Author's Note: May or may not continue the story. Depends on your lovely opinions. I'm waiting for at least five more reviews before I would write or post the next. Thanks, enjoy the chapter! For the love of Loki, I would try to keep up the pace!

P.S. Now I put my Loki pillow on the sofa. Hug him and KISS him every day, haha! I love staring at him, his eyes are so unbearably green, you could drown in them... And Loki's 'skin'is cool and silky and welcoming, oh my gods I'm so happy! Just by staring at his face I might get a climax! ^.^

Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers or Thor. If I did, all the Avengers would have been tortured to death by a thousand Crucios and Sectumsempras. The Hulk would have been left to burn in Tartarus to pay for his unforgiveable crime of hurting Loki. Thor would have been forced to endure ridicule of the people on the streets by eating slugs in public. And above all, Loki would have ruled the Nine Realms with a powerful lover and had a happily ever after!

Frozen Hearts

They were safely back at the base, at last. Sapphira wanted nothing more than to teleport herself back home, take a shower, then collapse onto the bed. But relaxation was not for her, never had been, never will be. After she briefly washed her face, Sapphira walked quietly to the chair Loki was sitting in.

'You have something to tell me.' It was not a question.

'Indeed. And it isn't a piece of good news, I'm afraid.' she paused to let the words sink in, 'Zeus knows that I'm alive, now he's taking my father as hostage. The Olympians won't stop until I'm caught and executed.'

'And this concerns me, because...?' She had expected the question, and so was well prepared for it.

'As you know, you're my soul mate, and the prophecy said that I will overthrow Zeus with your help. Naturally he'll want you hunted down as well. It's a threat for the both of us.' Sapphira said calmly, observing the Norse God's reactions.

'Ah yes, and then there's this soul mate problem.' Loki sighed, absentmindedly smoothing his hair, 'Exactly what does your Fates have in store for us? Two people with frozen hearts cannot love!'

'I have no more clues than you do, Loki. The Fates... They hardly reveal anything to anyone, but they don't make mistakes. So, are you going to help me or are you going to turn me in and obtain some wondrous reward?' She smiled crookedly.

'I will not be against you; we are allies, after all. But how exactly can I help? I'm Norse, and I know next to nothing about your world! Not to mention that I still have the Avengers and the Chitauri to deal with. Oh, and Midgard to rule.' Loki finished with his signature smirk.

Sapphira considered about it for a moment. 'Just make sure I get out of Midgard. You Norse have a...a Bifrost, do you not? I need you to transport me to somewhere the all-seeing Helios cannot find me. Asgard, perhaps? Any part of the Norse worlds is fine.'

Loki nodded slowly. 'Yes, that is possible. Just mind, we have an all-seeing Heimdall as well. I'm not sure Asgard is the best choice for you, though. Suppose Odin threw you right to Zeus? I'm thinking about Jotunheim, actually.'

She coughed. 'Excuse me, Jotunheim? I have no interest in staying with a bunch of giants, thank you very much.'

He rolled his eyes. 'Not simply giants, Your Iciness. Frost giants. That planet is completely frozen. No sunlight, no warmth...ice everywhere. You'll find yourself right at home, I'm sure.'

Sapphira sighed. Was he really that childish or was he just pretending? 'I'm not talking about the surroundings; I couldn't care less about that. What I'm worrying about is that the Frost Giants won't accept me with open arms!'

Loki was silent for a while. 'Well... So it's Asgard, then? That won't be too difficult, once I offer the Tasseract to the Chitauri I will have unlimited powers. Victory is close at hand.'

'I hope so.' was the curt reply.

More silence. Then Loki's tone turned into something she cannot readily recognise. 'I...I want to show you something.'

'What kind of a thing?' Sapphira asked, guards up.

'You'll see. I'm all yours to judge.' He answered, still in that strange voice, taking a deep breath. She frowned, bewildered. Then Loki's skin began to slowly change colour, soft blue began to appear on his pale skin, spreading from his hands to his face. His water-like eyes turned to a burning red. Like fire. In his Frost Giant form, Loki looked like a wondrous song of ice and fire; glorious, like an angel from heaven and hell.

