Hi everyone! Just a small update for you all. Welcome back to school and bye bye to the summer :( Enjoy!
"It just doesn't make any sense," Bruce huffed as he hung over his desk in his private lab. His hands were running through his thick black hair while his eyes carefully scanned the screen in front of him. The image displayed the several pictures of Rebecca's DNA, shifting ever so much in such a short span of time.
How was it possible that since she met Loki, her body began to change? She's had ancient magic for, according to Pepper, for what seemed to be her entire life. Her DNA up to the first encounter was the same, regardless of how much she's used her abilities.
So why now? Why is she transforming?
The studies were obvious. The moments before Rebecca attacked those men about a week ago, her DNA had another shift. But, unlike her previous DNA scans, which were white, the most recent showed streaks of pure black. It was as if Rebecca, internally, was growing darker.
Maybe the changes she's undergoing caused that moment of murderous intent. Perhaps the rage triggered the DNA's new state, and in truth, she became bloodthirsty in the alleyway. Rebecca became a new person for those moments, and it didn't seem like she had any control over her thoughts. She was going to kill those men, and the Rebecca that Bruce knew would never think of actually hurting them. She might make a threat or two like the snappy woman she was, but to actually spill blood was far from her normal state of mind.
Bruce sighed, shaking his head as his fingers pushed aside some of the images to pull up a new screen. He began to type in his theories, lost in thought.
Was Rebecca becoming evil? Maybe she was fighting off this point in her transformation for some time, just out of sheer willpower and self-control. Maybe, she was becoming more dangerous by the second. It was a good thing she was with Loki then, who, as it seems, wouldn't hurt her and would be able to control her if another breakout were to happen.
That was an entire theory in itself. The two seemed to work well around each other, despite their initial problems. Rebecca was well past it all, and from the sounds of their conversation before she left with him, was in fact without tension or doubt. They were relaxed around one another, and some might call them friends. But, from what Bruce deduced, is that the two had spent more time together than they let on. From the purple monster attack, it was only logical they were together. And he made her... normal.
Bruce's hand came to rest up under his chin and his head tilted when he whispered,"But if he's the good part of you, then where is the bad coming from?"
Emotions are a confusing matter. The heart dictates the most erratic, wild desires and fails to incorporate logic into any of its reasonings. It pushes for what it believes is right, despite the potential harm it might create later. Emotions live in the moment, not in the past or future.
Rebecca Lawrence, CEO and Editor of the NY Times, was a perfect example of one of her stories. Seemingly-Human Girl in the relationship with Earth's Sworn Enemy, Loki. Rebecca had... liked Loki. A lot. Perhaps more than like to the point where she couldn't admit it.
He was the sole figure who gave her the spice that she needed. Her heart wanted this moment for quite some time- ever since those dreams occurred. Everything about him claimed her, and vise vera. Rebecca knew oddly enough, that she had as much power as he did when it came to the two of them... well... being together.
Were they even together, or was it just... Was it just a tipsy night of heightened feelings?
Rebecca didn't know and couldn't tell. Mainly, it was because strong arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, securing her safety and protecting her from outside harm. She felt warmth encompass her, as if it was circling her body and making her heart swell even in sleep. She was comfortable, and nothing in the world made her wish to leave her little heaven.
Her brown eyes fluttered open. Her head was resting on a smooth golden pillow, her naked body covered in a emerald sheet and a noir, velvet blanket. The large bed was covered in a beautiful canopy with olive tassels. The bed posts, while black, had golden sculpted snaked curving up the length, adorned with bright green crystals for eyes.
The room itself was colored a deep copper, and black poles with ornate fires lined the walls at regular intervals. There were no drawers or desks or really anything that personalized the room. It was empty, only seemingly alive from the large windows that streamed in an enormous amount of light. It was so much light that the dark-colors of the room seemed to shimmer.
Rebecca noticed her breath running through her chest, her cheek resting against the smooth pillow as her eyes wandered around the area. Her hand was resting above another, one that wasn't her own and wrapped securely around her waist.
A chill ran down her back when she felt a pair of lips press against the soft skin of her shoulder. Her breath grew light and airy as the contact nearly melted her very bones. Slowly, carefully, her head crooned to glance behind her.
And what she saw was... surreal. Staring into her eyes almost instantly were a pair of emerald hues.
"Morning," the perfect lips spoke, the velvety voice soft.
Rebecca found her own lungs unable to take in another breath, barely able to whisper to the man beside her,"Morning."
