AN: Yes, I know Sigyn technically translates to "Victorious Girlfriend", but in this case I just didn't feel that the Asgardians of the Marvel Universe would use the word girlfriend. So I took some creative liberties. The title of this chapter is actually latin for Victorious Lover. I'm pulling a Tom Hiddleston on you!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Laurifer Diligo

It was a lofty position, a tiny balcony thrust from the eastern flank of Odin's citadel. A delicate breeze swept around Alex, rustling the fronds of her golden hair, causing the hem of the periwinkle gown to dance around her ankles. Her eyes consumed everything before her: the sprawling city, the raging seas far below the jutting platform of the Rainbow Bridge. Now more than ever, she could not help but admire just how beautiful Asgard was. Had she been plagued by naivety, she may even have been able to imagine herself as some kind of fairytale princess, waiting for her handsome prince.

But her prince, while undoubtedly handsome, was nothing like the dashing noble creatures she had dreamed of in childhood. She wondered if he ever was.

His courtyard was in full view of the balcony, though the figure chained in its centre was smaller than an ant. Almost no one lingered in the yard any more. The residents of Asgard had long since lost interest in the traitor prince. More exciting news now graced their ears: the rumoured fall-out between the All-Father and his heir, the completion of the observatory, the imminent arrival of the Avengers: Midgard's mightiest heroes.

That morning, her prince had departed without waking her, something for which Alex was eternally grateful. Though they had engaged in some light petting in the tub, Alex was less inclined to engage in anything more serious. The sensation of his hardness against her thigh had made her wince, a sensation she hoped soon to pass.

Because I am weak.

Her own words haunted her. It was the complete truth, but this did not make it less shameful. Her affair with Loki had already revealed that she was a creature of little control, but last night, well that had proven she had none. What sort of self-respecting person allowed someone back into their bed after that?

True enough, Loki had taken her roughly before. There had even been moments when she had been dubious of her own concession. Had he not pulled her into a wall cavity and spanked her? What of their first night together?

Replaying these events, Alex could not help but reflect upon something Lucas Malory had told her the last time she had been with him.

You are a natural submissive, Alexandra. As soon as you realise this, the happier you will be.

Alex had said nothing to this, though her fury had raged beneath the calm veneer. Lucas was an idiot; a fool playing at being a dom. He had enjoyed controlling Alex, because she had always come across as dominant herself. It gave him power.

Yet compared to Loki, she could not help but feel that this personal dominance, this self-control, this independence was crumbling into nothing. Was this love, as Frigga suggested? Was this willingness to allow Loki to rape her, a symptom of the emotion she had fought so hard to avoid? If so, love was nothing like what she had read in her erotic books or seen in the Disney flicks. It was an illness, something that ought to be destroyed, not glorified.

"My son told me what he has done."

Alex had been contemplating leaving the balcony, now she yearned to escape. The queen fell in beside her, hands resting on the golden banister. Frigga was getting a little too involved in her personal business lately, and as much as Alex liked the queen, she did not require a mother figure.

"Do you think you can forgive him?"

Alex frowned. No, yes, maybe. Perhaps she already had? She did not know. Loki made her mind a jumbled mess. He was a serious curse on her moral code. Frigga, it appeared, interpreted her silence as a simple "maybe".

"You fear he will do it again."

"He will do it again."

Frigga's lips pursed, her own periwinkle gaze turning to the courtyard. "My son has always been a conflicted being, but he had never before taken a lover by force. It makes me wonder what happened to him in the year he was absent."

"You haven't asked him?" Alex could not hide the surprise in her voice. "I thought-"

"It is one topic Loki will not breach, or allow me to breach." Frigga squeezed Alex's hand, which seemed to be now gripping the banister. "But it does not excuse his actions, as I think he now realises."

"Loki claims to be sorry, but he has committed many atrocities," Alex replied, her voice stained with doubt. "Forcing me was nothing compared to what he did on Midgard. If he does not care for the hundreds of lives he took, how can he care for me?"

"Oh, but he does care for you. I have never seen him so... concerned... about a woman before."

"If by concerned you mean 'possessive', that does not mean he cares for me." Alex knew it was probably wise to hold her tongue before the queen, yet the words spilled forth anyway.

"Loki is a complicated man, a dark man, Alexandra. He always has been and always will be. I will take someone special to deal with him."

It is official, the woman is deluded, Alex thought bitterly. "And you think that I am that woman."

"You are his Sigyn."

"Excuse me?"

The queen smiled softly. "In your tongue it means 'victorious lover'."

It was a peculiar statement to say the least. Alex watched as the queen departed the balcony, the train of her pale green dressed flicking around the corner. Victorious lover, indeed. She felt anything but victorious.

oOoOoOo

The rest of the day passed by in a haze of mixed feelings. Alex knew that, with the Avengers arriving the following day, her mind was better spent contemplating their visit. Yet, as soon as her mind drifted away from Loki, something would happen to remind her of him. The sun would glint on his armour in the corner, the scent of the flowers from his courtyard would spill through her window, his name would show up in a text she was reading.

More than anything, she feared his return. Not because she was afraid of a repeat of the following night. No. Now she would always be on guard for that. Sif had taught her enough to at least escape should she suspect. What she feared was that she might let him.

So it was that by the time night fell she was writhing ball of nerves. What would he say when he arrived back to find everything he had deposited within her chambers piled up by the door? Would he be violent?

The doors to her chambers creaked open, and Loki entered. As per usual, he ventured straight for the bathroom without a second glance. The taps turned, the water started to cascade. Alex's mind rang with mental images of his pale skin, lathered with soap... No!

Twenty minutes passed before Loki emerged from the bathroom, fluffy towel wrapped around his waist, another being used to dry his hair. It was only now that his eyes fell upon the pile of belongings. Before he could speak, Alex threw a small bundle of clothing at him. "You will dress and then you will leave."

"What is the meaning of this?" His voice was as quiet as it had been the night before; laced with threat yet at the same time she could pick up a hint of confusion.

"I want you gone."

"Alexandra, you have said this before."

"Now I mean it," she snarled. "You will not come near me, not touch me unless I give you permission."

The clothes fell to the ground as he strode toward her. She danced out of his way.

"Is this about last night? I did apologise."

Alex almost laughed. "Your apologies mean nothing, Loki. I was pathetic last night, tonight I am not."

Loki made no move to come near her now. His face was completely void of emotion, his eyes shadowed. His raven locks had started to curl as they dried, falling in delicate hoops around his eyes.

"You do not want this, Alexandra."

"You're damned right I don't want this!" Alex's knew she was screaming, but she did not care. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to hit him. She wanted him to suffer. "Just like I don't want to be stuck in a destructive – thing – with a masochistic fucking alien who doesn't give two flying fucks about me, my planet or my people." And because I love you, you fucking git, and I really don't want to.

Loki did not reply. Swiftly he downed the towel, slipping the clothes onto his still damp body. Grabbing a large armful of his belongings, Loki turned to face her. "You will beg for me to come back, mortal."

And with that he left, slamming the door in his wake.