...later...

It had been a very silent ride, to where Paola didn't know. Her mind raced as they went by horseback ridding away from Loki's cell, which was indeed a gigantic cube in the middle of a deserted area, nothing but rocks and mountains as far as she managed to see. What a horrible place to live in...and he was cast into it as a prisoner. As much as Paola wanted to look at him, she was mesmerized by the scenery, same as they were in a vast wasteland, same as they rode into a plain, filled with greens and occasional flowers, until they took a dirt path to where the sun seemed to be setting. Paola admired as the dark outline of a city...majestic,shimmering gold in the dying sun's rays, came into view. The holy place known in Norse myths as Asgard,home of the Gods. It was real...everything was real. She watched as they moves closer to the walls surrounding the castle, right through the gateway. Paola felt a surge of energy...a weighting power around them that made her feel small and weak. She wasn't supposed to be here, she didn't belong here. It was very intimidating to know she was no longer home...no longer on Earth, but here amongst immortal entities. And she didn't know if they regarded her as necessary or just a bother. They stopped at a huge semicircle gravel patio, where both Thor and Loki got off their rides and walked into the...gigantic castle. Although the place had no current lighting, Paola watched in awe at the beautiful details, the golden lining of the intricate Celtic designs on the walls. She had almost forgotten she was being followed by the guards, and she didn't really know how she managed to keep up with the God brothers as they walked along halls that twisted and turned, until she finally found herself standing at a gigantic set of golden, double doors. They rumbled open slowly, revealing a grand room. It was huge, way brighter than other places she had barely managed to take a glance of. Pillars that lined all the way down to what seemed to be a fairly old throne. A man sat upon it, he seemed to be fairly old and wise, holding a golden spear beside him. Was this... Odin? The leader of all Gods in here...? Paola grunted, as she felt a hand pulled her back to a stop. Looking over, she noticed that the guards didn't wanted her to move any further, as Thor dragged Loki forwards towards the throne. Her eyes flickered to Odin, who seemed to be regarding her before letting out a sigh. This was it, this was her end.

"Miss me that much?" Loki said in a snarky way, a smug smile spreading across his face. Here he was again, shackled and standing in front of the All-Mighty, to be judged once more. It almost felt as a job by now, really. Thor, who was by now standing next to Odin, was about to scorn Loki for saying stuff like those at this moment, but Odin raised a hand to stop him. Loki watched curiously, "It would seem my suspects were true." he heard Odin say, more to himself than to any of those in the room. "Were they? How perceptive..." Loki mumbled the last part, mostly as a way to show he was not amused with all of this. No matter how much he'll try to be serious, he will always find a way to do this kind of things. It was way too much fun to suspend it. Odin rubbed the bridge of his nose, a gesture he always did when he was trying to keep himself calm, "You should know that your actions will not go unnoticed, but I must ask...why?" he asked in an exasperated tone, tired almost. Loki smirked and said "Can't expect me to read for the rest of my life,now." Fully knowing what it implied. No one was allowed to visit him, and none of the things he had in his cell should've been there in the first place. Loki looked at Thor, halfway expecting him to argue something in his favor, but he merely sighed and stared at the ground. "Frigga's actions aside...do you know the validity of what you have done?" Odin asked, obviously not expecting him to answer. Instead, he rolled his eyes, a pinch of anger sprouting from the pit of his stomach, "Why is it everyone makes such a fuss over every single thing I do...?" he spoke to himself, promptly ignoring the All-Mighty and staring at nowhere. It was true, no one seemed to pay much attention to what everybody else does except for him, and it was starting to get into Loki's nerves. Odin tapped Gungirr onto the ground, it's echo rumbling around the room, making everyone but Loki jump in response, "You know what I refer to." he said, flat and hard. From behind him,Loki could hear the guards mumbling and shoving the midgardian woman forward, but he didn't turn to look. He wouldn't give Odin that pleasure...so he raised his chin in a defiant gesture. "Like I said, I was bored. Unlike you,All-Mighty, I do have my necessities, and I am not going to fall ill of mind over solitude and some books." he raised his voice so everyone could hear it. Again, he wasn't lying. He was merely waving the truth in their faces, and they were merely choosing to not believe him. And he didn't care about that. "And calling upon a midgardian woman, that is your answer to that?" Odin raised his voice even over Loki's, imposing himself as he was always used to. Loki let himself smirk "Prefer me opening another portal to let what's left of the frost giant race in and settle on your precious palace?" he said, low and defiant. To which long moments of silence carried on...not even Thor responded.