'You're...beautiful.' Sapphira breathed, not noticing that one of the Mischief God's naughty finger had gently touched hers, awakening the emotions inside of her.

'"Beautiful"?! You think so?' Loki shook his head in disbelief and self-loathing. 'Wrong use of adjectives. More like terrible and monstrous! That's what you think of me! Just admit it!'

Sapphira took a deep breath. Why couldn't he just understand? Her head was already pounding, and he was making it worse. 'You're not a monster, Loki, you are powerful! Gods, you are almost like a small child... And you haven't exactly seen my true form either. Well, nobody truly have, I guess. Being who I am has its side effects; I sometimes put illusions over me without meaning to. But since you've shown me your true form, it is only fair that I try to show you mine. Alright, now put your hands on mine.'

When he obeyed, Sapphira closed her eyes and focused as hard as she could. She mentally commanded all her disguises off. Nothing happened at first, then the more her heart melted, the more she seemed to feel a sort of magical wave running through her body. Sapphira knew that it was the change; after so many futile attempts, she had finally done it by the touch of her soul mate. As the process drew to its end, Sapphira opened her eyes. She saw Loki widen his eyes, heard him gasp.

'So... Do I look a crone or something?' She asked playfully.

'You, your... Ears, eyes...' Loki stuttered uncharacteristically, gaping at her, 'Look at them yourself! Can it be - ? No, that's not possible, but all the features, you're a...'

Sapphira rushed to the nearest mirror and her eyes widened. She now had pointed elfish ears, and what shocked her most were her eyes. The irises were icy white with familiar faint blue markings in them, and the whites were completely...black.

'Dark Elf.' Came a shocked whisper from be her. Sapphira turned around sharply.

'No,' she said decisively, shaking her head, 'that's not possible. My father is a Greek god, and my mother was...a dark sorceress. If I am a Dark Elf, as you claim, then my mother would have to be one herself, which is virtually impossible - '

'Nothing is impossible!' Loki all but shouted, a mad glint in his emerald orbs, 'Just because you didn't know your mother's real identity, doesn't mean that she didn't have one! And look at yourself, this is solid proof. If you are not a Dark Elf, then what else can you be? No answers, see? Accept the fact that you're a Dark Elf then, why don't you? - Just as I accepted the truth that I'm an adopted Frost Giant! You're supposed to be the Goddess of Ice, are you really this weak? I know you rule over illusions and deceptions, but how can you allow yourself to be lied to?'

His words struck a core. How dare he call her weak? Oh she was going to show him how very wrong he was. 'That's quite enough.' Sapphira answered icily, 'But do forgive me if I don't trust your words completely; you are the God of Lies, after all. However, I'll put the assumption in mind and inquire my family about it.' Why didn't Morpheus tell her? Why? But that didn't matter, for her father was probably in the middle of an interrogation right now.

'Are you certain about that? Think again.' Loki suggested silkily, 'You are a hunted person. Zeus, and almost every other Greek deity, will have you caught on sight. Most of your allies will ignore you to maintain their own safety. I'm the only one you have right now, Sapphira; and it is my words that holds everything.'

Much as she hated to admit that, the Mischief God had a point.

'Be that as it may, I still wish to return to my apartment. I need some time to think things straight.' Sapphira said finally. It was only a half-lie; she had suddenly remembered that her father had, when she was only little, gave her a sealed box and told her solemnly that she was to open it when she felt lost and confused. Sapphira now definitely fitted the requirements.

'Very well.' Replied Loki curtly and she teleported herself back to her apartment. Muttering a secret spell, she summoned the box into her hands. It looked just as she had remembered it, jet black and shiny despite its oldness, with an enchanted gold lock. She took a deep breath and tried to unlock it.

