"She needs medical attention now!"

Loki sat on the windowsill gazing at the ever changing colors of the Bifrost when he heard the baffoon Fandral shouting throughout the palace halls. He remained seated, uninterested. The idiot most likely stabbed himself with his own sword.

"What happened?" boomed Thor's voice not too far away from the door to Loki's chambers. "Hayden, can you hear me?"

Hayden? Loki stood to his feet.

"We don't know," gasped Fandral. "One moment she and I were talking and all of the sudden she walked straight into the river and started to drown." Loki quickened his pace. "If Karnilla had not used her magic to save her then Hayden might have been lost."

Loki slowed down. Karnilla? He turned the corner to see Hayden laying soaked on the ground. Her dark hair was a tangled mess wrapped around her neck and face. Her skin was waxy and a faint pallid blue in color. The purple in her lips was fading as she parted them and began to gasp for air.

A sudden relief washed over Loki. It did not settle well with him, the concern that bubbled in his gut for her. He swallowed it along with any other worries he had for Hayden. Mortals were so frail...

"Loki," she croaked. His heart stopped, stunned.

Thor shook his golden tresses and reached down to help her in a sitting position. He placed a large, meaty hand on her back and gently patted at it a couple of times. "It is I, Thor."

Hayden wearily reached for her head, groaning in pain. Her eyes fluttered open, glazed over until she blinked several times. "What-I don't understand what happened? I-" her ashened green eyes locked on Loki's. "I was-we were-"

"You walked into the river and nearly drowned," informed Fandral kneeling to her side. "Karnilla saved you with her magic and it was Hogun who was able to resuscitate you." He slowly smirked and added," I carried you on my horse and back to the palace."

It took all of Loki's will power not to roll his eyes. "How do you feel?" he heard himself asking.

All eyes turned on him, surprised that he was even there. Hayden's face flushed the moment their gaze met. What was it with this Midgardian? He had never seen someone's face flush as much as hers did. It was obnoxious. And endearing, added a small voice in the back of his head. Loki scowled at himself.

"My head hurts," she admitted dropping her hand from her temple to her chest, "and my lungs feel like they're on fire."

"Allow me to take you to your chambers," offered Karnilla. "We can send for someone to get you remedies for your ailments."

Hayden hesitated, as she should have. Karnilla was not to be trusted. Especially since this whole fiasco had her handiwork all over it.

"Allow me to escort you, Hayden," he insisted, earning a few more glances from those around him. Loki bit on the inside of his cheek to keep from snapping at each and everyone of them.

"Oh," muttered Hayden tucking a thick strand of wet hair behind her ear. "Alright."

Fandral and Thor helped her to her feet. She quietly thanked each of them, then thanked Karnilla and Hogun for saving her. They both nodded with similar somber expressions though Karnilla's green eyes danced with a familiar delight. She dragged her gaze from Hayden as Loki linked their arms together and took her soaked leather hand in his. Oh, this was far from over, he thought as he lead Hayden from the dispersing crowd.

"Karnilla,"he called looking over his shoulder just as he and Hayden were about to turn a corner. " Do see if there is something you can scrounge up to remedy Miss Waltham's ailments."

"Are you hurt? Does anything feel broken?"

I looked up at Loki, surprised that he even cared to ask and shook my head. He grimaced and I glanced away from his knotted expression in attempt to take off my gloves. The sloshy leather rubbed against one another creating a sharp squeaking noise every so often. I inhaled sharply growing rather irritated. It should not be that difficult to take off a pair of gloves!

"Allow me," soothed Loki walking to where I sat on the bed, kneeling before me.

He grabbed at my wrist, gently encircling his long fingers in a loose hold. I felt the heat lick at my cheeks at the memory of his hands pulling me into him. I watched him intently as he slipped the gloves from each finger, tugging at the tips to rip them free.

