Chapter Twenty-Five

Undisclosed Desires

Loki would never forget the sensation of bone shattering, skin and sinew tearing. He had felt every drop of blood as it pooled beneath his skin, every shard of bone as it tore through tight muscle. After the Hulk's attack, he had healed quickly. Even as he lay there, surrounded by the decimated remains of Stark's flooring, he could feel everything stitching back together. Such an attack would have killed a mere mortal, but Loki had to endure every agonising second.

And so it was that he found himself terrified when once more faced with the beast that did it. Dr. Bruce Banner may have worn the physique of a human, but beneath that veneer lurked the raging green hunk of muscle. The only creature Midgard could conjure that could actually immobilise him.

Loki was already aware that the Avengers desired his blood. He had always suspected Alexandra would be the one to take it, perhaps even Thor. But Banner?

The closer the beast got, the more Loki struggled. It was undignified, but there was something about Banner's presence that instilled within him the undeniable urge to get away.

"Twitchy bugger, aren't you?"

The words caused tendrils of hatred to clench Loki's stomach. He shot the scientist the darkest look he could muster, an action that roused only a smirk of derision. The tiny blood collection device, once resting against Loki's wrist, now came to his neck.

"Stark told me to go for the wrist." Banner's voice was so low, it was clear his words were meant for Loki's ears only. "But I've always been more of a neck man, myself. You see, I have no idea how deep this thing goes. It might damage a carotid artery. We can always hope."

Had Loki been in full control of his body at this moment, he may have lashed out at Banner, regardless of the ramifications. He struggled harder, yet the cool metal remained against his flesh. He shot a pleading look at Alexandra, one last desperate moment, but she merely turned away.

The dark haired human known as Tony Stark snorted. "Come on, Maleficent. It's just a tiny prick. Nothing you're unfamiliar with."

Loki felt his cheeks burn with humiliation, the tiny prick at his neck doing nothing to ease the sensation. When Banner moved, Loki caught sight of the liquid within the vial. It was scarlet. So normal. So Aesir. For so many years he had believed it to be the same blood that ran through the veins of Thor. Frigga. Odin. Now he knew it to be a deception. When the magic ran out, would it turn blue or black? Would his true heritage be evident, spread out on a petri dish for the Midgardians to dissect?

Banner's gaze flicked across Loki's neck. "Damn, not even a scar."

Loki watched with increased venom as the vial was placed back in its casing.

Stark turned to smirk at Alexandra. "Your boyfriend Malory's going to love this."

"Lucas?" Loki heard Alexandra state. "What does he want with Loki's blood?"

"You know: this, that and the other." Stark placed the foam wrapped blood into a steel suitcase, snapping it shut. "Been nagging me about it actually. I had to make this thing specifically." He lifted the suitcase. "Best if we talk about it away from the heir of Slytherin, here."

Loki felt storm grey eyes fall upon him once more.

"Yes, I suppose you are right."

oOoOoOo

Words had not littered the air since Alex and the Avengers had left the courtyard. It was not until they all entered Thor's personal chambers that tongues once more started to wag.

"Sweet Jesus, this place is bigger than my apartment." Clint shrugged his bow onto his back, sending an envy-filled look around the cavernous room. Even Alex had to admit it was impressive: not just in size but also decor. Various articles of war were displayed upon the walls, along with objects seized in battle. Thor's bed was laden with furs, no doubt the beasts he had slain on various hunting trips. A large flagon of wine sat in the centre of a well-worn table.

Alex took a goblet of this wine, sipping the now familiar liquid idly. "So, care to tell me why you needed Loki's blood?"

"We," Stark corrected. "You work for the Geraldine project, after all. Your lover-boy Lucas wanted us to collect blood so we could analyse it. You see, the prison is built, we just need to find a way to counteract Rock of Ages unusual skills."

"His magic, you mean?"

Stark squinted. "I hate that word."

Alex frowned. "I thought the All-Father had neutralised Loki's unusual skills?"

Thor spoke now, refilling his cup. "My father's influence over Loki cannot stretch to Midgard. Once there, Loki will regain his power, and with it his ability to wreak havoc."

