A/N: Hey everyone!

Sorry about the delay (again). We're approaching already-written sections, so there's gonna be a lot quicker updates from now on!

Thanks for all those who reviewed/followed/favorited during the Hiatus™.

Thedragoness821: Thank you so much! I'm so, so happy that you like it. :)

C (guest): Two reviews! Gah, that's a mark of how long it's been. Hope you find the new chapter sans account, dear! No backflips required, and two sentences a day... man, that's commitment. Thank you so much for your encouragement.

Guest: Here you go, sorry about the awful wait! Hope you find this story again. :)

And without further ado... snuggling, clones, balcony-perching, and Odin (everyone knows how that's gonna go, LOL).

TWENTY-FIVE

I breathe in slow to compose myself
But the bleeding heart I left on the shelf
Started speeding round, beating half to death
Cause you're here and you're all mine

So I press my lips down into your neck
And I stay there and I reconnect
Bravery I've been trying to be perfect
It can wait for a while

Scared of the hope in my head it's been making me sweat but it turns out
You're here with your head on my chest
I should've guessed

- "Incomplete," James Bay

Loki opened his eyes slowly, warm and slightly unsettled.

Alana was sleeping beside him, her face turned towards him, hand barely touching his chest.

He reached to touch her cheek, but hesitated – was he free? Was this an extended nightmare, was she really beside him, or would blood pour from her mouth any second, would his hands turn blue and murder her –

She murmured something indistinct and curled closer to him, hand pressing flat against his skin.

He tensed, but she pressed even closer to him, tucking her head against his chest.

After a few minutes when nothing had happened, he tentatively placed his arm around her – she smiled slightly in her sleep – and – thank the Norns, nothing happened.

This is real, he told himself. She is here.

And the reason that he knew that, most of all, was the warmth in his chest that only came with her presence, the peacefulness in his heart that he had not found anywhere else.

He pressed his lips to the top of her head, breathing in her scent, and just to hold her in his arms – oh, he had craved this for so long, the touch of her, the warmth, the feeling of her body pressed against his.

But what had she done?

He was certain that it was Thanos who had been planting the images inside his mind, incapacitating him – and hadn't he been in the dungeons?

He looked around – his bedroom? – and tensed slightly when he saw Thor sitting next to him, but he was asleep, his chin resting on his chest – he looked exhausted.

He stroked Alana's hair absentmindedly.

So if Alana had felt Thanos in his mind, and told Thor… Thor must have brought him up to his old chambers, but Odin would not have let Alana stay, he knew that.

She shifted a little in his arms and his eyes fell down to her – she must have snuck in after Thor was asleep.

He smiled slightly and brushed a lock of hair out of her face.

But why had Thanos left?

His smile faded as he regarded her. What had she done?

Thor opened his eyes the next morning to the sight of Alana curled next to Loki in his bed.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, but couldn't quite bring himself to be angry with her.

Loki seemed calm, though, a small consolation, his arm draped loosely around her, body pale against the dark sheets.

He was so still it was as if he was dead…

A sudden panic took hold of his heart and he leaned towards Loki – was he breathing? Dear gods, if he had died –

Loki's eyes snapped open and fixed on his; he stumbled one step back in shock.

"Good morning," Loki said nonchalantly

"What the Hel, Loki? You were – last night – "

Loki sat up and stretched lightly, saying, "I'm going to take her back to her chambers – the servants will be arriving soon."

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stood up, but Thor stopped him, one hand raised in warning. "I can't let you leave, Loki." He stared at Loki. "You were – your mind was – "

Loki nodded, his eyes serious. "I know. I've rebuilt my barriers, but I do not think that they will stop him again."

"Well, what happened?"

Loki's eyes flicked towards Alana. "I am not exactly sure, but I believe that she had something to do with it."

He stepped around Thor and crossed over to the side of the bed that Alana was on.

He gathered her up into his arms – she curled into him, her arms wrapping around his neck – and he gazed at her with a tinge of worry, his brow furrowed. "She came in while you were sleeping – I do not know what she did, but it was Thanos, I am sure of it, Thor."

Thor raised his chin and said, "Loki, I cannot let you leave."