He then moved to grab for the mug of what he claimed was a tea that had been brought by a servant moments after we entered my room. It was warm in my palms and smelled of cherries. I brought the run to my lips and sipped gingerly. A bitter taste danced along my tongue and I made a gave quickly setting it aside.

I thanked Loki and he nodded. I shifted on the mattress of the bed, the sheets crinkled under my weight. It was frustrating that he made no motions to talk about what had happened. The last thing I remembered was talking to him but...

"How did I fall in the river?"

Loki glanced up at me, standing to his full height. He tossed the gloves on the wooden nightstand. They made a sloppy quelching noise as they slapped upon its surface.

He crossed the room to where my suitcases were piled and raised a brow. "You haven't unpacked yet?"

I shrugged, feeling that it was rather pointless since I would be heading home every weekend. "Please just answer me?" I really didn't want to play his mind games of evading my questions. I needed to understand what happened.

Loki licked his bottom lip and nodded slightly. "Tell me, what do you remember last?"

"You and I were-"

"You mean you and Fandral?"

I shook my head, and knotted my eyebrows together. "No. You and I were taking by the-"

Loki started to shake his head, his jaw tightened. "Hayden, I was in the palace this entire time."

I blinked at him, trying to process his words. "But...but you were there."

"Did I speak to anyone but you?" he asked.

"I-I don't understand," I stammered growing frustrated.

Loki gave me a sympathetic look. "Bare with me."

I exhaled slowly, my lungs still on fire though it was a dull pain as though only burning embers remained. My mind tried to recreate the event, remembering small details like if anyone else had spoken to him. I told him that he had only talked with me and Karnilla but Fandral and Hogun had stared at him numerous times.

"It's not like I'm crazy and just imagined you," I pointed out. "Hogun and Fandral saw you."

"You're not crazy," he confirmed running his tongue back and forth along the bottom of his lip. "You should change from your attire lest you become ill. I will go speak to Karnilla in the morning about this."

"You think Karnilla had something to do with this?" I asked. I knew she wasn't exactly the nicest person but I never did anything to her. "Why?"

"I do not know if Karnilla had a hand in this," he replied, his voice drawed out as though he were carefully planning out each word. "I do, however, suspect magic is at play here." He tossed his head toward the bathroom door, "we can discuss more when I find out more."

Slowly, I nodded and headed toward my suitcases searching for something to change into after. I gave Loki one last look before going into the adjoining bathroom. He raised a dark, thick brow at me. I grimaced and closed the door sighing heavily in relief. Being so close to him was making it hard to concentrate, my thoughts were swimming...drowning,more like it.

My hands were pruny and slightly trembled as I undid the straps on my tunic. Slipping the wet material over my head I began to wonder why all of it felt so real. If he wasn't there then why did his kiss still linger on my neck?

Weakly, I raised my fingers to the spot where his lips had-or apparently hadn't-touched. I closed my eyes. I didn't want it to be real anyways. At least that's what I told myself as I began to button up the top of my pajamas.

Okay, sure the kisses we shared were unlike anything I had ever experienced. And yes, just his touch was enough to send my entire body into shock. But...Loki was childish and irrational and...and...vile! Yes! He really could have hurt me if he didn't stop himself.

But, he did stop, chuffed a small voice. I ignored it. Obviously my brain was still lacking oxygen from nearly drowning. Just because he didn't hurt me did not mean that he wouldn't. He was an egotistical control freak. It was bad enough that I had already mixed myself up with him in the first place. The last thing I needed was to have a romantic affair with the god of mischief.

Hell, it wouldn't even be romantic. It was Loki, after all. It'd be nothing but entanglements for him. He wouldn't even hesitate to drop me the second something else caught his attention. I was after all just a Midgardian, an insignificant being in his mind.

I felt myself pale and brought my gaze to the mirror in front of me. God, everyone was right about me. I was a naive little fool. I probably wasn't the only person he was kissing. My throat burned and I swallowed hard, watching the lump slide down.