Loki's mouth curved up in the smallest of grins, his vision washing over the sight before him. Her skin was practically glowing, smooth and flawless. Her eyes were wide, unsure, and yet filled with a sense of understanding. Her hair managed to somehow stay curled and rather neat. A strand even managed to fall over her neck, cascading down by her collar bone.
Slowly, Rebecca turned her torso to face the man beside her, her head resting down on the pillow as if to reposition herself. For a moment, Loki removed his protective hold on Rebecca's waist to touch her shoulder, his expression peaceful. The way his fingers slid down the skin, tracing circles, and just staring at the physical being before him was almost... unreal.
He was marveling at the reality that they were like this. And she wasn't running away, or flinching, or crying. Her heart was beating fast, but she was not afraid of him. They were both content.
His hand slid upwards to her cheek, finding the smoothness of the skin as relaxing as can be. His thumb traced over her jawline to the roundness of her face, just... being. She didn't move away from him, and, his touch didn't make her tremble. His gaze dropped down to her lower lip where his thumb then traveled, caressing the texture gently. He noticed how when he moved away, the soft flesh ever so slightly shifted back into place. Without hesitation, his hand then glided down the length of her curved body to rest on her waist.
Loki's eyes flickered upwards to meet Rebecca's unchanging gaze.
The way she stared at him was also so beautiful. It was like a picture or a movie. Her lashes were long, and when she closed them to blink they seemed to move at half speed. Her cheeks were still rosy, and the small parting of her lips gave her the appearance of pure innocence. She almost appeared porcelain. Delicate. Untouchable. Inhuman.
But, the gaze also held true meaning behind the outer appearance. They were calculating, thinking. She was analyzing the situation, what had happened, and what was to happen. She was figuring everything out in her mind and situating her thoughts.
It wasn't too hard to put into place either. Loki's grin never changed when he rolled towards her, resting his head on her chest and tightening his grip on her. He listened to her heart and inhaled her sweet scent.
This was real. This moment was real. And Loki couldn't help but feel his entire body tense just a bit more when he felt Rebecca's hand scoop underneath him and rest on his neck. The other, on his shoulder. It was a reversed role where Rebecca... was holding him too. Loki blinked for a moment before relaxing into the embrace, feeling her fingers threading through the tips of his hair.
Was she accepting this then?
Was she accepting them?
His lips found its way to the base of her neck, giving it a soft kiss before returning to rest his cheek on her chest. She was so smooth and warm, and she smelled so lovely.
Loki gave her a small squeeze before moving so that once more, he was the one holding her. For once in his life, Loki felt happy protecting someone. He felt more like his old self, the young, hopeful prince of Asgard who had so much promise. He felt jovial and free, like he could laugh about something funny instead of using his voice as a way to be vindictive. He felt like his words could be used as a way to make Rebecca feel wonderful instead of a tool to destroy. He felt... rejuvenated by one girl. This one girl.
How in the world did fate hand him this moment? How did it give him Rebecca when at first she was anything but what he could ever need. Loki didn't even need anyone anymore by that point in his life. He had sworn off his heart and left it cold, rotting, and alone. And somehow, somehow this one girl had stirred butterflies in his chest and warmed the heart of a frost giant. She made him feel when all was gone.
The girl tilted her head upwards to glance at him, only to find his eyes beaming at her. A genuine smile spread across his face when he spoke,"You impossible girl."
"Is this really going to happen?" Rebecca asked gently, her eyes wide,"Because I'm not really sure what to do."
When had Rebecca ever been in a real relationship? Never. Never once had she given her heart to someone else. And yet here she was, intertwined with another with stars in her tired eyes.
Loki gave her a comforting smile when he responded,"Truthfully, I have never done this either. It's quite... out of character for someone of my sorts." She felt his grip tighten on her momentarily, before relaxing.
Rebecca frowned,"Why is that?"
"Because I had acknowledged what little warmth I had left in my heart had fleeted long ago, and yet now it rests with you. This will soon be the most vulnerable I have ever been, but I believe your presence has miraculously renewed my sense of self and I am grateful for it."
His words were so sculpted, so beautiful. It was as if every sound was a melody and it made Rebecca so warm inside. But then it hit her when the meaning of his words surfaced in her mind. Loki was giving himself up. His hardships, his life. He was finally willing to trust someone when he never had it before. Loki, the shielded God of Mischief was allowing someone else to finally see him for who he was behind the glamour and mistakes. He was going to give himself someone to protect, and someone to hurt him.