"Please...don't hurt him!" Paola screamed, finding the longer the silence went, the worst the outcome will be...for both of them. She had heard every single word they exchanged, and she fully understood both versions, but in this situation, Loki was never the one to be seen winning in any scenario. Shaking herself loose from the guard's grip, Paola took solid steps closer and stood next to Loki, about arms reach from him. All she wanted was to look at him, to assure him that somehow she will support him... but she didn't turn her eyes from the man sitting at the throne. She heard him chuckle some, which made her anger fuel up and boil, "I have no intentions to..." he said ordering the guards to keep from straining her further. They stood back as Odin finished "...though I wonder why you, of all beings, would ask for that." Paola considered, clenching her hands into tight fists at her sides. Memories started flooding back on her...back at her home, crying, feeling like the whole world was falling apart. Just because she did something wrong. "I...understand his point...that he did deal with it the wrong way, is true...but..." she finally found it in her to look at Loki, who was already watching her, hearing every word she was saying in his favor, "...no one deserves to be alone." she finished, her words soft and warm, almost as if they were directed at the man standing by her, who stared with huge,moss colored eyes. "Sentiment towards your kidnapper. I must say it is something new." she heard Odin reply, with a touch of enthusiasm in his voice...almost amusement. Are you serious? Paola felt her rage boil up to it's peak, and snapping her attention from Loki, she turned a full-on glare at Odin,screaming atop of her lungs "At least I show more feelings than the guy who kidnaps a baby and denies him his true self!"

Dead silence consumed them all, no one really dared to say anything, it almost felt as if whoever spoke, would break away the ground. Loki stared wide eyed at Paola, her sudden burst of bravery taking him off guard. He didn't believe this woman actually had it in her to stand up with such fierce determination, he had to hand it to her. Loki turned his view to Odin, who stared at Paola with angry eyes. He felt the air turn heavy and thick between them, Loki could almost feel like if he were to move his dagger along it, it would slice the air in two pieces. "Amazing,isn't she?" he said with a chuckle, "She even got the All-Mighty speechless~" he grinned up at Odin, taunting his way to make him blow up. "Be quiet Loki!" finally snapped Odin,obviously Loki's work of making him blow up worked very well. The room seemed to jump in a coordinated matter, Loki saw from the corner of his eye how Paola lowered her head, consumed in shame that was not hers to bear. He then turned his eyes at Odin, glaring daggers. Let's see how merciful he can actually be... "It would seem Frigga's claims are false..." Odin's voice was low, speaking to himself as he rubbed the bridge of his nose once more, clearly thinking things through, "She has been trying to convince me to allow you back. But..." "No wait!" Paola spoke up, cutting Odin's train of thoughts. She had ruined it,badly. "He can change...he can..."she tried to find words, rightful arguments to save up for Loki's own good, but they failed her. When she turned to look at him, she noticed the hate...that pure hatred that Loki could only allow himself to feel. Her efforts for helping him were futile from the start...he didn't wanted to be helped from the beginning. "Silence, midgardian!" Odin commands, pointing at her with a demanding finger, "She has not given up on you, but you are not ready to return." he finished, his hand pointing at Paola, yet his attention was placed on Loki, who just stared at Odin as he spoke. He had noticed how everyone used his mother to get to him...it has been like that from the start, which made Loki very annoyed. And they still find reasons to scold him for mercilessly using others for his own good? He preferred to stay silent, he knew by now there was no way of sneaking out of this, and he was more than ready to meet his fate. Loki looked away, pretending to glare at the nearby column, more focused on the intricate design that adorned the stone.