Loki's eyes flicked to him. "I will not try to escape, brother. I swear."

"Your oaths mean nothing to me," he said bluntly.

Loki lifted his chin. "What shall I swear on then?"

Thor said nothing.

"Shall I swear on my life?"

Thor scoffed. "I was under the impression that you did not care much for it."

Loki's eyes dropped back to Alana. "I did not use to," he said softly. "I swear I will return, Thor. But I must take her back. I can't risk Odin - " and he cut off, leaving the sentence dangling in the air.

Thor hesitated, then grudgingly stepped aside. "Very well."

A flick of Loki's fingers and a sleeping Loki appeared on the bed. Thor looked up to see a plated, bearded Einherjar in front of him, Alana in his arms.

The Einherjar winked at him, and left the room.

Alana awakened to a rocking sensation – she was being carried somewhere – and she tensed slightly, keeping her eyes closed.

She attempted to probe the mind carrying her, but their walls were strong and she could not break them, at least not without the person's knowledge.

She thought that the light seemed familiar, like Loki's, but she wasn't sure – she couldn't remember exactly how it had felt before the darkness.

A creak of a door, and soft footsteps – carpeting in this room, then – and she was being placed gently down onto a bed – silky soft and warm – and rough fingers traced their way across her face, a murmur, "Alana."

She tensed even more – these were not Loki's hands, not his voice, and not Thor's, either – who was beside her?

Lips touched her forehead, scratchy with stubble – she twisted her gauntlet with her telekinesis, and feeling her armor forming around her, she lashed out, hitting a chest plated with metal, hearing an oof emerge from his lungs as she shoved him across the room and pinned him to a wall.

She shot from the bed and up to him, a dagger from the nightstand flying to her hand – she pressed it to his throat, the throat of a man she had never seen before, dressed in the armor of the Einherjar.

"Who the hell are you? How do you know my name?" she hissed.

"Alana, it's me," the man said, and green light shimmered around him, revealing Loki standing there.

She lowered the dagger. "Loki – what – " but he pulled her close to him, his lips finding hers, flipping her around and pressing her against the wall.

She moaned into his mouth, her fingers tracing up his bare chest, wrapping around his neck – his lips, his hands, his body, him, him, him – finally him, finally her Loki in her arms again.

There was a knock and the sound of an opening door – Loki pulled away from her quickly, a flash of green light surrounding him – and suddenly the maid was in the room, her eyes wide with shock.

Alana looked from the maid to Loki – except it was Thor, now, standing there, coldness in his eyes. "Get out," he said, and the maid complied, backing out of the room hastily.

She raised a hand to her cheek; it was hot and likely red, her hair disheveled, and she dropped her head and sighed loudly. "Really, Loki, Thor? You could have chosen anyone, and you had to pick Thor? The maid is going to – "

Another flash of green light and he was there in front of her again, lips pressing hard to hers.

"I wasn't done kissing you," he whispered against her lips, but she pushed at his chest a little, and he pulled away.

She sighed. "You should probably get back. Thor will be waiting – "

"I don't give a damn about Thor, Alana – " and he paused, his face turning more serious. "It was Thanos, wasn't it?"

She nodded slightly. "I think so – but I didn't get rid of him, Loki, he left. On purpose – "

He ran a hand through his hair. "Tell me what he said."

She looked away. "The important thing is that you're all right, Loki – "

"No." His fingers lifted her chin gently. "Tell me what he said."

She hesitated, then said, "He said that he wasn't finished with… either of us."

He sighed heavily, forehead pressing to hers. "I told you to leave," he whispered. "Why didn't you leave?"

"I wasn't going to just leave you, Loki - you were in danger."

He closed his eyes.

"And if it had been me - you wouldn't have left, Loki, I know that," she said softly. "You can't always protect me – I have to help you too."

He smiled sadly, his eyes still closed, and kissed her on the forehead.

"I love you," he whispered.

She sighed, pressing her face into his chest – he tensed for a second, remembering the dreams - "Are you sure that you're all right, Loki?"

He hesitated, pulling away from her slightly. "I'm fine."

Her eyes were sad as she looked at him. "Last night – I've never seen you like that before, Loki, ever."

