Hi everyone! I am back with a little longer chapter! And I really like this chapter, it reveals a little bit of someone's personality. Hope you enjoy it too! Now I have to admit that I have a little trouble with motivation and ideas in the next chapter, so might be that I will upload in two weeks, not one. But I will do my best!

Thank you, everyone who uses their free time to read my story. It means so much to me! Thank you. So enjoy again and revie, favourite, whatever you prefer :)

Let me know if there are some spelling and grammar mistakes.

I own nothing but my OC and plot.

XXIV

"Do you ever think about starting a new life somewhere where nobody knows you?" Milla was lying on a bench in the garden with her legs laid on Leo.

"Not really. I like my life. Do you?" he sipped his coffee. Leo knew her well enough to know he will find out a little more about her life through some kind of story now. Milla had always something to say. He was always amazed by how much she had been through, although he still knew less than a half of her life. But some stories sounded a little too unbelievable, made up. Leo was trying, but he could not imagine her as a naive village girl or being desperate and have no roof over her head. It didn't suit her at all. She was a lady. And Leo was more than proud to call her his.

"You know I have done it before." She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her orange juice.

"Yes, but is there a reason you are thinking about it again?"

"Sometimes," she sat straighter and smiled when she saw Leo frown because of the lack of touch. "when things don't go according the plan, I dream about leaving this place and going back to Midgard. Just travel, clear my head and then, maybe one day come back. And hoping all will be well again."

"Are things not going according the plan now?" Leo leaned to her and kissed her on the lips. She let him take one kiss.

"Some are not," subconsciously Milla looked back to the house. To her surprise, Loki was standing on the stairs from terrace to the garden holding a cup of something. His eyes were closed, so he was not watching them and it was impossible to hear their conversation from such a distance. Sun was shining on his face and Milla could clearly see a hint of a smile on his face, sincere and peaceful smile. Loki was dressed in his old clothes again, a dark blue shirt and black trousers. She chose the colour for him, such a long time ago. "And some were not even in the plan." Milla looked back at him and winked.

Leo turned around and looked at him too. He understood. "Then don't you ask him to go away?" Leo had always been the straightforward one. He always told Milla what he thought and what he wanted. That didn't mean she always agreed with him or did what he asked for. "I think he is healthy enough to go someplace else."

"May be that he is," Milla smiled at him as sweetly as she could although all she wanted was to slap him for saying those words. "But he has nowhere else to go. As long as he is not causing any problems, I don't mind him being here."

"Not causing any problems? Milla, you cried because of him. I see that as a problem."

"Well, I do not deny that I cried. I had to get all emotions and stress out of my system." He was resting his hand on her thigh but now, she stood up and took a step away from him. She felt uncomfortable when Leo was talking about Loki, but in a different way than when Loki talked about Leo. Loki was reminding her that Leo belonged to her life now, but on the other hand, Leo was pointing up that Loki had no right to be in it. And that made her a lot more angry than depressed. "But he is not going anywhere. I wouldn't even let him."

"Why?" Leo stood up as well and blocked her way back to the house. Milla frowned, but did not take a step back, however intimidated she felt.

"He causes less trouble under my protection." It took a lot of self control not to growl at him. It was good that he knew what he wanted and went for it, looking at the consequences, she admired that, but god how it irritated her sometimes. He was nothing better than her, his opinions were not always right and he had no right to tell her what to do with her life and people in it. And he had to learn that.

"So you are saying he is a dangerous man?" He stood in front of her when she wanted to go around him. Milla clenched her fists.

"He will not hurt anyone. Right now, you are the one being dangerous." She felt how much smaller than he she was. And hated it.

"Why are you protecting him?" Leo didn't raise his voice once and still he sounded angry and threatening. It was the first time she had ever seen him like that. "Are you in love with him?"

Milla chose a stare to his eyes as an answer. If she said no, it would be a lie, just as if she would say yes. Moreover, he would not believe her either way, so why bother? She didn't move for something was telling her that if she tried, he would have stopped her again. He was demanding answers and unfortunately, he was not a man that would back up.

