I wrote this chapter in record time. It was SO much fun to write. I love everything about it.
Hope you like it!
It was horrible.
Absolutely terrifying.
Rebecca never felt so completely shaken as she had moments ago when the most unexpected turn of events occurred. Rebecca literally was sitting in her seat, only for moments later, the entire room to explode from Damion's alien-energy. Damion, was not, in fact, Damion. He wasn't even human. It was a disguise. Rebecca could vaguely remember him peeling off the flesh, as if it were a body suit, to reveal his true nature. Damion was a creature that she never expected would be who he was.
He was extremely large in stature, probably the biggest thing she's seen besides Bruce Banner in action. All around his body were golden tassels and ringlets, reminding her of ancient Egyptian bindings of Gods of Goddesses. His skin was lavender, and his body was muscular(but also chunky with fat). Protruding out of his mouth were two, large white husks that looked like elephant ivory, but, he almost resembled a boar. His eyes were glowing purple, like his skin.
The entire table was in flames due to the revelation. Rebecca herself, was on the floor. Her right arm, the side she landed on, had endless cuts and scraps that were swollen and puffy. Rebecca gasped, her body simply laying there until she could regain her sense of surrounding. What in the world had just happened?
The room was in shambles. The table was now on fire and the the contents of the table were splattered nearby. The fire was creating thick smoke, making the room slightly difficult to see in.
A groan escaped her throat as her brown eyes slowly, slowly, opened. Her vision was still doubling, and everything was spinning. She hit her head really hard against the ground from what it seemed. Rebecca winced as she carefully brought herself to a sitting position. She reached up with her unwounded arm to gently rub her head, feeling if she had lost any blood on impact. There was no sticky red substance oozing from her head, so, in a way that was good. Rebecca saw the fire and flinched away from it.
Rebecca shuddered, her breath deep and noticeable.
"Awake?" a voice growled, sounding deep and venomous. Rebecca swallowed, her head taking its time to turn, her gaze locking on the creature that had caused all of this. Her mouth opened wide, her face filled with shock and disbelief of what she saw before her. Her heart sunk deep into her stomach as her eyes locked on what was Damion.
"Damion?" She asked, watching the large, lavender creature before her.
"A human name and disguise," The monster said, his voice filled with that low grumbling sound,"Meant nothing to my purpose."
Rebecca blinked,"Y-you're purpose?"
"Collection of the Midgardian Rebecca Lawrence."
Collection? Why did this creature need to... collect her? Rebecca didn't do anything special! She was a CEO and Editor of NY times she... she did a job. She wasn't sure why she was being attacked... but it made sense. Damion was an agent, but he wasn't a human agent. He was trying to kidnap her. Rebecca's heart thumped, the blood pounding in her ears once she realized what this was. Damion was here to take her away for some unknown purpose. He kept saying he wanted to show himself. He kept saying he wanted to tell her everything and he tried to take her those few times!
Rebecca clenched her fist. She was not going to be taken away! Like hell, she'd go down with a fight. She could feel the ancient magic practically boil within her until she heard from the beast,"Ancient magic would hurt others in the restaurant. This curtain, this red curtain, protects me, my sound, my stature. But, it does nothing for you."
"It's a bluff," She retorted, but she knew she couldn't act on it... What if he was telling the truth? What if she destroyed the entire restaurant and killed lives in order to save herself from this beast?
"You're one of the harder ones to retrieve, I must say. Most fall for me during the mortal intercourse and faint afterwards," The monster bellowed, his grin widening and outspreading his husks.
Rebecca couldn't respond. That seduction was a form of kidnapping? Damion was going to sleep with her so that she passed out? He'd induce that sort of sleep probably mid-way... That was his plan all along. And that's why he was so forgiving and so compliant, because if Rebecca casted him out he would have to start all over again with a new disguise and act. Damion of course, wouldn't want to miss his... deadline.
But then, she realized something. A hero in the midst. If she hadn't panicked, if she hadn't thought of... Loki, she would've died. If she hadn't had those violent, shattering memories flash through her mind at that moment, Rebecca would've been taken away to some other planet and basically, could be a corpse in a pile of Midgardian bodies. And, even in the taxi. Loki's image, his memory, made her want to leave the entire date and go back home. The idea of that man made her avoid Damion, like an unwanted protector and guardian. She hated to admit it, and the thought was so quick in her mind as she stared up at the large beast, but Loki saved her back there. He protected her in the worst way possible, but he did.