"Strange how things managed itself," Rebecca whispered, licking her lips slightly.
A small chuckle escaped Loki's throat in the most attractive, foreign way,"Quite right, too. Even dangerous. But if you are true then so am I."
Rebecca's head nodded against the soft pillow, her expression calculating and cautious, "So, this is real then."
Loki beamed,"I believe so."
"Okay."
She couldn't help but finally crack a smile, twisting the edge of her mouth when her hand came to rest on his chest.
It was almost too much for Loki. The sight of her was overwhelming to the Norse god and he could only drink in more of her. Loki's neck crooned forward, and he felt her small hand come up to his neck to pull him in. It was acceptance.
Slowly, carefully, their lips came to touch one another in the most innocent of ways. It was like they were touching one another for the first time. The kiss was gentle, as if both were using this moment to reaffirm and conclude everything that had happened. It was comforting, yet filled with a urge and desire that was still waiting. Rebecca's hand touched his cheek, giving her mouth more ability to sweep against his. He tasted so lovely and calm. It was impossible to think that this was the same man she once knew.
He was changed.
When the two managed to pull away, retaining the sweetness of the kiss, they once more resumed their cuddling position. Rebecca's mouth kissed Loki's neck before she curled into his chest, her pointer finger dancing along his icy skin.
Rebecca sighed into his touch and never wished to move. She felt his lips press against her temple when she heard him whispered lowly,"You've undone me, Rebecca Lawrence."
It was such a beautiful, irreplaceable moment in time.
We depart in 3 days time to retrieve the girl.
It took the two a while to finally get out of bed. Most of it went without saying. It was a bit of moaning and unwilling sacrifice of the warm blankets, but eventually Loki waved a hand and the two had clothing materialized on their bodies. Rebecca had on training wear, as Loki wore his regular regular attire. Rebecca rubbed the back of her head as she stood beside the bed, feeling the rest worth while.
"When did you bring us here?" Rebecca asked, her brows furrowing. Loki looped around the bed to join Rebecca, leading both out of the room and towards the kitchen.
Loki's hands were locked behind his back, his steps precise and smooth,"Moments after you drifted off, I suppose. I ensured that our spot of rest was not... in that hole of a restroom."
Rebecca nodded her head, her voice strong,"Right. Makes sense."
The two were quiet for a moment as they moved. The light paddle of their feet against the golden floors were echoing around them, and neither really made an effort to break the silence. It was only when Rebecca decided to ask a very important and personal question, that it was broken.
"What were you like when you were younger?"
"I don't understand," Loki replied, his voice perplexed.
Rebecca crossed her arms in front of her chest, shrugging,"Just about your life. Your childhood, your ambitions. Your feelings through it all... even the moments you wish you had forgotten."
His voice was low,"Why do you wish to know that?"
Rebecca glanced up to the Norse god,"Things about you are so unclear."
"And you believe that learning about my past would clarify my future?" Loki looked to Rebecca, his voice holding no disgust. She wanted to hear his story? The story that no one wanted to hear... ever?
Was he even ready to speak such a tale of why he went power hungry, of why the tesseract heightened his innermost turmoils and emotions, of why he was known to be the evil villain he was today? She wanted to... understand that?
The Norse god pursed his lips,"I suppose... in time."
The girl had seen him at his most vulnerable states. Loki had obviously slept with various woman his entire life, but, never had he been with someone that made him feel enlightened. Celia, in specific, was someone he did hold a great deal of love for, but they never reached the level of intimacy that he and Rebecca had. Rebecca was, in fact, the first person he would ever make love to.
Love.
The word didn't make sense. He didn't know what love was, but he knew what he had with the girl was pretty damn close. She took his life and completely tore it to pieces in a matter of months. So perhaps it wouldn't be too difficult to educate Rebecca on his past. She seemed to have a great interest in those who represent the disturbed, dark figure and actually made an effort to come to know them. Perhaps it removes the blame of the horrible things these individuals have done and justifies it.
The smallest of smiles twisted at the edge of Rebecca's lips when she asked bluntly,"Favorite thing to do that's not destructive?"
"Tricks."
"Besides that, because your tricks involves chaos."
"But I like chaos."
"Not helping."
"Ah," Loki pondered, enjoying the squabble,"I believe I take pleasure in reading. It was a hobby of mine since I was a babe."
