Hey, hey, hey! Guess who's back? Yeah, it's been a while but life went happened. Thanks for being patient with me and thank you for the wonderful reviews and suggestions. Also, I've received some messages asking if I'm ok since they heard about the Typhoon Haiyan incident. I'm thankful that you guys are concerned, but yes I am alright. The people mostly affected by it are still recovering so please pray for them.

Well here we have it, Chapter 18!

Disclaimer…you guys get it already.

Loki P.O.V.

Hours had passed before sleep came to me but it gave me no comfort. I remained restless throughout the night. I forced myself to try to have at least an hour or two of rest when morning came and when I woke, Mandy was already preparing breakfast.

Cautiously, I approached her as she began to set the table. I had hoped things would somehow normalize if I conversed with her as if things were alright.

"Oh, hey. How are you feeling?" She suddenly asked before could even call her attention.

I took the plates she was holding and placed them on the table for her as I said, "What a strange choice of question. I am well."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow, showing that she was unconvinced.

I retuned her statement with, "Are you implying that I am lying to you?"

"After all that happened yesterday, I kind of assumed you'd still be upset." Mandy said, causing me to remember just how sensitive Mandy was regarding my emotions. She knew me too well.

"Well you're wrong." I stated firmly, though the truth was that she was right.

In response, she rolled her eyes and walked away. It was evident that she was unhappy with me.

Remembering our conversation last night, I realized I had been very disrespectful and mean to her. My action just now seemed to have added fuel to the flame.

I could not allow things as they were. I was still in Mandy's debt and could also not risk being kicked out of her home just yet. I had, after all, made new enemies.

Going after her, I tried to appeal to her saying, "I must apologize. I was very rude to you last night when you only wanted to help. Forgive me."

Though still sounding unconvinced, she told me, "It's not the first time you've yelled at me, Loki. Besides, you were pissed. I get it."

Her statement made me cringe, recalling that I had done such things many times before.

"Then why does it seem like you are still unhappy with me?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going before she could detect that I was beginning to feel guilty.

With a big sigh, she explained, "Because I know that you're pretending. I'd rather that you were honest and angry rather than acting like yesterday was nothing."

I looked away as I muttered, "It is in my nature to lie."

"Like how you think you are a monster?" Mandy suddenly said, having heard me.

The mere mention of the word ignited a suppressed rage within me. What made it worse was that Mandy was using my own words against me, twisting it to support her own ideas. I knew such things too well. I did the same often.

In my anger, I raised my voice at her. "You know, I find it mind-boggling how you want me to tell the truth, and then insist that I believe in fallacy. Yes, I am a monster; yes I am a liar! That is a fact. Are you happy now?"

Though startled at first, she stood her ground and asked. "Who told you that you're a monster?"

Unwilling to listen further, I yelled. "Why does that even matter!?"

I then stormed out of the kitchen, forgetting that I was trying to avoid conflict with her.

"Loki, don't walk away." She called out but I ignored her.

Ever persistent, Mandy chased after me and grabbed my arm saying, "Loki, please, talk to me. I won't judge you. Let me help."

In my mind was a bitter laugh. Her words sounded like a desperate lie.

"Do not offer something you cannot give. I don't need your help or anyone else for that matter." I told her, shrugging off her hold.

In a small voice she said, "You don't always have to act so strong."

"Oh, but I do." I might have said, if I was not the liar that I was. To survive the pressures in my life, I always had to strive to be good at whatever was deemed worthy to be achieved by a Prince of Asgard. If I failed, I had to pretend that it was part of a plan or that I was always prepared for the consequences. I had to seem content with what I was and hide the pain of rejection.

"I am not acting." I bluntly stated. I could not admit it yet; not to Mandy, not to anyone.

"You're right." She said, surprisingly agreeing with me. "You are a strong person. But doesn't it tire you to keep your guard up all the time?

Mandy confused me with the way she responded. It seemed contradictory: she believed my lie and yet she also saw through it.

"I am fully capable of dealing with my life." I argued, not letting her win.

"If you say so." She said, but it was obvious that she did not believe me.

I tried to control the situation by stating, "This is my curse and whether I want it or not, I have to bear it. Now let us end this."

Though clearly unsatisfied, she gave in. "Fine. I'll stop."

The two of us fell silent for a while until Mandy decided to speak up.

"Come on. The food's getting cold."

We ate quietly throughout the meal though I had no appetite at all. It was only when we finished, that I glanced at Mandy who, to my surprise, had dark purple discolorations near her hand.

"Are those bruises on your wrist?" I suddenly asked.

Mandy's eyes widened and checked by pressing on the area. When she winced in pain she knew I was right.

"It must have come from yesterday. I just didn't notice." She justified, though she herself was confused about it.

I began to feel a little guilty that I had not seen the injury sooner. Had I not informed her about it, she may have never known.

Remembering what she had done for my bruises, I went to what she called a "refrigerator," pulled out some ice and wrapped it in a dish towel before placing it on her wrist.

Though initially surprised by the gesture, Mandy then smiled and said, "Thanks."

The look on her face made me smirk. There was a small blush on her cheeks and a strange glisten in her grey eyes. She was like a child who had just received a present.

We stayed unmoving like that for a few minutes, just enjoying the other's company. She was happy and I was at ease. It was strange how the moment felt like a complete reversal of that day when we met. Mandy had the bruises this time and I had the ice.

Just when I thought things were going to be alright, Mandy put her free hand on top of mine.