"Who are you getting me for?" Rebecca asked, watching the boar beast.
The monster howled,"None of your concern, girl. Now, be compliant. I do not need your dead body- in fact, I was ordered specifically to bring you alive and well." His lavender eyes almost glowed. His hands reached forward, as if ready to transport her, as Rebecca hastily said,"Wait."
The girl pushed herself back a bit on the floor, finding her limbs uncontrollably shaking to stand. The creature was taken aback as he growled lowly.
"How do you know about my ancient magic?"
That was what she wanted to know. If she were to be kidnapped for transmutation, how would this creature before her know? The only people who knew about it was Loki, Thor, Pepper, and Stark. Not another soul out there was aware of the fact that she could bend objects at her will and manipulate nature. There was something she was missing, horribly, and she couldn't help but want to know how... How was it possible for someone to know something so secretly kept?
Rebecca could feel herself grimace as the monster hollered,"You'll know as soon as we get there." The beast rammed forward, his large hand with sharp nails hastily and roughly grabbed Rebecca's small frame. She winced against his rough touch, and never before, had she felt so... helpless. For once, she knew that if she went on a wild streak, she would hurt someone. The red curtain, or so said the creature, would not protect her from injuring another... She could kill who was a mother or father going home to meet their sleeping children's dreaming faces... Or best friends who would never grow up because death by collapsing wall.
Therefore, she did something different. Rebecca, as best as she could, reached forward and touched the golden bangle hanging around the creature's wrist. In a moment, easily, she found herself on the floor and the monster screaming in pain. Rebecca, in a few seconds, managed to transmute whatever that object was into pure hot lava, or something of that sort. It was enough to cause the beast to yell in agony and drop her. Rebecca scrambled away from the creature, while also throwing off her red heels and tossing them into the corner.
A smile came to her face as she beamed,"So, if I transmute those things on your body, then, I wouldn't be hurting anyone outside."
The monster glowered, his eyes shutting to take in the pain that the pathetic mortal inflicted. Goddamn it! That hurt. But, it wasn't enough to stop him. Not nearly enough.
The creature opened his lids to glare at the girl, hissing,"Come with me, or I personally will blow up this restaurant. You want to play this game, I will. I have no remorse for this Midgardian trash of a race." This was the last straw! He had a deadline to meet with the big guy or else it was his own tusks! This girl needed to come with him, now, or else he would blow up this city and kill to get her to finally come his way.
Rebecca watched him carefully, her curled hair messed and her stance unprotected. She could easily be hit and would collapse right then and there. She wasn't prepared for this... She didn't know it was possible for her date to be this. Rebecca blinked, attempting to look strong as she stood there, but her mind was calculating.
Was there anyway to win?
If she actually went fourth with fighting the creature, others would get injured in the process. Possibly dead, even. Rebecca thought she was being extremely clever with the whole lava thing, but now she only made this beast angrier and more violent. She walked dead into a trap with nothing prepared. How could she not even see this one coming? Rebecca heard the chatter of the crowd outside the red curtain, and she knew what she had to do.
And with that, she sighed, relaxing her shoulders and returning to a normal stance. Her gaze shifted to the floor as she ran her fingers through her hair,"I don't have much of a choice, do I." Her voice was defeated as her hands fell loosely at her side.
"You ran out of options a long time ago."
A nod. Rebecca nodded her head, understanding. With a sloth-like quality to her walk, she trekked forward. The opposite arm of the beast, the not injured arm, reached outwards and gripped Rebecca around her waist. She felt her feet lift from the air as the monster grimed,"It's about time you were compliant."
"And somehow, I find that so unbearably strange."
That... was a new voice. Rebecca whirled her head around, her brown eyes widening and her body instinctually trembled. She felt the large hand on her waist tighten its own grip, vice-like. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw someone who she'd never think would come to save her.
"LOKI!" The creature roared, his voice filled of anger and disgust,"Why must you always appear when you are least wanted?"
