Loki turned around and saw his nightmares come to reality. Everything he tried so hard to avoid, and he had failed her. She lay on the ground, blood spreading across the floor. She moaned quietly, almost as if attempting to say something. He dropped his scepter and ran towards her. She had been shot in her thigh and back. How bad the damage was, he did not know. But what he did know, was that unless he took her now, those pathetic, weak, disgusting humans would cause more trouble.
He easily picked her up and walked towards the waiting hovercraft. The mind-controlled Barton stood on the back of it, waiting orders. "Take her! She is wounded!" Loki yelled. Barton had the hovercraft moved closer, and Loki gave her to him. He grabbed his scepter and jumped on. As the hovercraft took off, the full extent of the damage could be seen.
Their floating fortress had been ripped apart badly, inside and out. Two of the engines were supposed to be out but only one was motionless. Smoke teemed from several gashes all along the helicarrier, chaos had been wreaked upon it, but his fury for the injuries of Sylv made him angry that they had not all died in a flaming crash.
The door closed and he rushed to Sylv's side. Barton wrapped her leg tightly in a cloth, as Loki applied pressure to her back. "Sir, medicine is not my area of expertice. We need a doctor."
Loki could not understand, tears clouded his vision as he searched his mind for an answer. He did not sob, as this showed weakness.
It was all for nothing if you do not make it. Please, love, make it through this...
Loki stood up and looked down at the scepter in his hand. "Find a hospital. I have people to convert."
Loki converted a group of nurses and doctors and brought them to the headquarters. An extra room was made that was filled with medical equiptment. Sylv had only barely responded in the past hour and Loki began to worry endlessly. The bullets were removed, but she had lost immense amounts of blood.
"Sir, we have done all we can. The rest is up to her." One of the doctors told Loki. He gripped the scepter tighter and looked dead on at him, not saying a word. The doctor left quickly, back into the room.
Loki looked across the room to where Selvig stood, studying the tesseract. He sat down and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he was face to face with the Other. "I can only hope that you are not being delayed by a single casualty." the Other said, hissing his words. This is a cold, barren planet, who's only redeeming quality is its army, thought Loki. "I assure you I don't know what you mean." he replied. The Other growled. "That single assassin is a sad loss" he said sarcastically. "But if I lose the tesseract to her...you will cry for mercy after I finish with you."
Loki looked at him, studying him, in a way. Was such a creature even capable of understanding what I feel for Sylv? Of course not. So I will explain this as simply as I can...
"She is an extremely valuble asset. The loss of this assassin would be a great blow to our plan." he said. The Other didn't say anything for a moment, when Loki rematerialized back on earth. He stood up and went into the medical room, and stood by Sylv's bed. He looked at the computer that registered her heart rate, etc.
For such dull creatures, they could be so advanced...if they had a leader. Me. Us.
He continued to ponder over such mysteries, while Sylv lay motionless. He felt a sharp twang in his gut, as he thought of when he'd first seen this lovely creature.
Asgard. The home of the gods. I am prince here and yet I feel as if I am a visiting comrade. The servants always seem to smile more around Thor, the guests and women clamour around his chair, begging for another entertaining tale of how he single-handedly killed a Bilchsteim.
Oh such riviting tales, Thor. You are such a hero. I have lived in your shadow all my life and yet never once have you noticed anything past your mug of ale. One day I will show you who is more powerful. More cunning and wise, because brother, it is not you. You are all muscle and nothing else. You toss a boulder across a meadow and have earned the rank of next-to-be King? Pathetic.
Yet should anyone ask me of my accomplishments, I could not utter more than a few words. Father would think us competing, and perhaps we should be. Perhaps 'one day' should be this day. I tire of sitting and watching you.
Loki stood up from his seat, and promptly left the room, the sight of the whores around Thor sickening him. "Brother..." Thor said, as the door shut. Loki heard him but did not bother to turn around. He needed to be alone. For once.
Royalty are not supposed to wander out into the forest alone and unguarded but today, Loki cared not. He hastily walked down the path to the stables. "Get me my horse." he said. The stable master nodded and quickly ran to fetch it. He knew that the God of Mischief was in an unpleasant mood, and when he was in an unpleasant mood, bad things happened.
"Here you are, my lord" he said, handing him over. Loki jumped on and rode off, not saying anything. The stable master sighed a sigh of relief, thankful that nothing happened, this time.