Stop it, I warned myself reaching for the brush near the mirror. I roughly ran the bristles through my straggly, damp hair irritated with my train of thought. Even if Loki was fooling around with other women I had no right to be angry, we made no promises to one another and we never would.

"Hayden, have you fallen down?" sounded Loki's voice through the door. "You've been in there for a while."

Why do you care? I snapped to myself setting the brush down. I exhaled slowly ignoring the fire that started to blaze inside my chest, "I'm fine." Taking one last look at my gaunt reflection I walked out of the bathroom and into my chambers.

Loki was casually spread on the bed, his fingertips quickly thumbing through one of my journals. He looked up at me and pointed, "What in the nine levels of hell are you wearing?"

I looked down at my flannel bottoms and tank top, frowning. "They're pajamas," I defended.

"You really do dress like an old Midgardian woman."

"I'll have you know that this," I pulled at the fabric of my pajama pants, "is cotton flannel. It's very comfortable and keeps me warm at night."

"If you need warmth in the night I would be willing to offer my assistance."

I didn't know how to reply. Did he really not care about the bruises he gave me? Was it all just a misunderstanding that he insinuated be swept under the rug? The problems were still there, they'd only collect and gather until they started to burst at the seams.

Instead I feigned a yawn. "Thank you for helping me to my room. And for the tea," I whispered gesturing towards the still full disgusting concoction, "but I'm really tired and just want to go to bed."

To my surprise Loki nodded and gracefully swung his long legs off my bed. Standing straight he adjusted his the wrinkles of his robes. He looked at me for a moment, the same stare we shared when I woke up in the hallway. It was intense and hard to read. At first he seemed angry but the longer I held my gaze I noticed the way they swirled in color, changing from dark to light.

Unable to hold his gaze any longer I looked away and felt my gave flush. "You blush way too often," he quietly admonished, reaching out to touch me. I stilled just as his finger hovered over my now pinkish-scarred cheek. He curled his fingers into a fist and dropped his hand to his side.

"Sleep well," he finally said. I remained where I stood watching him take long strides across the room, swimming the doors of my chamber open.

"Wait," I called out suddenly remembering the photos of the women Coulson had given me. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about." I strode over to my suitcases and unzipped the top pocket. My hands produced a manilla folder that I handed to Loki.

He raised a prominent brow but remained quiet as he opened the flap and pulled out the stacks of drawings. He sifted through them, eyeing each one with a disinterested look. When he finished he handed them back to me.

"Did you do this?" I asked him pointing at the top photo of an older woman with a stout nose. "Fury has an idea you were on Earth and that you started the bar fight."

Loki didn't even flinch. "I took what precautions I could," he defended, his voice was like honey glazed over a bed of nails. "I wasn't going to let S.H.I.E.L.D. fire you because of your forced association with me."

I dropped my gaze to the file in my hand and felt a smile start to twitch at the corners of my lips. "Well, thanks I guess. Even if it was draining on you." I glanced up and shrugged, hugging the photos to my chest.

He gave me one last look, then left closing the doors behind him. All the air in my lungs rushed out at once. I ignored the fiery pain and crawled under the blankets still warm from where Loki had laid. Pulling them over my head I embraced the darkness that engulfed me.

My pillow began to grow damp underneath my face and it took me a few moments to realize that it wasn't from my hair. I brought my hand up to my eyes, ready to wipe away the tears deciding that it was pointless. Curling my legs to my chest I wrapped my arms around my knees and let the tears fall freely. It felt good to cry.

Loki stormed to the chambers where Karnilla resided. Without knocking he barged in ignoring the sudden cries and shouts of rage. Karnilla clutched a sheet to her naked chest, pushing a muscular, blond male off her. He rolled over, staring at Loki before realizing who it was that had entered. Without saying anything he quickly scrambled out of the bed, gathering his strewn clothes from off the floor and ran out naked into the hallway.