Loki, the God of Mischief, appeared before the two. He materialized out of thin air, basically, with golden armor and a large, emerald cape. The end of his raven hair poked out behind his helmet. In his hand was a large, beautiful scepter that was pointed at the edge and with a blue circlet in the center. He sauntered forward, almost posing at the other end of the room. A large grin appeared on his face as he shot back,"Love the attention."
Loki's eyes found Rebecca's. He noticed her wrecked look, the light sweat beading on her forehead, the worried look unbecoming of her. Loki chuckled, teasing,"Now Rebecca, I'm the only one who can make you look like that."
Rebecca could feel herself throw her fist down in random shot of anger, hitting the creature's knuckle that held her mid air. Did he really have the nerve to say that! "You're not helping!"
"Oh, but I am. Actually, I'm here to protect you."
Somehow, Rebecca couldn't believe that. She rolled her eyes and spat,"You're doing a fantastic job. The runway outfit suits you."
"Already with the remarks I see," Loki replied lightly, smiling,"Some things never change."
"ENOUGH!" The purple creature roared, interrupting the two's banter. In fact, the two jumped a bit, as if they forgot the presence of the third figure in the room. "Loki," he began, his voice dangerous,"If you interrupt, he will kill you himself. You do not mess with his things."
Loki pursed his lips as he shrugged, casually walking forward,"I am breaking quite a few rules tonight, then."
"Leave, before I slit your throat."
"Put her down, before I shove those horns through your nose and ply out your brain," Loki sharply responded, snarling.
Rebecca's gaze was locked on Loki. He was... coming to save her. Why? Why would he even put in the effort to save someone who he last threatened to kill? Maybe it was because he wanted to be the one to do the killing. Was Loki that selfish over his 'claim'? She didn't know, she could not tell. He wanted to protect her though. He was... saving her. Was this, in a way, the third time he protected her from Damion? Was Loki always watching over her when it came to outside danger?
If his physical appearance here didn't mean he was looking out for her, then what did?
"You're a fool, Loki, to think you can stop me," The beast hissed, once more tightening his grip on Rebecca. Rebecca shut her eyes in the momentary moment of pain. She let out a yelp, her teeth gritting, and Loki did see her pain. Within the next second, Rebecca did not feel that tight, lung-destroying grip around her waist. She gasped for air, wondering why the hell she could breathe correctly if she was supposed to be kidnapped in the manner she was. And then, she saw it. Behind her, and around her, was the arm of the creature. Just the arm, freeing Rebecca of the snake-like coil that crushed her bones. On Loki's scepter, was blood.
"Better?" He asked her, his emerald eyes even vivid from his spot as he watched Rebecca. It was like he never moved. His voice; however, was sincere. He actually looked like he wanted to know if she was better. Rebecca stared at the god in disbelief. What was going through his mind? What was he... thinking? She couldn't tell in the slightest, but that his expression was almost human as tried to make sure she was alright.
"Yeah," She replied wearily, the air slowly returning to her lungs,"Just wonderful."
"Good. Now, go make yourself a hermit cave or something until battle's conclusion," Loki chimed, flashing a grin, and instantly returned to his normal, cocky self. It took Rebecca a moment to turn around as see the chorussed, chopped flesh of the creature where his arm used to be. She saw tubes spewing green liquids, organs mushed and slopping out of the deadly wound. This was puke worthy.
But, Rebecca did manage to move away quick enough before the battle continued onward. She heard, in the middle of the clashing blade and... husk, chat.
"You can never go back from this," The monster roared, grumbling after.
"I know."
"He will kill you!"
"He can try," Loki retorted, before another sound was heard.
"For this GIRL!"
And Loki whispered, snarling,"She is mine."
Rebecca wasn't sure how godly fast they were moving, because, when she glanced upwards from her low-to-the-ground position, she couldn't really see what was happening. It was all so impossibly fast. But, Rebecca did see some blue and purple lights clash continuously. They were fighting, and fighting a lot. Rebecca didn't see how she could help in any way, because she might hit the wrong person... Oh the irony in that. Rebecca felt a strange warmth in her chest as Loki fought for her life above. There had to be some ulterior motive for it, but the basis was making sure Rebecca wasn't kidnapped by some other alien force. The other question was how the hell did he get out of that glass cell? Someone had to have let him go. Rebecca wasn't sure who in the right mind would do that, but she was endlessly thankful.