She paused – his eyes dropped away from hers – and she took his hand. "What did you see?" she whispered.

He pulled away from her, closing his eyes briefly - the words spilled out, he couldn't control them - "I saw you die a hundred thousand times. I saw my mother and Kvasir and Thor and – I couldn't do a thing. Everything I touched burned – I killed you a thousand times and I watched you fall in love with a hundred different men – I tried to save you and all I did was hurt you – I watched you kiss another, and I hated you for it."

Her hand came up to his face – he tensed, expecting a slap, but her hands cradled his chin, her eyes wet. "That wasn't you," she whispered. "It wasn't you, Loki."

"Yes, but it felt like me," he said roughly. "I can't leave you, Alana, I can't let you go, and look how I've hurt you already. Maybe – maybe Thanos is right, maybe this is your only future with me - "

"He's trying to hurt you, Loki, wind you up – but you aren't going to hurt me, Loki. Ever," she said softly. "You haven't hurt me – "

"Don't – " he said, his eyes fixed on hers. "That's not true, and you know it, Alana. I let you forget years of your life, I've scarred you, I – I have been - less than kind since the day I saw you, and yet you stay with me – why? Thanos will only use us against each other – and even still, I – I do not think that I could let you go."

"You won't," she said, firmly. "You will never have to."

"But I will," he said, pressing his forehead to hers. "One day you will die, Alana – and what will I do with the rest of my life? Do you expect me to survive three thousand years without you?"

Her eyes dropped away from his.

He sighed slightly. "I'm sorry, Alana, I shouldn't have – "

Her fingers crept over his mouth, silencing him. He kissed her palm gently.

She looked up at him, her gray eyes touching his. "I love you," she said softly. "We'll figure it out."

She kissed him, her lips parting against his, and he could feel her, warm and soft, and Thanos had almost taken her from him.

The unease in the pit of his stomach grew deeper and deeper.

"Something's going to happen," he whispered to her. "Soon. I can feel it. And if I can't – even if I'm not there – you have to leave. Go to Heimdall, have him send you back to Midgard – "

"I'm not leaving without you again, Loki. Ever."

She sighed slightly. "We're safe here," she said, touching his cheek lightly.

He remembered columns torn to shreds from Malekith's harrow, remembered the limitations of Heimdall's gaze, remembered ice creeping across the floor of the weapons vault, and did not care much for their chances if Thanos were to attack.

He forced a small smile. "I know, love."

He kissed her on the forehead one last time, then pulled away, green light surrounding him as Thor took his place.

He left, feeling the weight of her gaze on his red-draped back.

Thor was pacing up and down Loki's bedroom by the time he returned, stopping short as he saw another Thor enter the room.

The green light flashed and Loki appeared again, one eyebrow raised. "You're going to wear ruts in my floor."

Thor scoffed and shook off the jab, pointing Mjolnir at Loki. "Why were you me?"

Loki shrugged. "There was a bit of a misunderstanding. Everything's fine, Thor, don't worry." He sidestepped Thor and made his way over to the bookshelves, eyebrows furrowing as he pursued the titles.

He flicked his hand at the bed absentmindedly and the sleeping Loki disappeared from the bed.

He turned around – Thor was standing right in front of him, Mjolnir clenched tightly in his hand.

"What happened?"

"I might ask you the same, brother."

Thor's eyebrows furrowed. "I do not – "

"Why did you return to Asgard?"

He turned back to the shelves, fingers trailing across the spines, and continued, "Does Jane no longer hold your interest? Do you regret your rejection of the throne?"

There was no response from Thor – Loki selected a book and turned around to see him staring curiously at Loki. "So it was you," he said, "pretending to be Father."

Loki shrugged. "Since when has Odin approved of your relationship with Jane?"

Thor stared out the window. "I had a vision. Of Asgard…"

This piqued Loki's interest. "Go on."

Thor sighed. "The Infinity Gems… I believe that someone is trying to obtain them, use them… I saw Heimdall blinded, chaos and fear…"

Loki raised his eyebrows. "I could have told you this months ago. And that someone, brother, is Thanos."