"What are you two love birds talking about?" Suddenly a voice broke the silence and they both took a step back as if woken up from some kind of a dream. They didn't hear Loki walk the pavement full of stones. He was standing next to them with raised eyebrows and loathing in his eyes. He was looking at Leo as if demanding an explanation. Milla was immediately looking on the ground and calming down her beating heart. She was incredibly grateful for Loki to come.

"What a coincidence! We were talking about you." Leo answered with bitterness on his tongue.

"How flattering." Loki narrowed his eyes, still giving all his attention to Leo. He didn't say anything else though, only studied Leo. Milla knew that look. It was "I don't like what I saw you doing" look. The silence was getting awkward and Milla wanted to say something, she just couldn't. She was struggling with calming down.

"What do you want?" Leo asked sharply. Loki took his time before answering. He wanted to make Leo feel uncomfortable, just like he made feel Milla and he was achieving it. However injured he might be, he still knew how to make people tremble in fear with one simple look.

"Emma sent me for you, my lady," in a blink of an eye he was focusing on Milla and completely ignoring Leo. Even his face changed. He was concerned. "A girl from some poor house came to find you and ask for help. Apparently, her father is ill." Maybe he saw how distressed she was, or maybe he just wanted to annoy Leo more, but he offered Milla his shoulder to take her back to the house. "You should hurry." He added.

"Yes. Thank you." Milla nodded and took a step to him. But before she was close enough to reach him, Leo grabbed her by her elbow.

"We are not done." He whispered.

Milla smiled. "Sure we are." And forcefully made him let her go. Then she took Loki's offered arm and she knew she was safe from whatever this was. They were walking in silence until they were sure Leo was not following them and was far enough to not hear.

"You are trembling." Loki said quietly with obvious fury in his voice. He was still trying to keep it down, for her sake.

"Yes." She nodded. Milla had no idea why it made her so scared. She had been in worse arguments and was intimidated far more than by him. There was something in the way he was choosing words. Like he was trying to trick her, to made her think something else, to manipulate her. Goosebumps ran through her spine again.

"What did he want?" He looked at her and noticed how pale she was. It was better than when he interrupted them, but still. She was putting a lot of her weight on him like she was not sure about her walking. He was afraid for her. "Milla, are you all right?" It was the first time since he came back that he used her name out loud.

"Yes, I am fine. He was a little grumpy, that is all." He smiled a little to make them both feel better. But Loki knew better.

"Why are you protecting him?"

"Funny, he asked me the same question." She stopped just before the stairs and looked into his eyes. There was still something heavy behind them, but they were getting better. Loki didn't let go of her hands, he was still protecting her and she was glad. It made her feel better that he cared.

"What happened?" he asked again, gentler this time. "I promise I won't kill him."

Milla chuckled. Loki's heart skipped a beat at the sight. He made her laugh, after such a long time, she was smiling because of him. "I would be glad if you didn't." The smile disappeared as fast as it appeared. "Nothing happened. He was overpowered by his jealousy. He wants you out of the house and I don't agree with that. It won't happen again."

"You don't know that. Next time I may not be around. He looked like he would hit you if you said one more thing that didn't agree with his opinion."

"No, he is not violent. Leo knows how to make you reconsider your decisions with words. I won't let it happen again." She insisted. By now she was calm and trembling was gone. With sober mind she realised how stupid it was to be afraid of him. If he wanted to hit her, he would regret that. "But either way...thank you Loki. I needed that."

"I know." He nodded and forced a smile for her. Of course he will always be close when that bastard will be around. He might be dating her but that didn't give him the right to subdue Milla. Loki noticed she was not as strong as when he left. Emma agreed with him and told him that ever since she had the scars from the dagger that was supposed to kill her, her spirit was weaker. She said Milla was affected by emotions more than before and scared by things she laughed at before. Loki thought it could be some side affect of the magic in the blade, but after considering every aspect of what Emma told him, he had to agree with her. Something along the way made Milla broken. "Should I go with you to that girl's father?"

"Wait, there really is an ill father?" She was confused. "You didn't make it up?"

Loki laughed now. "No. I didn't see you, Emma really sent me for you, I was lucky to be there at the right time." Talking like this, it reminded Loki of the past. Relaxed, friendly, open. He never realised how much he missed it.

"Oh god, why didn't you say so?" She quickly ran up the stairs, her mind off topic again. Before he could step on the first step and ask her if he should go with her, she looked from behind a corner and winked at him. "No wonder I gave you name Felix. You are indeed lucky."