There were several more clashes heard about, and within the next few seconds, she saw(even without the fall or crumble of the ground) the lavender beast fall. It laid there in some managed, disgusting, and very much dead manner. It's horns were cut off and shoved up the nostrils of the creature. One had some slimy organ across it. Oh god, Loki was serious about that one threat... The beast no longer had eyes, lost half of its jaw, no longer had a stomach, or any of his toes... One of his knee caps went missing too. Besides that, all over the body had horrible, bloody gashes that were turning black from infection. To them, how long were they fighting?
And then, she saw Loki. Rebecca gasped, for he was not in better shape. None of his organs or limbs were missing, but, it looked like someone to a bite out of his left arm. Part of the flesh was barely there, just dangling by a few pieces of loose stringing fibers. Loki too, had difficult standing. He clutched his scepter tightly, blood streaming down the golden rod. His grip was even filled of blood. How strong was this creature he had just fought?
Rebecca couldn't help but be horribly concerned for Loki. She froze in her spoke, watching him... and then his eyes met hers. Loki's emerald orbs read so many things, so many vulnerable things she had never seen before. He was speaking to her because his mouth simply couldn't form the words. He had no energy. He was, in his own way, silently saying, I did this for you. I'm glad you're safe.
Loki's strength soon disappeared as his knees buckled beneath him. His body collapsed downwards, but he was able to stay on his knees because of his grip on the scepter. He shut his eyes due to an inexplicable amount of pain searing through his body. He almost lost an arm in that fight. It was like his blood was bubbling and seeping out of the wounds... It was like his organs were expanding and trying to burst out of his body. It was horrible, endlessness physical torture.
But then, the pain left for a moment. Just for a single moment when he felt two small hands on his body. One lightly tapped his face, bringing his focus to the room around him. It was still hazy, and one eye was blinded with a trail of red ooze. And through this darkness, Loki heard Rebecca's voice.
"Come on Loki, listen to me," she urgently pleaded beside him, simply trying to snap him out his lack of energy. He was so drained. He very well could die right in her arms. Rebecca needed to do something. "Listen, Loki, if you can hear me, I need you to bring both of us to my house."
She knew it was a lot to ask of him in his state, but there was no where else to go. There was no doctor that would treat him and there was no Avenger that would either. There was no place to keep him, no hospital... The only place Loki could get better, the sole place in all of NYC, was her apartment.
"Please Loki. I need you to do this," She practically begged, her shaking him and tapping his face becoming slightly more forceful. If he lost too much blood too quickly, he wouldn't have the ability to transfer them... The sooner she got his attention, the likelier chance he'll live. Loki's face slowly tilted upwards, his dazed eye focusing on Rebecca's concerned face. What was she saying? Why was she touching him? He thought she hated him. Why was she brushing away the blood on his face?
"My apartment," She whispered,"Please."
For her...
With that last bit of his strength, the scepter glowed a brilliant blue, and the two... were gone.
Rebecca, in the next moment, found her and Loki in her apartment.
Her body literally felt dislodged from her mind, separated during the transport and thrown back together upon landing. Rebecca; however, instantly went to work as soon as she felt the ground beneath her feet.
With all her strength, she hauled Loki's limp body up to her bed. As she did, there was a large trail of blood behind his dragging legs. She needed to remind herself to get a new bed after all of this was over. Another one, because Loki also ruined the last one too. Rebecca tried her best to get Loki onto the bed, making several un-attractive grunting noises as she did, and eventually succeeded.
The first thing she did, and she knew he had no energy to fight her off, was to remove the outer layers of his restrictive clothing. Rebecca felt the adrenaline push her onwards, causing her to act quickly and with a new sort of swiftness. She had his helmet off first, and then, unclasped parts of his golden armor. It took a few more seconds to remove that layer, before everything else came off.
Rebecca ended with a naked Norse god, only with his black underwear on. It wasn't even boxers. Rebecca figured it was something she had seen before, even if the circumstances were changed, and disregarded the awkwardness. "I apologize in advance for your nudity issues," Rebecca hastily commented, before dashing into her side washroom. It was there that she flooded her jacuzzi bathtub and threw in all of her towels. She then took the wet towels and put them in a bowl to bring to his bedside. That's how she'd clean him up.
