her head. It was one thing to be attracted to someone, it was something else to have feelings for them. She knew he could be dangerous but...She thought about the events from the night before. He had saved her. Could this be why she was so conflicted?
Aaliyah stretched before getting out of bed. She padded her way into the living room where she found Loki sprawled on the couch, staring up at the ceiling, seeming to be lost in thought, his hands tucked under his head. Aaliyah's eyes wandered across his body. He wore a shirt which lay unbuttoned exposing his perfectly formed chest. Loki must have caught her staring because once she reached his face again he was staring back with a smirk and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Do you like what you see?" He asked in a teasing voice Aaliyah squirmed as his eyes stayed focused on her, she was suddenly very aware that she was only wearing an oversized buttoned shirt and a pair of shorts, her hair a mess.
Her body seemed to move without her bidding as her fingers moved to grasp the bottom of the oversized shirt in an attempt to tug it lower. Somehow attempting to cover everything at this moment seemed like a wonderful idea. Heat blossomed in her cheeks and she quickly drew her gaze away. Why was she so embarrassed?
The couch was old so when Loki shifted his weight as he began to get up the piece of furniture groaned with his movements. His green eyes danced with mischief, and her own eyes were drawn to his muscles as they bunched as he lifted himself from the couch. "Come, my pet, what draws your gaze?" He purred the smirk never leaving his lips. Aaliyah's cheeks flared even more as he came closer, backing her into a corner. He was mere centimeters away. She tried to sputter out an excuse to leave but was soon interrupted "What's wrong darling?" He asked, his voice low. "You seem a bit...flustered." He laughed as he stroked her cheek. "You fight so hard to make it look like you don't enjoy this" Loki hummed in Aaliyah's ear. "but your body doesn't lie. I can see the way your pupils dilate, how your breath quickens.." his lips brushed her ear as he spoke sending a tingle down her put her hand on his chest to push him away, but that was as far as she got before his hand seized hers holding it in place over his heart.
Aaliyah stared at him. Was her attraction to him that obvious? She mentally shook the thought away. Of course not! He was just toying with her. She pulled her hand away and ducked under Loki's arm to escape. She backed away from him, keeping her eyes on him in case he tried something. No sooner than she did this she was grabbed from behind, her arms held behind her back by a second Loki; this one dressed in his usual tunic. The first Loki calmly sauntered up to her and stroked her face with his thumb. "How many times must I tell you, little one? You can't escape me, so please, stay with me." His eyes were pleading and full of loneliness, but only for a second before they were once again filled with mischief, but Aaliyah's heart had already broken for him.
Aaliyah wanted to say something but no words would come up. She wanted to ask why he always treated her the way he did but she couldn't figure out how to ask. "It's because I enjoy your reactions. It's entertaining to see you embarrassed." Loki said calmly. How did he know what she was thinking? "You're quite the open book, your facial expressions tell me everything." he explained as he took a seat on the couch. "won't you join me?" he asked with a grin.
Aaliyah took a deep breath. She wanted to, she imagined Loki's arms around her as she rested her head against his shoulder. She mentally shook the thought away. She needed to go take a shower or something. "actually I'm going to go take a sh-" she didn't get to finish her sentence before Loki's arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Aaliyah smiled. She could get used to this; having someone to hold her close like this. She caught herself and carefully unwrapped Loki's arms from around her and turned to look at him. There it was again; that sad, pained look, but once again it was gone a second later. "I'm going to take a shower" she said gently.
"What, you don't want me to join you?" Loki teased. Aaliyah stuck her tongue out as she made her way to the bathroom. While in the shower Aaliyah reflected on Loki and that sad, painful look. Could it be that he was just as lonely as she was?
Aaliyah curled up on her bed. When she had gotten out of the shower Loki was gone. She should be used to being alone by now, but it still hurt. she had no one to talk to. It was her own fault for not trusting anyone, and pushing people away. She was afraid of getting hurt, and she wanted someone who would fight to stay with her, to hold her and tell her that she was okay the way she was, that she was enough. Alliyah thought of how she felt in Loki's arms; so safe, and warm. the emptiness around her seemed more prominent all of a sudden and tears pricked her eyes as she curled up tighter, trying to force back the tears. It wasn't long before they were flowing freely between her silent sobs. It was her fault she was so alone. She never let anyone in. She always pushed them away. She was so selfish.
Aaliyah choked as she tried to hold back her sobs, her whole body shaking. Then she felt arms around her and she instinctively buried her face into the warmth of the body next to her. "shhhh." Loki's voice softly floated over Aaliyah's sobbing. "What's wrong, my dear?" Aaliyah shook her head, unable to speak. Loki stroked her head. "deep breaths, darling. Come on" he encouraged gently, "tell me, what troubles you?"
"Why do I push everyone away?" She asked through her tears, her defenses were shattered and her thoughts poured out of her mouth of their own accord. "I'm so tired of being alone. I'm such an idiot. It's my own fault. I keep myself locked up like this, away from everyone. I'm afraid I'll get hurt if I let people in, or that i'll just be a burden to them and cause problems." Loki's arms tightened around her.
"Stop it." he scolded, his voice soft. "You are not to blame for your fears nor are you a burden. You need to realize this for yourself, and be patient with yourself. This is not something you can change overnight. It takes time, but I believe you can do this. There is nothing wrong with who you are. Now, what can I do to ease your pain?" Aaliyah couldn't bring herself to answer as a fresh bout of tears came flooding in. Loki held her close, stroking her hair. "shhh." he continued. "you're alright." This continued until she fell asleep in his arms, comforted by his presence.
Loki was gone again when she woke up. She silently got up and looked around the house for him. She decided last night to give up and let him into her life rather than try to fight him off at every turn. She couldn't find him. She stepped outside and there on the lawn were burn marks. She remembered them as the markings from the Bifrost depicted in stories. "Loki?" She called. No answer. "Loki" she shouted again, louder. Still no answer. He would have come by now, wouldn't he. She called to him one more time, and still no answer. He was gone. Aaliyah collapsed to the ground. This is exactly why she never let anyone in, they always left as soon as she let her guard down. She felt tears well up in her eyes but she refused to let them fall, She would not let herself cry over him again.
Loki stood, Heimdel next to him, listening to Aaliyah's cries. "Will I see her again?" He asked the guardian. "There can be no way of knowing." Heimdel responded. "That is for the Alfather to decide." Loki nodded. "I will keep an eye on her." Heimdel added. Loki focused his mind. There was one thing he could do for her.
Aaliyah turned back to the house, dejected and ashamed of herself when a wonderfully familiar voice called out to her. She turned and saw Loki there and immediately rushed toward him. He stopped her, raising his hand. "I'm only an illusion." He explained. He stopped a moment, staring at her. "Aaliyah I want you to know…" and without another word he was gone.
Loki's focus was shattered as he was shoved into a white cell. A magic barrier prevented him from using his magic outside the boundaries of the four walls. Odin's punishment would have been nothing, were it not for that woman. He had fallen for her completely and recklessly. Heimdel was kind enough to tell Loki of Aaliyah's activities, but Loki soon asked to be told nothing more of the girl. Every time her name was mentioned was an ache in his heart. His mind often wandered, remembering the visions he had seen of her past. He imagined her crying into her pillow each night, calling out to him until she fell into a fitful sleep. Of course, this was all in his head but it still pained him. He wanting nothing more than to be by her side, to comfort her. As cold as he was Loki understood her pain, her feelings of inadequacy, of rejection, the empty loneliness she carried. He would save her from it. He had an eternity to wait, and wait he would.