By the time he came to the house, she was gone.

He was woken up the next day by a very annoying fly. He killed it by slapping it mid-air. At least the head and eye game was still strong. Still, there was not point in trying to fall asleep again. Those few blissful seconds of oblivion after opening eyes in the morning were gone and his head was now filled with every worry that was there the night before. Instantly he stood up, went to bathroom to have a shower and got dressed. He found his old green shirt and smiled a little. He wore almost the same one when he was a boy and it reminded him of carefree days.

The sky was only starting to lit up and sun was still a few minutes before rising. Loki used those minutes to somehow make a coffee for him. He watched Milla and Emma do it many times, but his one tasted weirder, like it was missing something. But some energy from the strong drink was welcomed now. He grabbed a croissant on his was back to the terrace. He set his chair to the east and waited. The first light was already visible. Loki enjoyed peaceful moments like these. When he was not bothered and at the same time the darkness of night wasn't taking advantage of him. But this time, there was something missing as well.

Half of the day and whole night went by and Milla was still gone. Emma made sure Loki would stay in the house since him being back was a big secret. He had no idea why, nobody knew who he really was anyway, so why bother with such precautions? Still, he stayed. He was sure Milla was safe and just doing what she did best, helping others in need. But every time Milla left the house for more than a few hours, a strange feeling rose in Loki's chest. Every time he tried to put it somewhere away and employ his mind otherwise, but even then he looked outside the window every few minutes. Yesterday was not an exception. He promised himself he won't fall into the life he had here before and he won't have feelings like before. But it was impossible. And easy just to continue where he stopped, at least to some degree. Especially when Milla finally talked to him two days in a row in a kind tone and didn't look angry while looking at him. There was no word for expressing how happy he felt for it and at the same time how much he hated every look he addressed him, every smile, every word that stabbed his heart after realising he lost her and she was only trying to be nice and polite. She didn't want him back. And still he could not leave.

Loki's magic was still too weak and when he tried the simplest tricks it took too much energy. He decided to have a break and gain his strength back would be the wisest thing to do. His ribs were almost healed now. Despite Milla worrying about it, they healed well. But he still lost his breath after a little walk and had to rest for a few minutes before continuing. The scars needed a little more time to fade, but Loki was sure he won't lose them completely. And he was glad, they would be reminders of his deeds. Although he tried not to think about what happened and what he had done, sometimes, especially at night when all is calm and quiet, the dark thoughts demanded his attention. Then there was nothing to do. A long time ago Loki stopped carrying about his happiness or life, he saw it as worthless. He was calm even when he failed and waited for Thanose's wrath. He didn't regret what he did. He wasn't apologising it. But then one act of stupidity and selfishness changed everything completely. Loki felt fear. He feared the consequences. It was not about him anymore. He endangered the only people who were treating him like a family, took care of him when needed, loved him. At first, he was thinking about leaving them to ensure their safety. But that would not help. Thanos promised to harm everyone he loved if he failed. And he did fail. All Loki could do now was to try to protect them if needed. And hope that would never happen. For now, he chose not to tell anyone about the danger.

The sun was halfway up and his coffee was gone. He looked to the door again. Nothing. She was busy helping others. Loki wished she could help him get his life back. He wished they met under different circumstances, in a different place, he wished she smiled at him before he had the rotten idea of becoming the next king of Asgard. He wished she was born in Asgard so she would not have to go through all the horrible things in her past. Only if there was a way they both would not be criminals.

But that was not how faith worked.

"I am getting old." Emma announced after she woke up from a nap she took on a table covered in dozens of letters. She was writing everyone they invited to the wedding that the date had been cancelled due to personal reasons and they will let them know when the new one is set. Johnatan was helping her until he got angry after flipping over the ink and destroying about thirty already written letters. Then he had to take a walk before breaking something.

"No, you are getting married," Loki replied with a laugh. He had just came back from his daily walk around the gardens. Every day he walked farther and his strength was slowly getting back. He was considering running the next day to push his limits.

"Haha, very funny, Trickster," she sighed and moaned in pain when turning her head. "Like you could possibly know how it feels to plan a wedding."

