Stolen Stars:

Chapter Twenty

You have stolen all my senses

There's a fever in my heart

And you're taking all my defenses

You are pulling me apart

(Animal – Ellie Goulding)

0o0o0o0o0o0

It was like being flung back to the Chitauri like a slab of meat. Loki screamed, protested the invasion with all his might but to no avail. Under the force of the Snake he was helpless and lost; his mind falling once again to the haze of poison that had dictated his existence for two years.

The pain was tenfold what the Other had inflicted upon him, and Loki could do nothing but slip into the madness it entailed.

At some point, a voice pierced the muck and the agony. High and clear, and something familiar. Something he needed, desperately, and yet he could not remember why. Loki tried to call out to the voice, but he was dragged under once more by the choking grip of the poison. Gradually the weight of the Snake moved away, but the fog remained.

The light that preceded the Snake's disappearance was like an atom bomb to Loki's senses. The poison flared in response as his prison filled with white and gold. He felt nauseous and frantic—he needed to leave. He needed—

And then Loki was in Midgard once more.

The acrid smell of burning oil and metal attacked his senses, and he opened his eyes. Everything was coated in the grey of the fog, and he remembered. The feeling of control, of destined rule.

Yes, this was right. This, this city and this world, was supposed to be his.

But then there was something else, a current along the bond in his head. He looked up from the terrace and saw the blonde staring down at him from the roof.

Loki cringed, frightened by her presence and furious that she inspired such weakness within him. With a growl, he transported himself behind the mortal.

"Fight me," he demanded, the words spilling from his lips in a wild challenge.

Fight her? Why?

The Tyler woman was speaking, but only fragments pierced through Loki's tainted thoughts.

Because it was supposed to end this way. Let me rule. Let me be. Stay away.

Loki let himself fall into animalistic fury, and his body moved almost of its own accord. There was something he needed, why couldn't he have it? The Tyler woman knows, she knows.

She had him pinned, was stripping him of all his defenses—impossible, how did he become so weak he could not fight off a mere mortal?

"Please, Guns."

Roses, the scent of comfort, oh how he wanted to be closer to it. She would never allow him, he was too volatile, too insane. The scent of home, the home he lost so long ago. The home he wanted, the home he needed.

"Rose," Loki croaked in relief, taking the lunge through the madness and finding her tired eyes. He clung to that slice of reality, and came back.

She did not release him, and part of Loki was thankful—he was not sure if he was safe yet, either. His eyes caught hers for a moment longer before rolling back into his head and he cried out in pain. Alarmed, she reached out to the bond between them, only half-knowing what she was trying to do, the reckless woman. There was a haze between them, and Loki balked at the intrusion after the ordeal with the poison-covered Snake.

But Loki groaned and tensed, willing the wall down and letting her through. His muscles were like iron bars under his skin, and Loki shook his head once, his teeth bared and hissing in effort at her light. He felt Rose flinch away from him, retreating from his mind. While he missed her presence, Loki's body thrummed with shock at the realization that there was nothing else to fill his mind but his own thoughts.

"It is gone," he muttered, eyes still closed. The statement was made in stunned bewilderment.

"What's gone?" Rose asked. Loki blinked and stared up at her.

"The poison. My head, it's…why are you still on top of me?"

"Are you gonna try and stab me?" Rose joked, but he could see caution in her eyes.

"No," Loki rasped, his voice raw from screaming. His head pounded. Though he was grateful for the clarity it gave him, it felt like a demon bear had clawed its way out of the back of his skull.

"Good, cuz ah…I don't think we have any more weapons anyway."

Indeed, the background of smoke and broken concrete had faded into a forest of grey trees shadowed by nightfall. Apparently taking this as a good sign for Loki, Rose carefully climbed off of him.

"I told you I'd come whenever you're in deep, Guns," Rose smiled. "Even if you are bloody well certifiably insane. At least it isn't London. Torchwood would have a field day with paperwork."

"I hurt you," he said, catching Rose's wince as she favored her left leg.

"Tis but a scratch," she tossed at him lightly, wavering in her attempt to stand. Guilt blossomed in Loki's chest, and he took her elbow, steadying her and pulling her back down.

"What are you—we need to get out of here!"

"Be still," Loki snapped, forcing her to sit in front of him. His touch light and hesitant, Loki took her left leg in his hand to inspect the wound. Rose grumbled something, but seemed to catch on as to what he was doing.

Loki could feel his magic now, in his hands and buzzing gently through his body (soul, rather—his body was still in Asgard). In any case, a wound to the soul could carry into the realms of the living. He was not about to leave Rose injured, especially when it was at his hand.

"This brings back memories," Rose commented, watching him conjure dim blue light over the cut. "Remember when I sliced my shin open on the bits of cannon because I blew out the lights in the apartment?"

"You shouldn't have come for me," Loki muttered, his expression dark. Rose glared down at him.