With one exception. The arm. The half gone arm. "Shit," she cursed by his beside as she tried to stop bleeding in major spots. How the hell would she fix an arm she... she knew how. Stitches... which she saw Banner do to her not too long ago. She could do it!
But, she knew the most important thing was to stop the loss of blood. Rebecca busted out the handy dandy first aid kit and grabbed some bandages to just hold his arm together while she worked elsewhere. God, if this guy survived after Rebecca treated him? Well, that would be a miracle. He had a girl with a short black dress on tending his wounds in a frantic, uncoordinated, and very bad manner... But she was trying.
Eventually, she had most of bleeding stopped- she had used bandages, old pieces of clothing that she used for cloth, and Band-Aids(yes Band-Aids for the minor cuts) to cover the wounds. Rebecca figured he'd like the Dora themed ones... And, she used some of that Neosporin stuff. The next thing Rebecca did was completely reckless, but she saw it on the TV show Lost and went with it. Rebecca ran to her mini bar downstairs and took out a bottle of pure alcohol, and then to the depths of her junk closets brought out a sewing kit.
As she returned, she had her hair in a bun, but, without time to change out of her ridiculous get up. Immediately, she knelt down on the side of the bed with Loki's arm. He was still unconscious, which she prayed for, because he'd scold her for doing this to him. Rebecca took the alcohol and poured it over the fleshy wound and falling lump of skin, her heart beat racing as she did. The bed sheets were soaked through with blood and alcohol, looking like an operating table.
Within seconds, she had the needle threaded and ready to go. But, moments before she inserted it, she froze. Rebecca glanced up to Loki's face, even pained while he slept. He was probably trapped in some sort of endless agony right now. Her jaw tightened. A favor for a favor.
And with that, the needle went into the skin.
After about 5 hours of working, Rebecca collapsed on the floor of the bathroom. The tub water was tainted red from the back and fourth use of towels. She wouldn't be surprised if the tub was now pink as well. Rebecca sighed, just breathing. She took this moment to change into sweats and a t-shirt. Afterwards, she went back into the bedroom and to Loki's bedside. She sat down in the chair she had beside him and took the wash from the washcloth basin, set earlier, to lightly dab the sweat on his forehead.
She smiled proudly at her work. Loki was fully bandaged and, she hoped that regular administration of human drugs would help. Rebecca even took the time to google this stuff, like how often she should change the bandages. She was afraid to leave the house in case he woke up screaming bloody murder. Therefore, Rebecca had cut up even more clothing articles and sheets, after washing them, in order to supplement the lack of real bandages.
This went on for two days. Rebecca lived in her apartment and did not leave once. She read books in the corner of the room, did some house chores, made some food, but mostly, spent her time by the unconscious god's bedside.
She spent a lot of time just watching him. She studied his erratic breathing, like a child having a nightmare but couldn't wake. That was consistent throughout his sleep. He fidgeted sometimes, and his face often shifted to mimic what he was feeling, but he never once did he open his eyes.
And in these moments where he did nothing but appear completely innocent, Rebecca couldn't bring herself to wish him death any longer. She didn't want to hate him, or for him to feel pain. Maybe it was because she spent so long slaving over his health and she took pride in that. Maybe it was because this was a returned favor for him saving her life.
Why? The question puzzled her often was just why. Loki wanted her dead. Why would he go out of his way, knowingly aware that these injuries would occur from that creature, and still fight? He protected her, bending the laws of logic. But Loki was never logical. He probably had some messed up reason that she'd end up hating him again afterwards.
But right now, as Rebecca stared down at him, she smiled. Two days and he somehow looked much better. Bruises were fading and cuts were scabbing nicely. Rebecca changed bandages, applied ointment, and tried to administer water to Loki to keep him hydrated... although the last tasl normally didn't end as well.
Rebecca sat by Loki's bedside, sighing. She felt like such a good person, but at the same time, she wondered why the Avengers haven't shown up yet. It was a good two days of her and Loki's disappearance. Wouldn't they check her apartment for clues? Maybe they thought Rebecca would never bring Loki to her apartment. Pepper would agree to that one.
"But why'd you do it?" Rebecca asked softly, shaking her head. She exhaled softly, her eyes falling on his peaceful face. She had since changed the sheets and gave him some comfortable clothes to wear too. He looked rather serene, in place of his normal, demonic, and menacing expression.
