Chapter Three: The God of Mischief

He opened his eyes. They were green, green like envy, like a poisonous fire. He straightened up and sat on my couch, me, still on the floor, quivered. "Hello," I gave him a weary smile. His eyes scanned me, as he gave me a look of almost...jealousy? "Are you okay?" I asked him.

He nodded. "I am fine," He said as he looked around the room.

"Do you know Thor?" I asked him. Thor was the one S.H.I.E.L.D. was looking for, after all. And he looked almost as if being an Asgardian was a good possibility.

The man grimaced. "Yes, do you know him?" He asked me, although this time when he spoke, it was almost as if it were a groan.

"Yeah. I think so," I smiled.

The man tried to get up from the couch, when I noticed that he was hurt. I also noticed how tall he was once he'd stood up. He couldn't stand up fully for long. I'd noticed him protecting his abdomen and the minute he looked like he might succumb to the pain, I slid under his arm to hold him up. Even draped over me, he completely engulfed my frame. Maybe telling him that I wasn't going to hurt him was completely off base.

"Let me be," he demanded. I let go. His voice was like a command, and I felt like his pet. He wasn't terribly injured but he did need help. And also...he was incredibly good-looking. Not alike Steve, not big and bulky, but with an elegance. He was also very pale, and I thought maybe the fall with the lightning had something to do with that.

He then asked me a question, as simple as ever, but very very tough to answer. "You know me, do you not? I can see it in your eyes." He told me.

Honestly, I didn't have an exact clue to who he was. But I had an assumption that he was Thor's brother, Loki. The evil one who had sent the Destroyer. The one who wanted to kill. The murderer. But then, when I looked into his eyes, I didn't see a killer. I saw a confused man who wanted answers. That was all I saw in those green eyes at that moment.

"I do. You're Loki, Thor's brother." I saw him breathe a little harsher, obviously uncomfortable, and I kept my eyes focused on the orchids I had on my kitchen counter. "My name is Ariana Visser, if you were curious."

"I was. Why did you take me from the… desert?" Loki was clearly trying to remember things about here that Thor had told him. He was catching on quickly.

I didn't know whether it was right or not to tell him about my visions, but I concluded that being honest was the best way to deal with the newfound Asgardian that everyone was trying to find these days.

"I had a vision yesterday morning. I saw you fall from the sky, yet I didn't know who you were. Then today...I was given information about Thor and you, and I know what they would do to you if they found you. So without thinking, I brought you back here." I explained as Loki stared his green eyes into my brown ones. He listened intently.

"Are they looking for Thor?" Loki gave me a genuine look and I nodded. "The way to get here is broken. He cannot come back and I cannot leave until they fix it." I noticed he was trying to say things in a way that I would understand them and I appreciated it.

"Jane is working on a way to get to Asgard...but I know it won't work. There is no definite way for us Midgardians to reach your world." I explained to him.

"You said you had a vision. Are you a clairvoyant?" He asked me as I nodded. I guess that was the correct term for what I was. "You are certainly gifted...for a mortal."

I sighed. "It's not a gift. People want to use me because of it." I told him, thinking of the Avengers. They said that Loki was so bad, but he didn't seem like it at all. I liked training with Steve, and I had agreed to join them, but really, what did it come down to? Fury was just going to use my gift so I could give them information, thats all. And I certainly wasn't going to put this man who hadn't done anything wrong to me, in danger.

"I'm somewhat misunderstood." Loki replied.

"Well...I feel like people only want to befriend me, make me their ally, so that I can give them information...And S.H.I.E.L.D, the organization who just gave me a new job...they want you." I told Loki as I tried to hide my face.

"Me you say?" He asked.

"They know you sent the Destroyer and they're looking for you. They found your helmet a week ago. They want me to tell them things about you, which, I won't...I can't. You don't understand. You haven't done anything wrong to me," I told him with brute honesty.

He smirked at me. "I admire your will, Miss Ariana."

"Thank you." I smiled. "Now I know this is kind of out of place for me to say Loki, but until they find Thor, I think you should stay here. Coming out and wandering off...especially in your gracious attire," I said, gesturing to his robes, "will only attract more attention to you."

"I understand," he said in that melodic voice that he had. "Why are you worried about S.H.I.E.L.D. talking to me and asking me questions?" He was tracing his long fingers around my two-person table that served as my dining room, even though it could count as the living room. He looked healthier already.

"I told you, they think you're a bad person. They'll lock you up. Or they'll just drill for information on Thor; information you may not want to give up and they have ways of making you tell. You shouldn't have to go through that, hell, nobody should." I told him as I got up from the floor to face him.

Loki grinned. "I thought you knew who I was. They cannot make me tell them anything." The way he said it was really frightening and I instinctively moved away from him. I was trying to be the good one here but apparently, I'd helped the wrong person.

"I understand that but for my peace of mind, please don't go out tomorrow." He seemed skeptical at first but then he nodded, wanting to appease me. Maybe he was too weak to go out anyway. Jane had made me think it was impossible to really get along with or trust Loki and of course, I didn't fully trust him but he clearly wasn't all bad. "Oh! I totally forgot...I hope you aren't expecting a feast or anything but I just bought some fresh food before I found you and-"

"You mean no one cooks for you?" He asked me. I was a little baffled. Of course, no one cooked for me and I had a sneaking suspicion that no one would cook for me in Asgard either. I'm not on the richer end of the scale, even with my stepfathers few cheques every month.

"No," I said laughing a little. "Although sometimes I like going out for dinner, but lately...I haven't had anyone to go with." I muttered the last few words.

After my break up with my last boyfriend, Matt four months ago, I surely did not want to accept any outings with any men of any sort. I usually went out for Chipolte or to the Cactus Club, but even with all thats been going on these days, I didn't have any time at all.

Loki I guess caught on to the fact that I was mostly lonely, filling that up with bottles of Absolut and Grey Goose vodka. Not that I was an alcoholic or anything, just that I had been drinking a little more than usual.

"And...I guess since you're the guest, you can take the bedroom." I told him, as I sighed. It wasn't to shabby, and frankly, I had cleaned up that morning before training with Steve. "You deserve it, I mean, as a god who fell from the sky and all." I smiled. "I'll take the couch." I figured he needed the rest but at the end of the day, so did I.

"Where is it then?" He was looking me right in the eyes again. My heart fluttered a beat. Stop. He's a murderous god who you think is all innocent but is really not. God, Ari. My head voice was telling me. His skin was perfect.

"Uh, it's in the back room. I'll help you." He jerked back when I made to touch his arm so I backed off. "We can take turns with the bed 'cause I suppose you'll be here awhile." This god needed some ground rules. He seemed to be thinking on it and he nodded, seeing that I wasn't backing down.

"Of course," Loki responded. He turned and attempted walking towards the bedroom without me even giving him directions there. I knew the house was small but the way he'd automatically figured out the interior was weird. I followed him to make sure he made it there and I unconsciously began picking up my clothes that were already strewn everywhere.

"Can I do anything to help you?" I offered, looking at his abdomen. Loki gave me a withering glare. He didn't want my help.

"I will heal soon enough." He said as I backed off, closing the bedroom door behind me.