"Loki Laufeyson, you will be sentenced to be kept at the dungeons, until you show you are truly ready to rejoin us without plot. And you..." Odin called,loud and hard, and Paola raised her eyes notice how Odin placed his full attention on her as he spoke, "You will have no memory of your time spent outside your home realm, and returned to where you belong."he finished, and Paola felt herself being consumed in a surge of contradicting emotions. Her home...she could return, to where her pets were, to where all her friends were...to where Kyle was. She had only spent what? Several hours, here in this place, and already she had given up hopes of ever seeing home again, or ever seeing her loved ones again, and here she was given the opportunity to return! But...what about Loki? It would mean she would be returned to Earth with no memory at all...what would happen to him when she was never to return? He was going to be locked away...in a dungeon? But why...? He didn't do anything as horrible as to deserve that. Who knew what would happen afterward! "Ah...but...I-" she tries to argue her way through,but was stopped by the guards who had kept her away, tugging painfully at her arms. Odin raised his chin, a gesture she has only seen Loki do, one that gave him an air of security and supremacy, he had to take it from someone...Paola glared at Odin, but anger didn't let her voice come along. Loki watched her, her fierce expression almost burning holes into Odin's face. He sighed inaudibly, no matter how much she tries to reason her way around this, Loki knew it was going nowhere. He raised his hand some...all he wanted was to pull her away, to not tempt Odin to re-adjust his judgment, because if he did, she would get dragged along as well. And she didn't deserve that...she didn't deserved any of this. But a realization stopped him...his brain started working overboard, just as it always did when he came up with a plan. And so he did, this was not the time to touch her...not yet. 'Just a little longer...' he told himself in his mind, and lowered his hand back down. Turning his eyes towards Odin, Loki noticed he was being watched... Thor had never let his eyes wander away from his every move. Loki watched as his step-brother tilted his head slightly and looked at him with suspicious eyes, clearly knowing that he was up to no good since he hasn't spoken for a long while. Odin raised Gungirr, mighty and emanating great power, Loki quickly looked to Paola, who gasped and cringed at the sudden burst of light that engulfed her forehead. This was one spell he didn't recognize, which slightly worried him. Not fair how Odin got to have the good tricks. The light finally went away and as it did, Paola's eyes rolled back into her skull. Loki moves as fast as he could, noticing her knees had given up on her, and captured her as well as he could with all and his shackles, kneeling down to stop the momentum. He looked at her in his arms, limb and unconscious, and for the first time in a way too long period, Loki felt...guilty.

"Do you have anything to say, Loki?" Odin finally called over to him after a long while of waiting in deep silence. Little did he know he was simply letting everything fall into place... "I will escort her back to the Bifrost." Loki responded,grunting some as he moved to uncomfortably pick up the midgardian woman in his arms. If only he didn't have this annoying shackles... "And why should I allow such effort?" Odin had a point. Even if Loki was shackled, it didn't mean he was completely contained, he wouldn't simply allow him to move around Asgard like it was something normal. But still Loki raised his head to look over his shoulder, his eyes glaring daggers once more, but he didn't say anything. He expected Odin to know as much, to get the message. They kept like that for the longest of times, tension crawling around the atmosphere once again. This was more of a challenge to see who could get what they wanted first, and right now Loki couldn't afford to loose, he was sure to cause a lot of mayhem if he didn't get what he wants. He needed to get this done yes or yes. Eventually, after the longest of times, Odin let out a long, loud sigh, turning his back to both Loki and the unconscious woman in his arms. "Very well, but remember you are being watched. Thor will follow you to the Bifrost and bring you back." he waved, and as if he was some kind of puppet, Thor moved to walk down the three steps from the throne. Alright, this was not going to be as easy as planned, but it will have to work somehow. Loki didn't wait for his brother to reach them, he simply turned, promptly ignoring the echoing of the chains around the room, and walked out of the throne room with his head held high. He didn't really needed anyone to tell him where to go, it almost seems as if they have forgotten he had lived in this palace for most of his...now miserable life. It angered Loki so much to see the amount of rampaging hypocrisy in this...so called 'holy place'. How could they just shower in pain and suffering then call themselves saviors and helpers? As they walked along the castle halls, Thor never picked up pace to catch up to him. Clearly just watching over Loki which was very convenient. Loki stared forward, ignoring the many stares he was gaining from different passerby individuals. He felt halfway disappointed of not being able to know what they were thinking, but he knew it was better if he didn't. As he walked, he turned his eyes down at the woman in his arms. In this short period of time around her, he had not stopped to look at her closely. She was pale, almost as he was, with raven black hair that seemed to point in every direction right now. For a midgardian, she was just as he envisioned them: fragile,naive and stupid. Yet this one woman...seemed to be thrived by emotions. He had learned that midgardians tend to take emotions very seriously...that could be both their strength and their weakness. Guilt was something he had a very hard time feeling, but now it was not time for that.