Rebecca pressed her lips together as she stood up. She moved towards the giant window that faced out to Manhattan in her bedroom. Her feet padded over to it, her face tired from days of sleeplessness. Her eyes watched the daily lives of so many people go onwards. Unconsciously, she rubbed her arm. She had a few pieces of cloth, acting as bandages, along her triceps from her own fall.
The city was still trying to rebuild itself from Loki's first round of destruction with the Chitarui. It was slow, of course, trying to recreate buildings that collapsed. But still, the city was getting together and singing songs of hope. Rebecca's eyes dully watched over the streets, wondering if she was becoming the enemy by saving the destroyer of Manhattan.
-GODMNIT THOR!"
Thor felt his body unable to move. He literally did not know how to make this choice. His eyes were trained on his adoptive brother, just watching how he was moving... It was erratic, strange, and uncustomary for Loki. Loki was dying just by the idea that he could not escape to save Rebecca. This was all about Rebecca. It wasn't the desire to leave just for the sake of leaving, which is what made this all the more difficult.
There were no cameras, no way for Thor to get backlashed if he wished to release his brother from this prison. Thor could do it. Thor could save Rebecca, if Loki's words were true.
Thor knew this choice was to be the hardest he'd ever make. But, what was he really going to do? He was releasing Loki, but protecting Rebecca- that is, if he even went to see Rebecca. Loki could just let her die and would leave to some other destination.
But he knew that wasn't the case. Thor knew, just by looking at Loki, that Loki wanted nothing more than to save Rebecca's life. His entire being was collapsing, shaking, and cringing at the hesitation of Thor. Loki was feeling something that Thor thought he had lost. Thor could see it in his eyes: passion, determination, desire. All for Rebecca...
For someone other than himself. He wasn't being greedy. He was being protective. He longed to protect someone else because, well, Thor wasn't sure why. But if this creature were as powerful as Loki said it was, then Loki would not be going in blind. Loki would know the outcome... This was sacrifice, in a sense.
Thor watched his brother violently tremble as he watched the video feed. He was reacting to Rebecca hurting. It was a human girl... He cared for her. It might be deep down, but something tied the two of them together. Something more than that physical ambush, but something they didn't know. Thor saw it when Rebecca left the estate, when she gave Loki that longing stare. He saw the emotions they brought one another; they made each other feel and live.
And that was all he needed to click the opening to the prison door. Thor watched Loki freeze momentarily, as if in shock that Thor did in fact free him. But, within seconds, he ran out of the chamber. Loki's eyes were trained on his brother.
Thor just nodded his head,"Stay to the outer corridors. It's your clearest way out. There, you can get on a plane and set auto-pilot coordinates."
Loki was hesistant, his eyes wary.
Thor said aloud, his voice strong,"And, one more thing."
Thor walked forward towards Loki. Loki, at first, took a step backwards. But, he saw that Thor was not there to attack him. Thor, in fact, reached into the front of his armor and pulled out a silver locket. He reached out and placed it in Loki's hand, the other falling on Loki's shoulder her.
"Protect her, Loki."
His eyes blinked open. He could feel pain shooting through his body instantly as breath filled his lungs and his mind slowly remembered what it was like to feel. Being conscious brought his nerves to life once more, and Loki almost wished he hadn't taken the moment to come to. A groan escaped his mouth as his eyes squeeze shut in pain.
Rebecca, who had been staring out the window, heard the rustling and noises come from behind her. She glanced behind her, puzzled, only for her face to instantly soften at the sight. Loki was waking up. She didn't smile, nor say anything as she approached him. She took a seat on the edge of the bed, examining his face and noticing the blotches of sweat beading on his forehead.
She, without caring of Loki's awareness now, took one of the preset paper towels and began to dap away at his forehead. As she did, the cool cloth began to sooth him. Loki stopped fidgiting as much as his body spasms slowly relaxed. His breathing was deep, uncontrolled, and labored.
But, when he opened his eyes, all Loki saw was Rebecca.
He saw her hair lightly framing her face, whisking about her neck and behind her back. He saw her soft face reflecting the morning sun and illuminating all that was behind her. He saw her beautiful lips slightly smile as she pressed the wet cloth to his head. Her saw her chocolate hues and all of those small, black lines within them due the light streaming in from the window. He saw her tending to him. He saw her... caring.