Alex cocked an eyebrow. "He does so already without his powers. Why exactly are we taking him back to Earth if he's going to be magically charged?"

Thor frowned. "I fear the longer Loki remains in Asgard, the less likely he is to come to the realisation that what he did was wrong."

"Interesting though all of this is," yawned Stark, "he'll be coming to Earth anyway. Malory would sauté Fury's nuts if his little cage was made redundant."

Alex fought back the somewhat disturbing mental image that accompanied this statement, while Stark diligently continued.

"Speaking of your man, he's coming here tomorrow."

"WHAT?" The goblet of wine nearly fell from Alex's fingers, her eyes wide. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"

Stark frowned. "I was trying to forget about it, personally. Has anyone ever told you that your boyfriend is a total shit?"

"He's not my boyfriend," snapped Alex, "and I knew that already. Why is he even coming here?"

"Apparently he wants to ask Loki some questions."

"Yeah, cause Loki is likely to answer them." The meagre alcohol content of the wine seemed a cruelty to Alex at this moment. Her dilemma with Loki was bad enough, but Lucas as well? Asgard, once her sanctuary, was now morphing into her own personal prison. "Besides I thought asking Loki questions was the reason Geraldine was being built?"

"It is. Malory is just a wanker."

Clint snorted. "Truer words have never been spoken."

Alex wondered what Lucas had done to the Avengers to get them so far off-side, apart from being his usual odorous self.

Food was brought into the room, but Alex barely touched it. Nor did she engage in the now light hearted conversation exchanged among the close knit group of friends. She was the outsider, yet it was not her lack of superpowers that kept her isolated, but rather her own dashing of nerves.

Once the platter was cleared and the flagon empty, she found courage enough to excuse herself. Night had fallen, stars glimmering within the blanket of sultry black. Her legs took her not to her chambers, but rather to Loki's courtyard, now an empty haven. The brash flowerbeds no longer rioted in colour, but sprinklings of aromatic jasmine bloomed beneath the moon's cold rays. She could not resist but to pick one tiny bud, the scent a pleasing reminder of home.

"Who is Malory?"

His bare feet had made little noise upon the thick grass, yet Alex had been aware of his presence before the first word had been uttered.

"I don't see how it is your business, Loki."

"We have been engaged in a tryst for almost a full cycle, and you did not deem it necessary to inform me of this?"

Alex let the bloom fall to the grass, turning now to the darkened figure. "No, because Lucas Malory is a thing of my past. As are you." She wondered if she should call for the Avengers, or even the guards.

"Is there anything I can do to make you take me back?"

She shook her head. "I doubt it."

"What if I were to tell you I love you?"

Alex could barely see his face in the minimal light, merely a shard of silver that cut across his cheekbones, making the green of his eyes glimmer black.

"I would say you are incapable of love."

"If one is capable of hate, they must also be capable of love."

Alex rolled her eyes. "And why would you love a mortal? Why would you possibly love me?"

"I don't know."

There was no point in gracing such an answer with a response, and as such, Alex headed toward the gold-wrought gates.

Loki took her shoulder, halting her movement. "Why do you leave?"

"I'm leaving before you turn bat-shit crazy again and decide to rape me."

"I can assure you that will not happen." Loki's grasp softened. "Alexandra, I-"

"Stop." Alex shrugged the hand from her shoulder, continuing on her path.

"I do love you."

"Fuck you, Loki."

Alex truly believed the subject closed. The words were as poison from his lips, another lie to add to his web. How could he love her? His exchange with Natasha Romanoff in the cage had revealed his contempt for the feeling. Love was not in Loki's repertoire.

"You are a damned insatiable stubborn woman!" His yell echoed throughout the courtyard. "I speak the words your pathetic Midgardian ears want to hear, the words I truly feel, and you discard them. What have I done that is so unforgivable? You seemed to enjoy my previous advances. Do you wish for me to beg? To kneel? Because, Alexandra Beckett, I will. Or I would if I thought it would make a damned bit of difference."

"Everything you said then was slightly tainted by the 'pathetic Midgard' bit."

Loki uttered a strangled growl. "What can I do to appease you?"

Alex shot him one final look. "Nothing."