"So...had been a long time since we walked this halls together, eh brother?" Loki spoke up as they reached the hall that connected to the bridge, sparkling with every known color in existence. The silence was starting to make him uncomfortable, more so knowing that there were many sets of eyes locked on them. But Thor choose to not answer as they walked out to the setting sun over Asgard. Many times had Loki sneaked away from every known problem to him back in the days, to read and study runes at this very place. He stared up at the setting sun, at how the rays bounced off the walls in sparkles of golden and brown, and tried again, "Wonder how long has it been...since your beloved midgardian had been with you I must admit, I was kind of envious. How could you possibly feel attached to such...simple being." he said, turning his head down to look at the now grunting woman in his arms. One of his hands slowly moved to rest against the exposed skin at the lower part of her back. It was warm against his fingers, Loki couldn't help but let his mind wander to when he had tried to smother a cold feeling during the nights in many fur covers. Little did he know the cold feeling was actually coming from himself. "You shouldn't use humans as something to play around with Loki. Don't look down upon them." Thor finally spoke up, figures he'll just say something like that. Loki chuckled sarcastically, now they were halfway down the rainbow bridge, "Is that not what you do? You claim to protect them...to help them because they need you...is it not because they are too stupid to survive for themselves?" he said, his face split into a wicked grin as the Bifrost came into view. Thor didn't say a thing, but he placed his hand on Loki's shoulder and slightly pushed him to move faster. Okay, he was pissed, so might as well just shut up for now. By the time they reached the entrance, night had fallen upon Asgard, the only thing heard was the roar from the falling water underneath. As always, the guard, the one who sees it all, stood in the middle of the entrance, sword in his hands. Loki smiled "Didn't think I'd see you this soon, Heimdall." he said, being yanked back by his shoulder by Thor. He could've simply said stop...that hurt slightly. "Some will say the same for you...Loki." responded Heimdall, in that emotionless, deep voice of his, to which Loki rolled his eyes. "How sentimental... she's to be returned to Midgard." he responded, finding no enthusiasm in messing with Heimdall's patience. It never really went the right way for him. Thor came aside Loki, "He will be escorted back to the dungeons." he stated the obvious. After a long pause, Heimdall gave the slightest of nods, turning to the altar as the Gods moved into the chamber. They all waited in silence, as the Bifrost roared to life. "Do keep in mind, once she goes through the Bifrost, she is to never return, and thou shall never see her again. Orders from the All-Mighty." Heimdall warned in a monotone way, something he almost says out of habit. Thor gave a slight push at Loki's shoulder for him to move. He really should stop doing that...Loki sighed and walked over to the portal, it's sucking momentum making it slightly easier to carry her. He stopped and looked down at her once more. She seemed to be coming around, her eyelids twitched some, as if she was having a very vivid dream. After a while of staring at her, Loki lowered his forehead against hers, warm and soft, and from his lips escaped the whispered word "...later...",and let her go. She floated softly until she was slowly sucked into the portal...back to where she came from. He felt.. alone again...somehow. Why?

Almost as soon as she disappeared, the Bifrost roared to a stop, and Loki could see nothing more than the infinite blurry of the stars. It almost seemed like they were moving closer...or it was the flash of bright light that suddenly went away. "Let us return, Loki." Thor called, taking loud steps towards him. Loki looked over his shoulder with a smirk "Eager to lock me up again,brother?" he replied, slowly turning with his hands open, the palms facing upwards as if waiting for a blow. Yet Thor didn't answer, he just stared with a glare on his face. At least he had learned to keep his voice silent when needed. Loki smirked, and raised his hands up, making the shackles cling together, wiggling his fingers at his brother "Off to the dungeons then?"