She looked beautiful.
Rebecca pursed her lips, her eyes falling on Loki's. He was staring at her. Rather, he was studying her with such curiosity. Rebecca snorted, a grin playing on her lips,"Something on my face?"
Loki took a moment to hear her words, process them and respond,"No... No. I am simply perplexed."
"Me too," Rebecca bluntly replied, removing the cloth and holding it in her hands. Loki, as much as he could, smiled weakly in response. Rebecca's face was filled with slight concern as she asked,"How do you feel?"
"The wounds are deep and painful... I can feel them," Loki remarked, his face reacting a bit to his body's discomfort.
Rebecca nodded her head, studying his face,"I tried my best. You should be fine after a week. Your body is healing fast- Asgardian genes?"
"Very much so."
The girl then said,"Don't move around too much," as she stood up from the bedside and exited into another room. It was hard to read her emotion. Was she happy, sad, angry? Loki couldn't tell. She was being kind, overly kind... But he did not know what she was feeling.
But he knew that she tended to him. Loki knew that these were bandages fixed from Rebecca's hand... Rebecca's time... She had cared for him and brought him to health. And, he faintly remembered this apartment as belonging to Rebecca. It was where the two of them had first met about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Had it already been that long? It was.
Loki's thought was interrupted by Rebecca's voice as she emerged from the washroom,"... Hungry?"
"Famished."
"Eggs them. Something light so you don't puke it up."
Loki tilted his head, confused. He watched Rebecca carefully. "Puke it up?" What in the world did that mean? It was some sort of Midgardian slang that confused him.
"Regurgitate," Rebecca grinned, placing her hands on her hips. Loki studied her outfit. She was wearing a large t-shirt that cut right above her belly button. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and on her bottoms were large sweats. It was so... unlike her. It was common wear.
"Ah, of course," Loki responded, only for Rebecca to leave the room.
She was acting funny.
She wasn't... snapping at him. She wasn't being cruel, or nice, but rather emotionless. Rebecca wasn't acting like Rebecca. She was helping him and tending to him. Why? Why did someone who was such a cold-hearted hag be helping him? Loki didn't think that after the battle that there would be any sort of contact between the two of them. Loki barely remembered what had happened after he dealt the final blow. He had lost so much blood and darkness was ebbing at the corners of his mind. And now, here he was, in Rebecca's apartment, healing, and with a hostess who wasn't quite herself.
Was it because she was showing concern, or a general desire for him to be better? Because that was out of character.
When Rebecca entered again, she had a tray in her hands. It had a plate with some yellow gunk on it and a glass with some clear liquid. She sat down on unoccupied side of the large bed, placing the tray down beside her. She didn't say anything as she lifted the plate and a fork. Carefully, she cut the yellow material and said,"Open up."
"What poison are you trying to-"
"You can't lift your arms until they heal more. Open up." Rebecca's voice was stern, her eyes unwavering. She held out the piece of food, awaiting Loki to react. He stared at the foreign food first. His eyes were questioning what he was about to put in his mouth. But then, slowly, he opened his mouth in a defeated fashion. Rebecca, in turn, began to feed him.
The food wasn't particularly good. It looked like mush, and tasted like mush. But, Loki believed that it was this mush that his healing body could digest. So, he just... took it. He ate whatever she spoon fed him. Loki didn't like feeling weaker than Rebecca, and she was almost acting like a mother to him with this action.
When the plate was finished, Rebecca handed him the glass of water. She brought it to his lips, keeping one hand resting on the bottom of his chin to catch any water that spilt. But, as her fingers grazed his skin, he looked to her. Loki noticed that she willingly touched him. Him. Loki. Her hands were on his skin and she did not tremble, nor did she flinch in any way.
Her eyes were trained on his mouth, watching him to make sure to stop administering the water when he was ready. But Loki's eyes were trained on her. What was going through her mind?
Loki the pulled his head away and Rebecca removed her hand, and the glass. She placed it back onto the tray and, like a robot, she was going to stand up and leave, but Loki said,"Wait."
Rebecca paused, turning her head round. She casually asked,"Something wrong?"
"I have a few questions regarding my care," Loki responded softly, his face holding no menace or creutly. Rebecca didn't reply to him, but silently fixed herself back into the bed. She placed the tray down and put her hands into her lap,"Shoot."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"About 2 days."