Karnilla exhaled slowly, pursing her lips firmly together as her thin eyebrows flinched upward. "Do explain the meaning of this?" She brought both hands to her red locks, fixing the strands that had poured from the thick braid. The sheet she had been holding pooled around her waist, her pale breasts bounced with her every movement.

"If this about that Midgardian girl-"

"You could have killed Hayden!" he roared stepping toward her. The fireplace cackled sending small, crimson embers onto the floor. Long shadows slashed along the walls as he continued forward. "What you did-"

"I set the plan in motion," she hissed, smoothing out her braid. "I wasn't going to kill her. I just needed her to trust me. Saving her life was all I could think of."

Loki grinded his teeth together hard enough that he could taste blood. "She doesn't trust you."

"Certainly more than she does you," Karnilla pointed out, her voice haughty and self-assured.

Loki ignored her comment. "What would you need Hayden to trust you for?"

"It is quiet obvious that you're wooing skills are therefore lacking," she purred, slowly blinking her long eyelashes at him, "I only wanted to give her a friend to confide in where it concerns you." Karnilla smirked. "I am on your side, Loki. She was in no real danger. I need her for this to work. Killing her would have destroyed everything."

"What were you thinking?" he reprimanded debating whether or not he should kill her right then and there. "I will take her to the spring and I will get her to hand over the stone but-"

"Time is running out Loki and as far as I can see it she doesn't have feelings for you the way she is supposed to."

He ran his tongue along the back of his teeth. "I am working on it but if you interfere-"

"I interfered because you are not doing your part of this deal," she snapped, sliding out of bed.

Her long braid fell behind her back, the tip rested just above her slender curves. She strode over to the wooden armoire, pulling it open revealing several different colored robes. Carefully she selected a pale pink one made of Elven silk. Karnilla slipped it over her naked body, tying it loosely so that the material barely covered her chest.

Without looking at him she walked to the glass table near the fireplace and began to pour herself some wine. She did not offer him any-not that he would have accepted-and downed the red liquid in one giant gulp. Smacking her pale lips together she poured another and turned to him, her finger rubbed along the rim.

"I admit my plan did not go as I had hoped. She fought against it," she made a face and took a long swig from her glass. "I had intended for her to think you joined us using Baelor as a disguise. He was very convincing though."

Loki did not know who this Baelor was but he didn't much care for him dressing and acting as him. Since he couldn't take his anger out on Karnilla perhaps he'd kill this Baelor instead. The fool should have known that it wouldn't be a good idea to pose as the god of mischief.

She stared at him for a while, her eyes scanning over him from top to bottom. "You haven't changed your mind have you? I do hope you are not having second thoughts about this and growing feelings for her. We need her in order to restore your powers."

Loki scoffed, disgusted at the insinuation. "Do not speak to me of feelings for this Midgardian. You were the one who wished I woo her, I am only playing my part."

Are you? chided a nagging voice. Are you really? Did you not panic when she went off into the woods with Fandral? Was it not you who took to the form of a wolf to keep her from drinking the spring water in the first place? Did you not agonize over the wound on her face, the one that your monstrous hands made worse? Were you not in pain when she cried to you to let her go because you were hurting you? What about when her father died and all you could think of was the fragility of humans and what it would mean to-

Stop it! he snapped to himself.

Karnilla wiggled a brow and took another drink from her glass. "Play it better. From what I witnessed she never wants you to touch her again. She said so herself." Loki kept his face straight but something caught in his throat. "Whatever did you do to her?" she giggled into her wine.

She told him-Baelor-never to touch her again? Loki felt the color drain from his face. Karnilla was too busy refilling her glass to notice. He sighed, refusing to show any emotion. "I grow tired of your games, Karnilla."

She flung both eyebrows to her hairline. "Tired of my games? Thor leaves for war soon. All of this needs to be taken care of while he is gone or none of it will work. I will stay out of Hayden's way but if you do not do your part I will kill her and you."