He rode off, past the bridge, past the huge patches of green grass, and straight into the woods. He rode on and on, occasionally stopping to see where he was. And he kept going, the sound of the horse's hooves becomming monotonous. Finally, when the sight of the towers in the city were out of sight, he slowed down. He had never been this far, for all the guards and his father forbid it.
He came to a halt and jumped off the horse. He landed in soft ground, surrounded by tall trees, with holes of light streaming in from above. He sat down next to a tree as his horse grazed on the grass. He leaned back onto the bark and looked around, amazed at how different it seemed here. There was no sound except for the rustling of the leaves from the slightest breeze.
He closed his eyes and tried to relax, but he got the unshakeable feeling that someone, somehow, was watching him. Finally he opened his eyes and carefully searched the dark, crowded branches. Seeing nothing, he crossed his legs and stared into the distance.
Out of nowhere, the was a loud thud just a few feet from him, and it made him jump. He looked over a saw someone, a woman, standing there. He immediately jumped to his feet. "Did you follow me? Are you a new guard?" he said, beginning to get annoyed. She put her hood back and looked blankly at him.
"You think I am a royal guard?" she said, putting a dagger away. He looked at her as if she had fallen from another planet. "Well, are you?" he replied. She looked around. "Perhaps. I could be anyone, really." she said playfully. He calmed down. "I shall take it that you are not." he said. She didn't say anything, just looked around again. "Because I should only be as lucky, to have someone as lovely as you follow me around." he said, grinning slyly.
"Flattering. Very flattering. But you have seen me around." she said, walking towards Loki. He looked at the ground. "Yes, I do recall your face." he said. "I thought you were a guard, all this time."
She shrugged, and sat down against the tree. He sat next to her. "And so then, if you are not, what brings you this far?" he said. She looked at his royal attire. "You ask many questions, prince. I am hunting, I like to keep my skills sharp, and this is the only way." she replied, pulling at the roots in the ground. Loki looked around for any animals, none were in sight. "Those invisible bucks must be difficult to catch." he said sarcastically. She couldn't help but smile.
"I think a better question is why is a prince out here, unprotected?" she said. Loki didn't want to reply with some feel-sorry-for-me response, so he went with "I fancied being alone"
"So you wish for me to leave?" she said, starting to get up. "No, you can stay. You are not a pesky guest." he said, unintentionally grabbing her arm. She sat back down. "My name is Sylv."
They talked for quite some time, until the sun began to disappear and the land grew dark. Owls and all manner of night animals began to make noise and come alive. Loki realized that they may begin searching for him unless he returned soon. "I must return" he said, standing up. He held his hand out and helped her up. They both stood, holding hands, and looked into eachother's eyes. But before anything could happen, his horse nuzzled between them.
"Have you a ride to the city?" he asked. She shook her head. "I always walk here." Loki thought it over in a moment, and offered her a ride. She accepted.
They rode back together, and Loki felt truely free for once. No Thor to overshadow him, no unpleasant situations, just open fields, and a beautiful yet powerful woman next to him. This is how he wanted life to stay. But just as in all good things, they must come to an end. They rode up to the stables and jumped off. "My lord, your brother was searching for you." The stable master said. Loki almost didn't care, he felt so happy.
Though the hour was late, he invited her to the large balcony above to look at the stars. She instantly said yes. As they made their way towards the stairs, giggling and smiling, Loki heard the last voice in the Nine Realms that he wanted to hear.
"Brother!" Thor said, rushing down the steps. "I searched everywhere for you, you have missed the farewell feast of our guests. They left with only one prince wishing them well, father is angry."
Loki looked at him, annoyed. "I can not imagine how they will survive, oh woe the guilt that I feel." he replied sarcastically. "Your carelessness should not be the disrespect of our kingdom."
"Of your kingdom" Loki replied sharply. Sylv stood there quietly.
"You. What is your business here, Goddess?" Thor said angrily. "My business is my own." she said. Loki smiled. Thor looked at them. "I will tell father you were busy with a woman while Asgard suffered an embarrassment."
Loki didn't say anything as Thor stormed off. "It is late, prince. I will return to my quarters. Good night." she said, grabbing his hand affectionately and leaving. Though she was gone, and trouble with father was imminent, he felt extremely happy.