"Were you the one to care for me?"
"I bandaged you and cleaned your wounds, yes."
"You stitched my arm."
"I did."
"Why?"
"You would've lost it."
Loki pursed his lips,"Wouldn't that be beneficial to you?"
Rebecca shook her head,"You didn't let me lose my stomach when it was about to become mush." After all, that large purple thing did have a vice grip.
"I see," Loki whispered, frowning,"So why all this?"
Rebecca paused again. She seemed to have a set thing to say to Loki in this moment... Like, she did not want to say anything out of what she pre-planned to answer. She was not ready to express things that she didn't want to express, and yet here they were. Rebecca's hands gripped one another, her mind clearly trying to formulate a right answer to his question.
"A favor for a favor," Rebecca finally spoke, nodding her head.
"But what I did for you was no favor. I did not wish to be repaid," Loki said softly, quite out of character for him as well.
"You would've died unless someone got you help. I would've died unless you came for me. It's doing things to... help each other," Rebecca carefully articulated, shifting how she sat. Her eyes fell down to the comforter as she sighed,"It's really nothing."
"But it's not."
Her head shot up as Loki continued from his laying position,"You've spent two days caring for my well being. That's out of kindness, not simply a favor. But for me, I can only ask why."
"Touche," Rebecca grinned for the first time, leaning back on her hands.
And for the first time, ever, Rebecca felt... comfortable. She had kept up a guard that she knew she'd have when Loki awoke. Rebecca wanted answers, but she'd rather just get him out of her house before he did something horrible. But, when he awoke, he wasn't like that. He wasn't acting very Loki or mischievous. He was rather civil, like in that dream she had.
She tried to keep a straight face, and, she tried not to let any emotion show, but, the man laying before her seemed so completely helpless and vulnerable. He wasn't... scary. He didn't make her afraid of her past, in fact, he soothed it because he was the same man who no longer harbored those feelings.
He protected her instead.
So she felt almost at ease, casually sitting in her bed with the healing Norse god.
"So why'd you do it?" Rebecca was the first to ask,"You were locked up. Must've been hard trying to get out."
Loki shrugged as best as he could, a smile forming on his face,"You should know I have my ways."
"Of course you do," Rebecca said, with slight sarcasm in her voice. But it was playful, not menacing.
They weren't being menacing.
Maybe it was a silent truce. Maybe it was the fact that without one another, they'd be dead in some form. Maybe, it was that the fighting was getting old and tiring and nothing good came out of it. Maybe, it was just the idea that they didn't want the other to die.
For some odd reason, maybe, just maybe, that was the case.
Rebecca then said,"So why?" Her voice was like a bell in the room, resonating and somehow, increasing the tension.
"Truthfully," Loki whispered, his emerald orbs locking with hers,"I do not know why."
Lies.
He knew exactly why. But he would not tell her. Never.
"There had to be a reason!" Rebecca insisted.
Loki slightly readjusted the pillow behind his head,"Do you know me to always have reasons?"
"Got me there."
"And what about you?" The norse god began with a twinkle in his eye,"I do not believe you have any skills in medicine."
Rebecca snorted, laughing as she thought of the memory,"Yeah, I don't know how you're alive right now, to be honest." He was probably all infected and oozing and god... she didn't want to know what was happening right now to his body after Rebecca got a hold of him.
Loki, somehow, laughed at this too. Why was he laughing? "Really now?"
"Yeep," Rebecca chortled, before carefully standing up from the bed. She lifted the tray up into her hands and said,"You good for now?"
"Very much so."
The Editor nodded her head, slowly pivioting on her heel to exit the room. She had a bit more pep to her walk. That meeting didn't go as she had thought it would. She thought he'd curse her out. Regardless, she stopped right outside the bedroom as she heard Loki say,"Why is there an adolescent child and an ape on my arm?"
Rebecca could only find herself snickering in the doorway.
Loki saw the Dora Band-Aids.
I love this ending so much. I love this fluff... I like the dynamic that changes after the two realize they saved each other's lives because something is there. Honestly, if Rebeccca HATED Loki, she would've been like,"Fuck you go die." But, she didn't. She saved him.
I'm dying of cuteness.
I hope you all liked it! Please review for me?