"Stop it," she admonished sharply. Loki avoided her eyes, instead checked on her calf to make sure it was healed properly. "We need to get out of here. Help me up and you are forgiven, yeah?"

Loki hesitated, unsure if he should even accept such easy compassion, but he took Rose's outstretched hand. Probably more gently than he needed to be, Loki lifted Rose to standing. He knew he was being selfish, but he kept his hand in hers when Rose tested her leg gingerly.

"You alright?" she asked, looked at him sideways. She hadn't dropped his hand, and while part of him still recoiled at the idea, Loki wasn't about to protest.

"I'm perfectly fine Rose," Loki replied. "Where are we supposed to be going, exactly?"

"Hel said the gate's the best way in and out. If anyone is able to get in," she sighed.

"You mean if anyone is left alive thanks to me starting Ragnarok."

"Don't get me started, Loki," Rose snapped. "This is as much my fault as yours and I don't want to hear more about it."

Loki grimaced, but obliged his irritated Midgardian by falling silent. She did, after all, save him. If anything, Rose Tyler deserved his cooperation. At least until they got out of Hel.

"Oh, please don't go all brooding on me," Rose asked, tugging on Loki's arm.

"I am not brooding," he protested, studying the trees with faux intensity. He heard an amused scoff.

"Right," Rose quipped, not convinced. "We're almost out of the woods, you know. Well, so to speak."

"You spoke of Queen Hel. You met with her? Is that how you found me?" Loki asked, finally turning his attention to the blonde at his side.

"Basically," she replied. Loki frowned, knowing that Rose was being purposefully obtuse.

"What happened to you?" he coaxed. Rose glanced at him, and then looked straight ahead at the path before them. His stomach twisted at the look of restrained discomfort on her face.

"I think this discussion is best left for after our rescue, yeah?" Rose stated quietly.

Even though his body and head ached from his experience, Loki realized that it was very possible that Rose had fought her way through something similar. Going on her stiff countenance and the fact that he had seen what the Snake had in store for Rose when he sent her down here just before Loki himself, this assumption was correct. He let out a shaky breath and stopped in the middle of the path, his hand still firmly in Rose's. She looked up at him quizzically.

Loki pulled at her and wrapped his arms around her leather-clad shoulders, bringing Rose into his chest. He reveled in the perfume that grew more distinct by her proximity, and her intense physical warmth was better than he remembered. Her golden hair was like silk against his cheek.

Perhaps it was because she had much more experience with this type of spontaneous affection, because Rose hardly missed a beat by wordlessly burying her face into his neck and tightening the hug. The bond between them flared up, and Loki tried even in his dazed and raw state to comfort Rose's glaring anxiety and fear she had repressed there.

"Don't get me started," Rose repeated herself weakly, partially muffled by his tunic. She sighed and pulled away, obviously as reluctant to do so as Loki was. Loki couldn't help but chuckle at her stubborn refusal to let down her guard completely until they were both safe.

They continued on the path, Rose's uncanny sense of direction guiding them to the Gates of Hel. The ironwork soared above their heads, and all was still but for their breathing.

"Now what?" Loki asked.

"Now we wait."

0o0o0o0o0o0

The two of them sat on the cracked grey clay that was the ground, up against one of the bare trees that bordered the Forest of the Dead. Rose leaned against Loki's side, watching him as he went through motions and conjuring different lights and images. At least it kept him occupied.

It had been something like hours since they first caught sight of the Gates, but since time ran differently here it could have been days for all Rose knew. Rose was beginning to fear that no one was coming.

Maybe we could go back to Hel's cottage, Rose thought. Ask her if she had any news about what was happening in Asgard.

"Damn," Loki hissed, the twisted cord fraying and disintegrating in front of him.

"What?" Rose asked. Loki sighed, and leaned back against the trunk of the tree.

"Nothing. My form is off," he replied. Rose hummed in sympathy.

"I never asked…why is it no one else in Asgard practices magic?"

"Studies," Loki corrected, shifting to accommodate Rose closer into his side. "It's a discipline like any other. It takes energy, and most prefer to spend such effort on the physical arts. We do have some healers at the palace, but they mostly rely on balms and potions rather than willpower. I also took few hundred years in Vanaheim to study under masters. Asgard was once at war with Vanaheim—there is still some bad blood between the realms. It is rare for an Asgardian to apprentice under the Vanir, but my fa—Odin encouraged me to do so for diplomatic reasons."

Rose saw Loki's jaw clench at the memory, and understood that he was still harbored resentment towards the king for his manipulation.

"I would be able to send us back myself had we been in any other realm," he commented wryly. "But my knowledge of teleportation doesn't quite reach this far."

"I don't think T-Too would have been able to handle it, either," Rose added. Loki tilted his head up, staring at the black expanse that was the sky.

