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Alex POV

When I awoke after almost passing out on Steve, I opened my eyes to see only Thor seated by my bedside.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up." Thor turned to face me. "You've been unconscious for almost a full day and a half. "

"Yeah, Mystics are not meant to take three consecutive doses of toxin. One is usually the limit, maybe two, but three is a bit much. I really didn't have much of a choice, though. It was either pull the toxin from your friend, or let him die."

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, sitting on the edge. I could tell the toxins were gone from my body. I felt normal again. Thor gave me a worried look, like he was preparing to catch me if I toppled over.

"I"m fine, Thor." I stretched. "Where did Steve wander off too? I kinda passed out during our conversation. Not that I minded, he was starting a line of questioning I'm not sure I can answer yet."

Thor crossed his arms over his chest. "He went to get something to eat. He's been by your bedside since you got here. But since he's gone, I have a few questions of my own to ask." He lowered the volume of this voice. "You were here, on earth, when Loki attacked."

I nodded. "Yes, but I was on a different continent at the time. I didn't even hear about the New York event until after the fact."

"I'm assuming someone told you about Loki."

I sighed. I didn't want to talk about this subject, but I guessed I couldn't avoid the topic forever. "Maliki told me about Loki's capture and incarceration in the dungeons of Asgard. I try not to think about it."

"Did he tell you about my father's request?"

"Yes." I said. "It's one of the reasons I've been reluctant to return home. I know I can't avoid it forever, but as long as the device was missing, I could delay thinking about what I plan to do regarding Loki."

"Do you still love him?" Thor asked, almost gravely.

I rested my head in my hands. "I don't know."

I heard a sharp intake of air and both Thor and I looked up at the door, where Steve was currently standing. He had a look of confusion on his face.

"Damn." I said quietly under my breath. I looked up at Thor. "Can you..."

"I'll leave you alone to talk." he gave me a reassuring smile, then left the room. I could not see the look he gave Steve as he left.

"How much of our conversation did you hear?"

Steve entered the room fully, closing the door behind him. "Just the end, but enough to assume Thor meant Loki when he asked you if you still love him."

"Yes, he was referring to Loki. It's a long story."

Steve took the seat previously occupied by Thor. "I have time."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I had a bit of a rough childhood. I was very young, still a small child, when both of my parents were killed during a war. Maliki, the elder of the Mystic order, adopted me. Even back then he sensed my magical potential. He didn't know if I'd turn out to be a mystic, but he knew for sure I'd be powerful in magic, none the less. He raised me as his own daughter, training me at the same time. I was very talented magically as a child. Maliki had difficulty finding other children to train with me. The only one even close to my ability was Loki."

Steve's facial expression changed slightly at the mention of Loki, but only for a moment. It was a look I hadn't seen on his face over the time since we met. It was a look of hatred.

"We became best friends. We spent a good portion of our childhood tormenting Thor with magic. Thor and Loki were very much brothers to me. Thor still is and will always be. My relationship with Loki, however, changed"

I took a moment to steady myself, avoiding Steve's gaze.

"A few years before Thor ended up in New Mexico, I was approached by Thor and Loki's mother, Frigga. She told me Odin and she had been discussing betrothing Loki and I. She had talked with Maliki about it, but he was very much on the side that I could make my own decisions. Frigga didn't want me agreeing to anything until I had all the information, so she told me about Loki's true origins. I knew what he was, and where he came from, before he himself did."

"You agreed to marry him." Steve said, sounding neutral, almost numb.

"After several weeks and a few long talks with Loki, yes, I agreed to go along with the engagement. I loved Loki as a best friend. It really wasn't a far stretch to think of him romantically."

I stood and started pacing around the room. Steve watched me, but did not try to stop my motion.

"And over time, I did start to think of him romantically. I fell in love with him and he fell in love with me. At least I thought he had. With everything that has happened, I'm not so sure anymore." I paused, continuing my pacing. "Anyway, after all the events that followed Thor's banishment to Earth and Loki's death, I got tested as a mystic and proved to be just as much a naturally talented mystic as I am a magic user. I trained as a mystic to help me move on from Loki's loss and volunteered to come here in search of the discovery device. I was on earth when Loki attacked New York. I did not know it was Loki until after his capture. Maliki told me. He also told me the king had asked a favor of me."

"What kind of favor?" Steve asked.

"Odin wishes for me to honor my engagement to Loki when I return from my mission."

This comment caused Steve to stand up. "You're not actually considering marrying Loki? After everything he's done to his world, to this world, to you, how could you even consider it? You'd be little more than his jailer, his babysitter. Could you even be happy with him?" He was starting to get angry, the volume of his voice creeping steadily upward. I had never seen him mad before and I had never heard him raise his voice. The emotion seemed so foreign on him.

"I have to consider other things besides my happiness. It's not a bad thing to sacrifice one's life for their home. You're a soldier, you understand."

"Bullshit!" Steve said. He didn't say it meanly, just saying it in a way which made it clear he was calling me out. "Giving your life for your world is one thing. Marrying an evil man, just to try to remediate him is not the same thing. You'd be throwing your life away for nothing. And now we circle back to the real question." Steve stopped my motion, facing me directly. "Do you still love him."

I looked down at the floor. I couldn't say no, but I couldn't say yes, either.

"OK, easier question." Steve said, gently placing his hands on my upper arms. "How do you feel about me?"

A tear fell from my eye and rolled down my cheek. I couldn't prevent it. "I haven't known you long enough to love you, but I think my heart is heading in that direction. I never meant to start a relationship here on earth. We just kept bumping into each other and you were just so...you… I knew better, but I couldn't stop myself. I'm so sorry, Steve."

I couldn't tell what Steve was thinking or feeling. He released me, then turned around and walked out the door.

To Be Continued...