"I'm not kicking you to the curb," promised Temperance as she walked down the hall with Nick after they got home from the Savage Lands.
"It's alright," Nick said. "I understand."
"No, you don't." Temperance sighed. "Come with me."
Temperance pulled him into the Danger Room, where she typed in a code; they were suddenly standing in front of the Mansion.
Nick looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"This was the Mansion as it was eighteen years ago," Temperance said, walking through the Mansion's front door with Nick close behind her. It looked the same as it did now, but there were pictures all over the walls.
Temerance stopped in front of the first picture; It was Charles Xavier.
"He was the first X-Man," Temp said softly. "A team leader, and a father figure." She turned and gazed at Nick. "He died in the accident."
"Temperance," Nick said, jogging to keep up with Temperance's fast past as she excelled down the hallway. "What exactly happened anyway?" He stopped in front of another picture; it was of a young red haired girl with the green phoenix suit on; it took Nick only a moment to realize it was his mother.
Temperance tilted her head at a photo of Logan, next to another photo of Emma.
"They say it was all just one big mistake; the Professor was in his study when there was a disturbance. He tried to warn Emma and Jean, but by the time they got to the Professor, he was dead. There had been some sort of mental breakdown in the Professors head. Jean and Emma were so consumed with grief, no one even noticed that the lamp the Professor had knocked over in his fall had caught the curtains on fire." Nick could smell the smoke and hear the screams as though he were there.
"The fire quickly spread; normally something the X-Men could handle. But the mansion was large, and Scott, Logan, Rogue, Kitty, and Bobby were away on a mission. Emma and Jean got most of the students out; there were two casualties. Storm almost died as well; when she tried to put out the flames with rain, it just created steam, which hit her full on, burning her back and chest. Remy was caught under a piece of debris, and his leg hasn't worked right since. Even Kurt lost his arm when he went in to save the students. And all the X-Men could do was watch their home burn."
"No wonder they disbanded," Nick muttered.
Temperance nodded sadly. "All I want is to keep our new team safe." She looked over at him. "But I can't stop thinking about you when we go into battle. Don't get me wrong; I like you, too. A lot. And I wish things could be different. But things will just take a turn for the worse. You're still my second in command and my friend, though, Nick." The stimulation was turned off, and Temperance smiled and took Nick's hand. "Always."
Nick smiled. "I'll walk you to your room."
The two walked slowly together, savoring their precious moment, and when they reached her room, she turned to Nick and smiled. "Thanks." She turned away to enter her room.
"Wait." Nick grabbed her arm and pulled her back into him, planting his lips firmly on hers. Temperance put a hand on his head, closing her eyes and wishing the world away.
But the kiss ended, and she took a step back. Slowly and reluctantly letting go of his arm, she entered her suite.
She closed the door and leaned against it with a sigh, hearing Nick's footprints disappear down the hallway. Temperance took a few more deep breaths, her face burning. She flipped on the light to her tiny suite.
"Don't you think it's a bit late to be getting in, hm? And someone of your importance. Naughty, naughty."
Temperance blinked in surprise; there, sitting casually with his legs crossed and his arms on the rests of Temp's favorite chair, sat Loki.
Temperance moved across the room calmly. "Sorry," she said. "But if you're here for the maid position, it's been filled." She reached under the sofa; Loki tensed slightly, and then relaxed again once he realized it was only a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of bourbon in Temperance's hand.
"Hope you don't mind," she said, lounging on the couch. "Rough day." She poured herself a glass of her alcohol, and light a thin cigarette. "Horrid habits, I know, but I guess that's what you get hanging around Tony Stark for so many years." She took a long drag off her cigarette. "Help yourself."
Loki casually poured himself a glass, leaning back in his chair. He took a sip, and then nodded in approval. "You have exquisite taste in your drink."
"Don't I know it." She lazily flicked some ashes into her ashtray.
"Now, I'm going to tell you exactly what is going to happen, Temperance, so pay close attention. The Winter Solstice is in four days. On said day, we will battle, and I will kill you." He took a drink.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I shall kill everyone in this mansion, one by one."
Temperance looked down into her glass, mulling things over as she sloshed her drink around. "And if I'm to win?"
"You won't. You know the Prophecy."
"But say I do." She looked up. "I win your battle, and this is over. You will never come near me, nor my friends again, and you will obey the command of Odin."
Loki smiled. "A reasonable bargain. We have a deal. But you will lose."
Temperance just smile. "Of course I won't, darling. I'm a Frost."
And Loki was gone.