It opened automatically to her touch. Inside it folded a simple scroll of paper. Its ancient scent screamed the word 'secrets'. Carefully taking the scroll out, Sapphira hesitated for the briefest moments, then she unfolded it with uncharacteristic trembling fingers. From anticipation or fear, she did not know. It was her father's handwriting, she could recognise it straight away -

'Sapphira, my dearest daughter:

If you are reading this now, then Zeus must have already rediscovered your existence and held me as prisoner. What I am about to tell you is important, and you must not panic or get angry that I have kept this from you for so long. I concealed the truth of your mother's identity from you, my daughter. She was not only a very powerful sorceress, but also the one and only trueborn daughter of Malekith, King of the Dark Elves. Yes, my daughter. Morgana was a royal Dark Elf, and through her bloodline, you are the last remaining heir to Malekith, the highest of all the other Dark Elf royalties. I am sorry, dearest, if this is too much a shock for you, but you must understand that Norse Mythology is very real, and the Asgardians in your favourite storybooks will use their utmost strength to hunt you down - almost as much as the Olympians would. You are the Dark Heiress they do not yet know exist (I hope), so you can use that to your advantage. Here is something you must always remember: your safest place is no longer in Hades, but in Svartalfsheim. Find a way to get there, and you will get all the protection and guiding you will need. Malekith would treasure his blood with all his might. I know you feel confident about your magical abilities, but you must understand that to be a true Dark Elf, an immortal creature you have fought to be for so long, you need Malekith. Complete the transformation, and you will be more powerful than ever before; Olympus will tremble under your might - and if I dare to suggest, your soul mate's as well. One day you will smile in Zeus' blood.

Please forgive me for keeping this from you, again. Forever remember, my dearest, I love you. -Your father, Morpheus'

As soon as she had finished reading it, the paper burnt itself into ashes. Sapphira felt a single tear slide down her cheek. For herself, her father, or even Loki, she cannot say. She let the tear out, and cried away the last drop of what was left of her innocence. So it was the truth, she was a Dark Elf... Sapphira gazed into a mirror and laughed mirthlessly. Wonderful, simply fabulous. Now she cannot even seek peace in Asgard, all worlds hated her. Just imagine Odin's face when Malekith's granddaughter returned with Loki... That would be catastrophic. But suppose that the Asgardians did not find out her true identity... Sapphira gazed into the mirror again and her reflection smirked slyly. Closing her eyes, she willed her appearance back to its normal state. Now, at least, she looked human once more. Dark. Beautiful. Lost.

Sapphira began to weave different plans, and all of them were linked to one person - Loki. To find out more about Malekith, she needed Loki. To reach Svartalfsheim, she needed Loki. Loki, Loki, always Loki... The Norse God had somehow filled her whole world, as ridiculous as that sounded. Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her, silent and powerful.

'I would like to comment that not many people can sneak up on me, but then I would be stealing your line.' Sapphira drawled, putting on an indifferent mask, hoping that Loki cannot guess that she had cried as she turned to face him.

A smile-like smirk. 'So, I assume that you believe that you're a Dark Elf, then?'

'Not just a Dark Elf, Loki.' she smirked, 'The Dark Heiress.'

There was genuine shock on the Mischief God's face. 'You are related to Malekith? Well, well, I did not think it possible, but you, my dear, are growing more intriguing by every single moment.'

'Oh, I am intriguing to you? Why, God of Mischief, I'm honoured, to be sure.' Sapphira smiled mischievously, almost seductively at him. She saw him hiding a smile.

'The honour is all mine, my dear.' Loki purred, his face nearer.

If she was going to lose it all, if it was she against the worlds, what would it hurt to just...let go? Why not enjoy life to its fullest extent? Why not, for once, try to lay down her pride and to something she had wanted to for a long time?

Gently, so unlike the last time, Sapphira pulled Loki's face to hers. He responded eagerly, their lips crashing and tongues dancing. This time, it was not sinister, impulsive or malicious; it was a true kiss, a sweet one, one that bore the new-found understanding between them. They paused for a breath.

'I have been waiting for this for a long time, my dear.' Loki nibbled her earlobe and she struggled to bite back a moan.

'What a coincidence, so have I.' Sapphira breathed, circling her legs round his waist.

'Oh my, aren't you the eager one?' Loki teased but the rest of his sentence dissolved into a gasp-like moan as she gave his crotch a light yet firm squeeze.

'I knew that would shut you up...' She grinned wickedly as she was pinned down to the floor.

'You are going to get punished for this, my dear.' He kissed her all the way down to the neck.

'Show me what you've got, God of Mischief.'

And he did. For half the night.