"I don't know that part," he took an orange and threw an apple to Emma. She thanked him, "but my father wanted to have me and Thor wed years ago. And besides, getting old doesn't necessary have to be a bad thing."

"Never tell anything like this to a woman." She started organizing pieces of paper on the table.

"Why? Aging is natural. If you are lucky, you grow a little wiser as well." He was looking down and peeling the orange. It seemed like he was talking to himself rather than to Emma. "But if you are worried about looks, women are often becoming more beautiful with age." Loki looked back at her and winked. Emma blushed as usual.

"How do you always say the right thing? I don't understand it. I can't even blame you for anything because in the end, I will feel responsible and bad."

Loki smiled, but didn't answer. "You should get some rest and ask Milla to help you with a little magic when she comes back. I noticed she uses it quite often now."

"I don't think I will. I don't want her to get used to using magic and become fat old lady in time." She said with a serious concern and Loki couldn't help but laugh at the image. "In addition, when she comes back she will be exhausted and I don't want to drain her energy even more. you know she would not go to sleep if she knew something was amiss."

"She is gone for a long time." He remarked quietly. Emma looked at him with thoughtful expression on her face. Loki couldn't tell what she was thinking about but after a few seconds of silence she nodded.

Emma took a breath to tell something but suddenly they both heard knocking on the door. In an instant she was running barefoot to open the door, expecting her friend to return too exhausted to open the door on her own. She was used to this, ready to support Milla and bring her everything she asked for, help her to change the clothes and argue a little about going to bed.

But when the door opened, it was not Milla. Leo was standing there holding a bouquet of fresh pink roses. His smile dropped very quickly when he saw that it was not Milla welcoming him, but he managed to still be polite. All three people in the room were disappointed by the person they saw and still tried to hide it. Well, Loki didn't. He looked back to his orange and ate a few pieces before Leo entered the living room and came unpleasantly close to him.

"So you are saying she still has not returned?" Leo was asking Emma who was looking for a vase for the flowers. She shook her head. "She didn't write to say when she wants to come back?"

"No," Emma answered. "Milla never does that. She will come as soon as she can, don't worry."

"How do you know she is not in danger?"

"She is not. We would know that." She answered again. Emma was a little distant after she saw what happened the day before in the garden. She was too curious how Milla would react if Loki interrupted her conversation with Leo, so she went to one of the rooms on the floor and watched from the window. To her surprise, Leo was rude and for a second she thought a little violent. Milla looked glad when she walked away with Loki who was supporting her weight. She looked pale as they came closer. When she later asked Loki what happened, he simply said he won't let that bastard be alone with her anymore. That assured her that what she saw was exactly what she thought it was.

"How?" He still didn't believe her.

"If she was in danger, your daddy would know about the dead bodies she left behind." Loki responded before Emma could find some other reassuring words. Emma chuckled and tried to cover it with cough and Leo finally noticed him. He looked offended. Loki was satisfied.

"This is not something to make fun of, guard." Leo hissed looking directly to Loki's eyes like that should scare him. It did the exact opposite - it amused him. He hoped Leo would be a good target to mock and anger without any consequences. Maybe Milla would even thank him if he made him disappear forever.

Still sitting down, he calmly looked at the man in front of him and smiled mockingly. "You know I am a more than that."

Those few words made him instantly furious. His cheeks reddened and he took a deep breath as someone who is about to shout. He clenched his fists and jaw and tried to kill Loki with his gaze. All because he was right. Loki was still smiling. He had nothing to lose, not anymore. It was only fun for him.

"Maybe you were someday, but not anymore." Leo managed to grunt. Maybe he was right. Maybe not. It didn't matter. Loki couldn't care less about Leo's feelings towards him. He despised him. Looking at him gave Loki headache and an insane urge to punch him. Some part of him hoped he would say something stupid so he could hit him in the jaw and not to be questioned. Emma was a witness, pretending she was interested in something else at the terrace. Loki knew she wasn't, that she was listening and that she gave him permission to be as rude as he possibly could. He needed nothing more.

"Well if you keep being an idiot as you are, you will become a lot less than what I am now." He was not denying nor agreeing with Leo's statement. All he wanted was to make him furious. Sadly, remembering his actions previous day made Loki angry too.

