I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to post a new chapter. FanFiction hasn't been working on my computer otherwise I would have posted this a couple days ago. Hopefully I will be more consistent with my chapter posting from now on!

When Natasha brought me back to headquarters, I received a scolding from Agent Coulson. But since he couldn't restrict my freedom anymore than it already was, he just sent me back to my living quarters. Whether Steve returned or not I didn't know because he didn't visit me that day. But I did see Thor walk through the hallway, so I assumed Loki was in the building.

So I was back to playing solitaire while the love of my life was imprisoned somewhere on board. I couldn't believe I was so stupid on the lane, even after Natasha told me to keep my emotions in check. I would have never gone to all this trouble for Summy, not even close. My love for Loki was so strong it scared me; I had never had this feeling for anyone else, which would make it worse if he attacked the ship.

And then there was Steve. The perfect man, the man all mothers wanted their daughters to marry, the man I should love. His overprotective attitude was different from Summy's in that he genuinely cared about me instead of just being jealous. He was funny and a great friend. But that was the problem, I could only see him as a friend.

There was a knock on the door and, speak of the devil, there Steve stood holding a tray of food for me.

"Thought you might be hungry," he said. I jumped up and hugged him.

"I was so worried after I saw you jump out of that lane," I said, pressing my face into his chest.

He breathed deep and wrapped his arms around my figure. "I had a little mishap with the god of Thunder."

"I've been there," I admitted, remembering when I met Thor the morning after I slept with Loki. I pulled back, "where's Loki?"

"Fury put him in a containment facility," answered Steve. I sighed a breath of relief that he was still alive.

"Look, Steve, I'm so sorry for ruining the mission," I apologized. "It was stupid and I wasn't thinking."

He put his hand on my cheek. "Don't beat yourself up about it. You didn't ruin the mission." He smiled. "I also shouldn't have yelled at you on the plane. I just couldn't live with myself if you got hurt."

I raised an eyebrow, "you do realize I was a combat agent before I was locked down at headquarters. I've gotten myself out of worse."

"Yes, but Loki's dangerous. He has weapons that are worse than anything we've ever seen!"

"He's not dangerous," I argued. "He's misunderstood."

"Why do you keep defending him?" Steve asked, his voice rising. "Do you not realize he's the bad guy?"

"I love him, and you know that."

"Love is no justification for being wrong."

I was fuming. "At least I have love. I'm not the one whose emotions are as cold as the ice he's been frozen in."

"After all I've done for you, and you call me cold? I've done everything I can to protect you!"

"I didn't ask!" I shouted. When I realized how loud my voice was, I dropped it to a low growl. "I'm not weak. I don't need protecting."

Steve stopped, still breathing heavy with anger.

"You've been a great friend and all but you're making me feel like a little kid," I said. Steve's silence said more than words ever could. His brow still furrowed, he turned and stormed out of my room.

I growled and threw a pillow. I threw myself on the bed and screamed into another pillow.

"Funny, whenever I come to visit you are never as cheerful as I hope.

Loki. Here. It was impossible. I looked up through my disgruntled ash bangs and realized it was possible, for there stood my tall, dark, and handsome.

I slowly got off my bed and walked towards him, almost as if he were a stranger.

He might as well have been. His pale face was tired and damp with sweat. His smile showed none of the warmth I'd come to love, and his eyes had turned an unfamiliar shade of sapphire. The raven hair slicked back on his head was disorderly, which was odd because he was usually well kept. I looked him over again and realized this was not the man who whisked me off to Asgard two years ago.

"Halle," he said softly, holding out his arms.

"Stay away," I whispered, stopping abruptly. Loki's maniacal eyes flashed with anger.

"What?"

"I don't know you anymore," I said, holding back tears. "Oh Loki, what have you done?"

Loki's smile faded, all affection felt was gone. "I've come to do what I was born to do: rule."

"You can't do this! People will get hurt!"

Loki smirked. "The fatalities will be but a grain of sand compared to the live Odin himself has taken."

My head turned at the mention of Loki's father, a subject Loki hardly ever touched on when I was in Asgard. "Look if this is about your Dad-"

"He's no father to me," interrupted Loki.

"Anyways," I continued, "if you have a problem with Odin, then why don't you take it up with him? I've been here defending you to anyone who will listen, telling everyone that you're not the bad guy. And you know why I've been doing that?" I paused, stepping closer to Loki and lowering my voice. "Because I believe the man I fell in love with is still in there, deep beneath this charade that you've been putting on or whatever. But until I see him, you need to stay away from me." I took a good long look into his eyes and, for a second, I almost swore they changed color. But whatever feeling I had evoked in Loki was gone as quick as it came.

"Don't tell me they have been planting lies in your mind," he said in a strained whisper. I found that both of his hands were placed on my shoulders. "That son of Coul."

"No, Coulson has nothing to do with what I'm feeling."

"Then maybe it's the soldier," said Loki. "Don't think I have not taken notice of that."

I clenched my teeth. "Leave Steve out of this."

Loki raised an eyebrow in interest. I turned my back to him and faced the wall, brushing stray hairs out of my face to give the illusion of composure.

"Just know this, Halle dearest," he said. "When my army arrives, they will stop at nothing to lay waste to Midgard. They will not rest until everyone of your precious team lies dead at my feet." He grabbed my chin with incredible force, and pulled my face to face his. "You do still love me, this I know even if you are blind to it." His grip softened. "If anything my feelings for you have intensified. I would be in great peril if you were to be injured during my invasion."

"So you want me to sit here while you hurt my friends?" I interrupted, our faces inches apart.

"Not here. With me."

As my mind tried to figure out what he meant, I found his lips pushed into mine. It reminded me of the very first time we met; when he kissed me before we even had a proper conversation. But just like then, I felt like I was kissing a stranger. This Loki had me violently pinned up against the wall while he kissed my neck. I melted into his kisses and tugged at his jacket, a gesture for him to take it off. Soon enough we were both shirtless as I ran my fingers through his hair. With ease, he picked me up and lay me on my head, coming onto me like a waterfall.

But suddenly, with a twinkle of familiar green light, he vanished and I cursed, realized what had happened.

"Wow Rhodie, didn't realize you had a sailor mouth," commented Natasha, leaning up against my doorframe. After noticing I wasn't wearing a shirt, she asked, "is this a bad time?"

"Uh." Embarrassingly, I scrounged for a sweatshirt and quickly threw it on. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to let you know Fury sent me to talk to Loki," Natasha said. "If there's any message you want me to pass on-"

"Thanks Natasha, but I'm fine," I managed a weak smile, which was apparently good enough for her because she shrugged and walked away.

I curled up in my bed, feeling more alone than I'd ever felt. Steve was mad at me, I was mad at Coulson, Loki was crazy, and Natasha probably thought I was crazy. I couldn't even get ahold of Jane. I wanted to cry, and maybe I would have, if I hadn't passed out on my bed.