Almost immediately after doing so, she pulled it away and hissed a bit. Surprised at her action, I looked down and saw that my skin had turned blue with raised lines on it. I had reverted into my Jotun form.

Horrified, I dropped the ice, ran out of the kitchen and went to the large mirror in the living room.

In place of my reflection was a hideous beast with blood red eyes. The image was as still as I was but it was taunting me. I could see it grinning and mouthing words that terrified me.

'Monster. This is what you are: A creature of ice with no soul. Worthless.'

Unable to look at it any further, I tore myself away from the mirror and curled up on the floor. Silent tears escaped from my eyes and froze on my cheeks as I repeated the words of my reflection.

"Monster…monster…monster."

"Loki?" A voice called out bringing me back to reality. I saw that it was just Mandy who must have followed me after I left. She looked worried but slowly walked to my direction stretching her hands out to find me.

"Stay away!" I yelled, knowing that she had no idea what would happen if she made contact with me.

She did not listen and continued to move closer.

Panic began to build up within me. I tried to move away as I warned her. "Mandy, don't. I'm dangerous."

Still unconvinced, she asked. "What are you talking about?"

"My skin will burn you if you touch me." I warily stated.

My words caused her to stop. Her expression turned into one of absolute confusion. "That's never happened before." She said, trying to make sense of the situation.

"I'm…this is my true nature. This is the skin of a monster." I explained, realizing that I could not hide it from her any longer.

Mandy seemed dumbstruck and frozen with my revelation. I knew that the information I gave her was beyond what she could fully comprehend but it was the only way I could keep her from being harmed, by me.

When she could finally move, I expected her to scream at me to leave for spouting ridiculous lies or something along those lines.

Instead, she knelt down in front of me and asked. "Can't you control it?"

It was my turn to be genuinely surprised. She actually believed me. I would have called her a fool for it but then I realized that she was not one. She knew when I was lying, and when I told the truth; something no one had ever done before.

"I don't know if I can." I responded, letting my uncertainty seep through my voice.

Just then, two hands appeared, trying to reach for my face.

"Mandy don't!" I warned, backing away to the wall. "Please"

She was more cautious this time but she continued to try and touch me.

Her fingers were inches away and I could not dissuade her at all. Unable to avoid her, I shut my eyes pleading to myself.

Don't hurt her. Don't burn her. I don't want to harm her this way.

I felt her make contact and waited for the inevitable sound of her pain.

Strangely enough, it never came. Her hands remained on my cheeks and unlike before, she did not jerk away.

As I opened my eyes, Mandy softly reassured me. "See? You're not hurting me. I'm fine."

I stayed stunned under her touch as my mind ran wild with questions and emotions. I was glad that Mandy was alright but I was unsure of how I managed to keep my abilities at bay without reverting to my Aesir form.

She was being very brave with what she had done and for some strange reason, she trusted me.

Caressing my features gently she asked, "Is this how you really look?"

"You can't see anything." I said, knowing she understood too little of the changes.

With a small smile gracing her lips, she explained. "Your skin is abnormally cold and it's rough but I can still tell that it's you."

"I look nothing like I had before." I scoffed. Mandy was only trying to compensate for how terrible my appearance felt like.

Mandy remained unfazed and went on to ask. "Do your eyes change color too?"

I was starting to feel irritated on how she was missing the point of the situation but I replied nonetheless "They're entirely red and my skin is blue… I'm hideous."

"You sound colorful not ugly." She stated but I could not tell if it was supposed to make me feel better.

I rolled my eyes and countered, "Your flattery falls on deaf ears. If you could only see me, you'd be afraid of me."

At that, she removed her hands. "Does is it frighten you?"

Her query was absolutely ridiculous. "My appearance? Of course not. I don't fear it, I hate it!" I said with bitterness.

Mandy simply shook her head and clarified herself. "I didn't mean the way you look. Are you frightened that you are different? That what you really are seems monstrous?"

"I…" I tried to give an answer, any answer at all, but the only thing I could say was, "I don't know."

I looked away ashamed that I had shown her such weakness.

Detecting my uncertainty, she took my hand and squeezed it in a reassuring manner saying, "We all have pains and fears. There's nothing wrong with having them."

"That is not the case where I was raised." I muttered with my eyes averted from her.

Mandy slowly got up and pulled me off the floor. She then led me towards the couch and sat me down with her.

"Will you tell me about it?" She asked once we were settled in. There was no sign of insistence or persuasion in her tone. Her eyes expressed concern but she waited patiently for me to respond.

To be honest, I wanted to do as she requested. She was offering me an opportunity to share my burden and to defend my actions. I could convince her that I was a victim not a villain.

It was tempting but I also knew that it would be near impossible for her to understand. Even worse would be that she would see me as the monster I dreaded to be.

"You would not believe a thing." I said sighing.

Taking my hand once again she told me. "You just showed me that you can change your skin, I think I can handle it."

In her gentle grip I felt an overwhelming comfort. Each gentle squeeze reminded me that I was not alone. There was someone who cared enough to listen to my tale and wanted to believe that I was worth something. I could not refuse her.

"I know not where to begin."

"Start where it matters."

End of Chapter 18

Featured: Jotun!Loki

I hope I made you guys happy. A lot of people wanted to get Loki's P.O.V. so I hope you're satisfied.

So, what do you think? What can you say? What was your favorite part? Got a suggestion? Let me hear it!