"How dare you insult me? Who do you..."" Leo took a few steps towards him and before he could do anything else, Loki stood too, only a step from him, unflinching, determined. Something in his eyes and posture made Leo stop talking mid sentence.

"You are not worth a nicer word," Loki hissed, instantly recognising the urge to back up in Leo's eyes. Yes, he still could be intimidating. Luckily. "Coward would be a compliment."

"What is your problem?" Leo found a trace of courage in him and used it all. He lifted his chin up and even tried to smile like he didn't care what Loki told him. He was mimicking his behaviour, Loki remember using the same method in his childhood while confronting either Thor or Odin.

"How dare you claim you like a person and then treat her like you own her?" he asked in a low voice.

Something changed in Leo's eyes when he heard that. He really smiled and took a step back as if the tension was gone. "So that is what this is about! About Milla, of course. You still care about her too much, don't you? You know, she told me she doesn't love you anymore. And I know she would love to have you out of the house." This time he tried a little lie just to push Loki's confidence. But it didn't go as well as he desired. Loki learned not to show his real emotions, especially during a fight. His face was stone cold even though his heart started beating faster and some invisible hand clenched his guts. Why did it bother him so much? He came to peace with that mind months ago, he chose the path where he hoped she would forget him and all feelings she felt towards him. He chose to do the same. So why?

He knew why. Loki learned to hope while being with her. And that little piece of hope inside him was still telling him she could feel something. Because he sure as hell loved her. "All I care about if whether she is happy and save or not. And I am not letting anyone treat her worse than she deserves. Otherwise there will be consequences."

"Really? What will you do? Threaten me? Or just kill me?" Leo tried to play cool to have situation in his hands. And the funny thing was that he thought he really did.

"Oh no, that would take all the fun away." Slowly, Loki took a step closer to him again. "I wouldn't have to lift a finger. I would watch you break under the pressure as Milla realises what an insecure coward you are. I would watch you blow up and hit her, only once because the next second you would be on the ground, incapable of movement with her heel slowly and painfully choking you. Of course, she would let you go with a warning, but she would say a word to the right ear of a friend who would ask other friend to ask someone else for a favour. And before you realise it, your whole life would be tearing apart, the whole realm would know what a piece of a trash you are and everyone would know your face just to know if they help you, they would commit a crime against the crown. You, Leo, would regret ever talking to her in the first place."

Not once did Leo look away or flinch. Loki was impressed. Even after he stopped talking he was still looking to his eyes like he was trying to read his mind. No one moved. No one said a word.

"I see you had a chance to play nicely while I was busy." Milla joined the room without anyone realising it. She stood a few meters from them with crossed arms on her chest and a fake smile. Immediately they both took a step back and Leo went to her at the same time.

"Milla! What a surprise! Finally, I was starting to worry that something happened." He had enough decency not to touch her like he usually did.

"Of course not, you would have known that." She said a little offended. Loki had a triumphant smile on his face but only until he saw how she leaned to him and kissed him on a cheek like nothing ever happened and then walking to the flowers. "Oh, they are beautiful, thank you!" She smelled them and smiled even more. Now it was Leo with a winning smile.

Loki froze and slowly frowned. Maybe what Leo said was a pure truth. Maybe she hated him in the house. This time it could be him who wanted to stay and her who wanted him gone. This time it was harder to maintain a straight face.

"Leo, I am very tired, could you please come tomorrow for a dinner? I will cook something for you all." She turned to him and expected him to answer right away and leave.

"Of course. For you, everything." In a few short seconds she kissed him again and Leo turned to leave. He didn't forget to wink at Loki before he left.

When there were only Milla, Loki and Emma in the room, Milla's posture changed. She really looked tired now and asked Emma to make her something to eat and drink and take it to her room where she will eat before going to sleep.

"Is he really worth the act?" Loki asked the second they were alone. Milla turned to him like she forgot he was there as well, not smiling, not frowning, but her lips became a thin line.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She snapped leaving Loki in a complete confusion. "Why were you threatening him? What gave you the right? Yes, I heard it all, and you have no right to talk to him like that. I can speak for myself, you selfish bastard. Keep your distance from both of us." She was whispering angrily so that no one would hear her and yet she was still frightening.

Before he came to his senses again, she was walking up the stairs leaving him speechless and in shock.