Silently, Steve left. His pain however remained behind, lingering in the air. Sigyn felt a sob rise in her throat, suffocating her. She couldn't breath, shards of ice had entered her throat. They multiplied so that they were stabbing her lungs. She drew a short, sharp breath and it burnt her throat, the icy shards cutting into her. The cry refused to come out yet it needed to for Sigyn to function properly. Her body refused to inhale anymore as the burning seared through her body, causing her to collapse in a limp pile of limbs.
Swiftly, Loki caught her before she crashed to the floor like a wave after it breaks upon the shore. He held her in his arms like he had longed for, pined for for so many tormenting years, yet she wasn't Sigyn. She was a rag doll and icy cold. He feared that his touch would make matters worse yet he couldn't bear to let her go. She couldn't die: not now, not as she was about to kiss him, not over hurting a mere Midgardian. This was not how it could end. All thoughts flew from his head like the scatterings of a herd of deer. He knew not what to do so he stood there holding his beloved in his arms at last in her deathly state. He was the one there for her in her time of need not Thor, not Steve but him.
He decided to open her mouth to try and regain air flow but it did not seem to have any effect on the weak body he held. It came to him rather suddenly but he knew how to save her. He closed the door, still carrying Sigyn, so as not to reveal to that intruder what was going to take place. He placed his cheek to Sigyn's heart, still feeling the very weak heartbeat there. He rolled his head so that his mouth was placed where her heart was still working and began to whisper. He whispered every spell he knew feeling the magic drain out of him and into his Sigyn. He whispered and the beat grew stronger. Everything was flowing out of him, everything about him: his pains, his joys, whatever made him Loki in that moment belonged to Sigyn.
A while later, Sigyn awakened from her faint yet the burning was still there, the ice pierced her throat with every breath. She tried to speak but the ice had frozen her voice. She started to slip away again, letting go of everything until she heard a voice coaxing her out of death. The voice promised her that she need not worry; it was here to protect her. The voice loved her and she began to hold on, to grasp and clutch for her life and scramble at the chance of survival. She needed the voice.
As Loki held Sigyn in his arms he felt her awaken and fall only to awaken again. Once she had regained consciousness a smile danced across her perfect lips before the sob finally escaped and crying ensued. It became softer and softer as the ice melted and eventually she found sleep. Loki carried her out of the small room and began his search for her bed. He soon located her chambers, only to find a distraught Steve sitting on the bed.
"Move." Commanded Loki as he strode across to the bed. Reluctantly, Steve got up once he had seen Sigyn sleeping in Loki's arms. She was placed down with the greatest of care and began to relax in the comfort of her bed.
"What happened down there?" Steve inquired, unsure as to what he was referring to but he knew something had happened.
"I grasped her from the clutches of Hel." Loki replied staring wistfully at the sleeping Sigyn.
"Hell, you mean Satan? I didn't think she would go to Hell. And what do you mean? Was she dying?"
"No, Hel Goddess of the Underworld. Yes, she came close to her ending which is rare for someone like us. That of course was with no thanks to you."
"You're saying I killed her?"
"Yes, you could phrase it that way. You certainly did not help her."
"But...I...you and her...and...I...couldn't do anything." stuttered Steve astounded by the bluntness Loki was displaying.
"You could have not assumed the worst of her. You are rather judgemental, you mortals, aren't you?"
Steve caught something odd in the cold reply, "Mortals? You refer to mortals as a collective whole excluding yourself? What exactly makes you, I guess immortal then?"
"Everything indicates my immortality. It is but one of the ways I am superior to you." Loki hissed at Steve in his ear, producing a shard of ice, resembling a knife and holding it to his throat.
Steve did not notice this at first as he was concentrating on the dark figure before him. He realised his mistake soon enough as for a split second he noticed more than one of his opponent in the room.
"What was that?" Steve inquired, seemingly not bothered about his apparent death drawing near.
"Something you Midgardians like to call magic." Loki whispered to an astounded Steven.
"How can you do magic? There is no such thing and what on Earth is Midgard?"
"Ah, you see the question is not what is Midgard but rather where and the answer happens to lie within your question. I can perform magic as I happen to be the God of Tricks along with a few other things."
"There is only one God, Loki, and I'm pretty sure you aren't him."
"Do you doubt me mortal? Perhaps my knife will reassure your beliefs."
Both stopped as a rustling occurred. Sigyn had awoken and was looking blankly at the two masculine figures before her.
"What did I miss?" she asked sleepily.
"Apparently our friend Loki is a God." Steve stated smugly acknowledging the fact that Sigyn would take his side in the matter. Loki smirked in return.
"Loki, you shouldn't be saying such things," scolded Sigyn, "you know we are technically only demigods." Loki chuckled across the room at the expression of complete disbelief on Steve's face.
"You too?"
"And did you think I wouldn't realise you were Captain America?" Sigyn quipped back.
"Well, that's different. You know I couldn't tell you that. It's classified information."
"It wasn't the first time around when you were touring around the country promoting the War Effort. It is not different Steven."
"The first time around? You were alive then?"
"Of course I was, I have been living in exile for a century now."
"I'm so sorry Sigyn. I had no idea. I guess it means we have a few more things in common then." Steve chuckled.
"What exactly is Captain America?" Loki demanded knowledge from the corner chair where he had seated himself.
"Not what is Captain America but rather who is Captain America," Steve sarcastically muttered earning a warning look form Sigyn, "It's me, I guess. During the Second World War I was turned into a superhuman soldier. I could probably kill you with my bare hands, Loki."
"I find that extremely difficult to believe. I would be highly amused to see you try though. You are more than welcome, soldier."
"Stop, both of you. That is awful talk. Why do you have to act in such a way?" It suddenly dawned on Sigyn the answer to her own question. The sleep had washed her mind and she could think clearly again. The tension between the two was so thick, it was almost tangible. She was the reason for it; they were quarrelling over her. Her heart fell inside her chest, panic rose in her mind. She knew what these men were capable of and she didn't doubt that either would let the other get in the way of their prize. She felt sick at the thought of them killing one another over her. What had she done?