"What were you doing out there, on the other side, before you came across?"

"Looking for a way through," Rose replied, smirking. "I missed my old universe, and I had no one to. All my children were dead, my grandchildren didn't care much about me or travelling, so I wanted to come back."

"Do you wish to continue travelling?"

Rose studied Loki's face, which was impassive and calm. For once she was unable to read anything from him.

"Yes," she said truthfully. "This body was built to run and—" Rose stopped herself. She didn't want to say that she was now running on borrowed time. She didn't want him to know this was her last life; at least not yet. "Well, I've got a monstrous thirst for adventure. Can't stay in one place for too long."

"What do you mean? Isn't this adventurous enough for you?" Loki mocked lightly. Rose shoved him slightly.

"I'd rather be in my body and not at the fringe of the universe stuck without a ride, yeah?" she replied haughtily. Loki grinned back at her and took her hand.

"Well, I promise you that the next time we are on an adventure we'll at least be somewhere with a little more color," he told her. Rose's cheeks grew warm under Loki's gaze. She knew that whatever happened up in Asgard, Loki would have to take the brunt of the consequences. He had to know that it might mean being locked up once more. She would try not to let that happen, but Odin was king and now knew Rose had the power to disable his runes.

Loki had to know they might not have another adventure even if they were able to return.

But the little white lie from Loki's lips softened her heart, and she tried to smile in response and go along with him.

"Yeah, and next time I get to choose the destin—What was that?"

A low rumble of the Gates caused Rose to jerk forward onto her knees. She felt Loki move forward beside her, his arm coming between her and the Gate.

With a mighty bang, the Gates swung open and a blurred form burst forth.

"Thor!" Loki shouted.

The god of thunder kicked the eight-legged horse towards the two. The massive beast skidded to a stop by the trees.

"Thank Valhalla, you are both alive!" Thor gasped as he reached them. He swung off and strode towards Loki. He grabbed his brother by the shoulder enthusiastically and pulled. The dark-haired prince grunted in surprise, but even though he didn't hug the giant man back, he didn't resist either.

"What's goin' on up there?" Rose demanded.

"My Father—Your body is possessed by a force," Thor told Rose, looking grim. "Fenris. It has consumed him, and the Norn Seidh has told me you are the only one who can save him. We must return."

Thor turned to the horse—Sleipnir, Rose recalled—who was currently nuzzling Loki's hair in a strangely affectionate sort of way. Something that she once read in the histories that littered the library came to mind. Rose began to smirk.

"Isn't he your—?"

"Not the time nor the place, Rose," Loki answered gruffly, shoving the horse's head away.

Rose turned to Thor, who nodded slightly. Her brows flew up, and she suppressed the giggles that threatened to intrude on a very urgent moment. Loki, obviously determined to ignore her, lifted himself into the saddle. Thor followed, placing himself in front.

"Rose?" Thor offered, holding a hand out to help her onto Sleipnir's broad back. She took it and with a strong tug she was seated between the warrior and the trickster. Loki had arm protectively around her waist, while the other grasped Thor's shoulder to steady the two of them.

"Hold on tight," Thor warned. She obeyed, holding on to Thor's sides.

With a click and a nicker from Thor, the horse bolted towards the black behind Hel's Gate. The force was enough to take her breath away.

The black was suffocating. She anchored her fear and focused on Loki's solid presence at her back and his strong arm around her waist as they flew through the underworld. If her grip was too hard on Thor, he didn't even flinch.

Finally the howling of Hel stopped. There was a lurch and a thud, and the horse and Loki and Thor disappeared.

All she could see was gold, and all she could feel was burning heat. Rose took in a heaving breath, and resisted the urge to yank away from the Bad Wolf that occupied her thoughts. There was someone else tethered—Odin.

"What did It do to her?" she faintly heard Loki shout. Good, at least he was in his own body and alive enough to speak.

"Don't touch her, Loki!" a slightly familiar female voice replied.

Rose?

Odin? Odin, I'm here. I'm going to pull it away. Just hold on tight, she urged, fighting against the growing pain in her skull. Rose felt her body twitch in protest, but she bit down hard and forced the Bad Wolf to retreat, to go back into that hidden part of her.

It was agonizing, but finally her vision cleared, and the king was lowered to the ground. He was conscious, and no longer merged with her light.

"Father!" she heard Thor call, and she saw the god of thunder rush to the king's side. Her breath was labored now, but she forced herself to stay upright.

"I'm fine, Thor," the All-Father replied, before turning towards Rose. "Thank you, Rose."

"Well that was—" Rose started to laugh weakly, but a white-hot pain shot through her body. She gasped, grabbing her head.

"Rose?" Loki asked, his voice concerned.

His face swam in her vision, and Rose was fighting a losing battle against the persistent boiling anguish in her head, and to keep standing. She felt her knees buckle.

"Rose!"