Loki's nostrils flared and he stepped forward. "You dare to threaten me?"

Karnilla smirked. "Loki, without your power you are nothing to be feared." She drained her glass empty and tossed it into the flames of the fireplace. The glass cracked and exploded, sending pieces strewn across the room each one flying past where Loki stood. "Finish with her soon before she leaves for Midgard again. I won't be tested, Loki."

He clenched his hands into a fist. "Disguise someone as me again and it will be your throat in my hands, not theirs," he warned turning from her sharply.

"I suggest you rip out throats later and focus on making that Midgardian serve her purpose here," called out Karnilla as the doors slammed shut.

He continued forward, ignoring the laughter that followed after him. With long strides he walked through the empty hallways, his footfalls echoed in the night. The candles that burned along the walls cast shadows that flickered with each passing. He passed a few servants who stopped to bow but he ignored them all. His mind was on one thing only.

Loki entered Hayden's chambers without so much as a knock. The room was dark and it took him a few moments to adjust to his surroundings. Exhaling swiftly he strode to her bed and pulled back the blankets only to realize the bedroom was empty. He called out Hayden's name but no one answered.

If she wasn't in her room there was only one place she could be.

The library was empty, just as I had anticipated. The only light to accompany me was the lantern I held in my hands. It created pools of shadows that etched along the bookshelves. I set the lantern in the middle of a table and turned it up quenching most of the darkness around me.

After Loki had left and I laid in bed I decided that sleep was far from my mind. Restless and not in the mood to wallow in self-pity I figured continuing my research would at least be more productive. I curled up in a corner with stacks of books piled high around me and set to reading whatever I could get my hands on.

Thor had told me that he lied to Fury for the same reason I had. I lied because I believed that deep down Loki could be redeemed. My father said I had a bleeding heart, that I believed the best even in the worse of people. My mother had called it naive. Bleeding heart or naive, I was determined to find something, anything that could help Loki before it was too late. He was beginning to spiral downward with each moment that he realized he was growing weaker. If he wasn't going to save himself then someone had to do it.

Why I put myself in that position I wasn't exactly sure. It wasn't my concern, and Loki liked to remind me of that. But...

The doors to the library opened. I looked up over the pile of books I sat behind to see Loki entering. Great.

"Hayden?" Great... "I know that you are in here."

"I'm over here," I finally called out, closing the book I had been reading. I closed my eyes, counting each footstep Loki took until they stopped. I respired and fluttered my lashes to see Loki staring at me with a blank expression. "Can I help you?"

He regarded me for a moment, carefully eyeing me before he asked, "do you hate me?"

I blinked, taken aback. "Wha-I-no. Why would you-what makes you-"

He knelt down so that our gaze was level and reached out to grab for my hands. Instinctively I pulled away. His eyes dimmed but he remained still, his hold just above my knees.

"I never meant to hurt you. I understand that my apology may be insufficient but what I did..." he brought his gaze down to where his hands had violently grabbed at my legs. His face pinched together and in the dim light I could see something glittering at the corner of his eyes. "I have done a lot of things I am not proud of but hurting you was never something I intended."

I wrapped my arms around myself uncertain of what to say. He continued, "Do you know what I said to the All-Father on his deathbed?" I shook my head even though I knew that Loki knew it was a question I didn't know the answer to. "I told him I would get my powers back and when I did I would destroy his precious Midgard that he and Thor so loved once and for all."

I stared at him, unblinking. Why was he telling me this?

"I told him that I would bathe in the blood of their children and when I was finished.I would come for Asgard." He licked his lips and his brows pointed together. "And he says to me, 'My son, I cannot undo the wrongs I have done but I can only let you know that you have given me the greatest power of all."

Loki's green eyes flashed like that of a cats looking into the headlights of a car. "Do you know what the greatest magic of all is, Hayden?" He didn't even let me open my mouth. "Love." A low laugh emitted from inside, his entire body began to shake. I pushed myself against the wall, not sure if I needed to be scared or not. "Love," he repeated.