"How many books have you read?" Rebecca pestered further, noticing the dinning room coming up on her right.
"You forget I've been alive for quite some time," Loki smirked,"Probably hundreds of thousands in all languages and subjects."
Rebecca had almost forgotten the extreme age gap between the two. He was two thousand years old, from what she knew, and it would be rather odd for a 27 year old female to be... attached to one. Again, he was a god and she was some unknown transformative species. They two were so radically different, and yet both had dealt with being not so well liked.
As the Editor of the NY Times, she couldn't leave room for any faults. She was strict, rude, and controlling. Many people feared her and her overwhelming sense of power, often leaving her as the woman who would seemingly never find love. She was too cold, too rough, and too sinister to ever have warmth in her heart.
But in actuality, it was all just a persona she upheld at work to get the job done. She did become that woman, but her job did not define her. At one point it did, but right now she wasn't that vindictive, hot-headed woman.
It was odd. Ironically, she actually felt more human now than she had in ages when in fact she was anything but.
"You're very smart then," Rebecca stated,"it would make sense why you were the brains back home."
Loki nearly cringed at the 'H' word. He never had a place to call home. But still, he managed to keep a straight face all the way into the dinning room where the meal was set hot on the table. The food was all Asgardian and exotic. It had a mixture of brilliant colors and smelled as appetizing as ever. Rebecca felt her stomach grow lowly at the sight, but also found herself eying the one item she actually recognized: an red apple.
The two took their seats and ate rather quickly, eating their breakfast with light conversation for the two of them. It involved Rebecca cursing and getting heating. It also had Loki bantering again her with his wit and mischievous smile. But neither of them raised a hand to one another, so it was considered successful. And after, of course, they trained.
"Do you think it'd be smart?" Bruce asked, his voice filled of interest with a mix of deep curiosity. His lips formed a hard line as he watched the God of Thunder with doubt written across his face.
Thor shrugged, leaning on Bruce's pristine white lab counter,"It would not be harmful to her studies. If we attempting to give her a true background on ancient magic, majority of the texts remain in Asgard. It is also the place of its origin, and answers might come more freely to her if exposed to it."
Bruce slid out of his black chair, walking past several monitors and began to examine near by screens, saying,"I don't know if she's safe for intergalactic travel."
Thor shook his head, grinning with wide enthusiasm"Exposure to the Bifrost has no effect on the body. Many species have used it to-"
"But we don't know what species she is yet," Bruce interrupted. He saw Thor's face sadden, the lines in his forehead deepening. Bruce sighed, running his fingers through his hair,"I'm just worried that somehow, the Bifrost will accelerate her change since it usually happens when she is near alien lifeforms."
Thor's brows furrowed as he moved around the white laboratory, frowning,"Is the trend that strong?"
Bruce reluctantly nodded, adding,"And I think the tesseract has something to do with it too. It all started with Manhattan. Maybe the tesseract initiated the change and then Loki's first attack got it all in motion. If the tesseract is on Asgard, then who knows what'll happen when she nears it."
Thor's lips parted in a heavy sigh. The plan somehow didn't seem to work anymore. Things were becoming too tight and the circumstances were complicating at an extreme pace. If Rebecca was, in fact, someone who could not be around foreign life forms, then she should be on Midgard trying to live her normal days. She should be forgetting about learning Ancient Magic and let the Avengers guard her from outside threats. But she deserves to know who she is more than anything, and guarding her from what could be her respectful home is immoral.
"She still has the heart of a human," Thor whispered, his crystal blue eyes sad,"And if we treat her as if she is poison to what she's grown accustomed to then she will believe she is such. It's a new age for Midgard and there is no escaping intergalactic communications. If I bring her to Asgard, she will be in my care if an event should occur from the Bifrost. I will set watches of guards to protect her, as her from others. She deserves to know her origin and banning her from such knowledge would be cruel."
Bruce stood silently, using his fingers to remove his glasses to watch the Norse god speak. His was contemplating what this could do to effect everyone. If her DNA changed for the worse, then it could make her more murderous as before. Thor would be there to stop it, of course, but that would obviously not be ideal. Potentially, however, exposure to the light of Asgard brought her to light, then it might be a positive experience.
"In fact, if her transformation is continuous, then should I not show her Asgard while she still may? It could become a undoable event in the future and this may be my sole chance to save her life."
Yayy! One more chapter down! Things are going to get a bit crazy from here on out. I hope you all liked it! Please review if you get the chance.