Midgard

BARK! BARK! BARK!

Oh great...Abby's at it again. Probably a squirrel outside. Wait...Abby? Damn, she didn't even remember laying down to sleep, she must've been very tired from work. Paola grunted and sat, kneading around her, trying to figure out where she was. It smelled familiar, and felt familiar as well. Her bed, of course. Crawling her way out of her room, her first habit is to look over at Kyle's door, which was closed. Usually meant he was asleep or didn't wanted to be bothered. Couldn't hurt to check,no? Rising a shaky hand to the doorknob, Paola forced herself to not feel as sleep drunk as she was, and opened the door. Peeking her head into the room, she halfway jumped up as Kat quickly darted out through the tiny hole and down the stairs. She detested when the feline did that. Sighing, Paola looked at the bed...and there he was. Kyle laid in his bed, covered up to his neck in at least four different futons. It was cold, oddly cold, and usually it meant he had gone to bed earlier than usual. Paola had always compared him to a bear, and right now, seeing him deep in sleep, without glasses, he seemed so at ease. He looked way younger than he actually was,even if he was barely two years older than her. She envied that of him...his peace of mind. But as long as he was okay, she didn't mind. Paola sighed, and turned...now she has to hunt down the cat to bring her back in...

"When did you get home?" she heard him call out in a groggy voice. Paola looked over with a smile, "I can't really tell, I just fell asleep once I got home I guess." she chuckled in a sheepish way, moving into the room once more. Kyle groaned sitting up and rubbing his eyes "You didn't answer your phone, I thought you've stayed working late." he added, which made Paola feel a pinch of guilt at the bottom of her stomach. Her phone...right, must've left it back home when she left for work. Oops. She didn't even know where it was now. "Uhm...sorry?" she made an embarrassed smile. Kyle grinned, and reaching an arm around her legs, pulled her to the bed, "It's cold, and you haven't showered, so you are stinky as hell...but it's better than freezing." he said in a sarcastic tone that made Paola giggle. Whenever the night was very cold, they would either sneak into the others bed, or sleep downstairs in the couch, passed out by watching three movies, one after another. Paola laid beside Kyle in the bed, feeling slightly uncomfortable for it being a very small bed for a 6 foot tall man and a 5 foot 7 inches tall woman to be in it, but was quickly relieved by the cuddling warmth underneath the covers. "Night." she grumbled, crawling closer to him as he replied with a kiss on her forehead. It didn't take long for her to finally fall into the darkness of unconsciousness long after...

Asgard dungeons

Well it was not exactly as comfortable as the isolation cell back at Nidavellir, but at least he had 'company'. The dungeons were not exactly foreign for Loki, many times he had sneaked in here with Thor when they were younger, ending up in one or both of them getting caught inside a cell with no way of getting out. He paced around the cube-shaped place, it was twice smaller than the Nidavellir cell, but just as bright and warm. Apparently Frigga had argued her way into bringing all the stuff he had back there to here, everything was inside before he even got into the dungeons. She could be very stubborn if she wanted to...with a sigh, Loki sat on the floor, to the upper right corner of the cell, and stared to nowhere. It was fun while it lasted. Just something to break the habit, or sort...yet that woman...

Loki looked at his hand, the very hand he had placed on her back as he carried her to the Bifrost. It only needed that...just a single touch of skin...he grinned, curling his long fingers inwards into a fist, almost as if he was holding something in them. Yes...all he needs was that slight caress, and his spell would work perfectly. He didn't really believed it would pass along unnoticed, but it did...and perfectly. Putting a tracking spell on someone didn't take much effort, but it required to place it directly on touch. Thus Loki needed to carry her along the way to get it right, the long distance would provide the time needed to whisper out the runes and chants. By the time he let go of her to the Bifrost, everything was done. He let out a chuckle, leaning his head back to rest it against the wall, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Now all he needed to do...was wait.