"I remember staring down at him. His skin had begun to turn yellow and the blue of his one eye had ashened. He was no longer the god of all gods, the mighty All-Father that giants of the fire and the ice feared. He was just an old man babbling about the power of love."

"Is that why you want your powers back? To spite Odin?" I asked, my voice stronger than I felt.

Loki glanced at me, his gaze wide and unyielding. "He died shortly after I told him that I hated him. I never had the chance to apologize, to take back what I had done. I cannot do the same to you."

My breath caught in my throat. "I'm not mad. And I don't hate you," I finally was able to say after collecting my wits. "I forgive you but...I think it would be in the best interest of us both if we..." What? Remained friends?

I decided not to finish the sentence and let it die on my lips. Loki remained silent. I appreciated the apology, I really did but it didn't change my mind about what I wanted. Loki might not ever physically hurt me again but I wasn't stupid enough to believe that there weren't other ways in which he might.

Like leaving me after my father died without any word of why. So, against my better judgment I asked. He tilted his head, scrapping his teeth along the corner of his bottom lip and shrugged.

"I had no interest in being on Midgard any longer."

I blanched. "You...what?" I slid my back up against the wall, standing to my feet. Loki followed, hovering above me.

"My intentions on Midgard had been completed. I was there to assist you in your time of need."

"I didn't need you to cause more problems for me and my family like you did," I snipped, folding my arms against my chest. "I needed you to be there when I felt lost and alone."

"You were not lost...or alone."

"God, Loki you're so...so...stupid!" He gaped at me, his nostrils flared and if I wasn't angry I probably would have backed down and apologized.

"You dare to call me stupid?" he questioned taking a step forward. I thought about backing up but remained where I stood. What was he going to do? Smite me? "Me!?"

"Do I need to repeat myself? Yes! Stupid. And you're bitter and callous and...stupid! You can't apologize to someone and then say something like that!" I could feel the tears burn. "Just tell me the truth! Tell me you left because you're heartless and don't care about anyone or anything but yourself!"

Loki advanced on me, his hands gripped firmly on my shoulders. His eyes were wide now, and his muscles twitched in his neck. "DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I LEFT!? I LEFT BECAUSE I COULDN'T BARE THE THOUGHT OF LOSING YOU!"

A/N: Thank you guys for all your wonderful reviews on the previous chapter. I actually had a lot of trouble writing it for some reason so to know it's being well-reciprocated makes my day. Anyway just a friendly reminder that I will be participating in Nanowrimo which is why I will be updating faster so when November comes I can just focus on that. If you guys are interested in my original novel that I am starting to write let me know. If enough people are up for it I would love to share the first chapter that I have written out. Also, if you have a twitter or a tumblr account be sure to follow me for updates, sneak peeks and more. I hope you all have a wonderful day and enjoyed the update (:

Twitter: KaylaMDetton

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kieeka: Good

Boca3: No problem! I plan on shelling them out quicker so I can just focus on Nanowrimo in November.

Missing A Muse: Glad you liked it! I think they do as well. I'm notorious for putting my characters through hell but it's they say; what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Same goes for them (:

kateskate24: (:

Why Fireflies Flash: I don't even know where to really start other than saying thank you so much. And thank you for your dedication to finish in one sitting! I'm glad to know you're enjoying it so much. I'm actually really sick right now so your comment made my entire day yesterday. Also, since you're new to this side of the fandom I suggest you check out my friend Vicvic221 and her story, Fire & Rain. It's amazing and what inspired me to write this one. Cheers!

Starletspotlight: thank you!

Simbelia: Oh wow thank you so kindly for the dedication. Glad you enjoy it!

Apples10: Hope this was soon enough!

Happy-Valley: As you wish!

Poodle Warriors: What a wonderful compliment. Thank you!