Thor looked sideways at him. "Months ago I would not have trusted you."

Loki paused, assessing the words. "Do you now?"

Thor looked pensive for a moment, and then replied, simply, "No."

Loki scoffed and turned away from him, but stopped as Thor said, "But I will try to, for Alana's sake."

He straightened; Thor sighed. "She believes in you, for some foolish reason – trusts you more than anyone else on Asgard. And she is wiser than she would have some think. Although I do not trust you, brother – I trust her."

"You barely know her," Loki responded, still facing away.

"I know enough to see that she is honest and brave. She cares for you – somehow."

Loki did not speak.

Thor sighed again. "Forgive me, brother. I am not so trusting as she."

After a time, Loki inclined his head.

Thor nodded, and left the room.

He stood on the balcony, wind ruffling his hair, as he watched her train from above.

She whirled and spun, her armor gleaming in the light of the sunset, and the Einherjar she was fighting could barely keep up – her movements countering his half a second before they came.

Thor, standing nearby, opened his mouth and shouted something at them, and she laughed as she slashed and twirled.

There was a small smile on Loki's face as he watched her.

She ducked under the Einherjar's arm and knocked him to the ground, straddling him, her dagger positioned above his throat.

The onlookers applauded politely.

He could see her mouth moving slightly – she was talking to her opponent, who spoke back to her – she laughed again and stood up, stretching a hand to help him up, cumbersome in his heavy armor.

She stretched slightly and her opponent clapped her on the shoulder – she smiled at him and he could feel his stomach churning slightly –

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Stop," he said out loud.

Thor beckoned her over to him and they stood there together, talking, for a while – Alana nodded frequently and Thor's hand gestures got larger – until the sun had almost fully set, the last rays of light in the sky.

He remembered her sigh of frustration after he had shifted into Thor because of the maid – something telling him that the servants had already constructed the necessary rumors to accompany a new arrival to the palace.

He could have chosen anyone, he supposed, but people usually listened to Thor when he got angry.

But it was more than that, he knew – as he watched them standing far below, he thought, She deserves someone better than I – less maimed, less anguished, someone more like Thor – she is too good for me, too kind.

Thor clapped her on the shoulder and headed back for the palace, leaving her standing there alone.

She looked up towards him, smiling slightly.

I don't want anyone else but you, Loki.

He inhaled slightly as her mind caressed his, the light soothing, warm and bright.

"You heard me, then."

I always hear you, Loki.

He sighed again. "I'm sorry – "

Don't apologize. I love you, Loki. You. Not anyone else. Not ever.

He ran a hand through his hair. "I miss you. It's been too long."

I know. You've been watching me for weeks.

He smiled slightly. "Of course you noticed."

Of course I did.

"I want to see you," he said, quietly.

She sighed. I know, Loki, but – there are Einherjar around your door. They won't let me in.

"I know," he said. "You can't get in. But I can get out."

There was a pause, and she sighed again.

Loki, I don't want you to get in trouble –

"But?"

But – god, I miss you.

There was another pause.

Hurry.

His lips curled up into a smile.

A twist of his fingers and a clone appeared, lounging in a chair, flipping through a book. He cloaked himself in emptiness and touched the wall in three spaces, deliberately, and a panel of wood shifted sideways, the passage within silent and dark and beckoning.

She stood there, silhouetted by the sky, in a gown of inky purple, gold bands around her arms and her hair falling down her back.

He walked up behind her, his hands skimming down her waist, coming to rest on her hips. She sighed softly and leaned back into his chest.

Silence filled the air around them.

"You can say it," he said softly. "I know I shouldn't be here, I know it's not safe, I know what will happen if they find me – "

"I don't care," she said, turning towards him and kissing him hard.

He inhaled with the suddenness of it, but Norns above, it was bliss like he had not dreamed of for months.

Their lips parted – she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, and he pressed his lips to her hair, breathing in the smell of her, the life, the light, his arms tight across her back. I never want to let you go.

"Me neither," she said softly, voice muffled by his shirt. "Stay."

Forever.

He had pressed his lips to hers one last time before he left, hours ago, had whispered, "I love you," to her before he draped himself in shadow and nothingness, and the hole in her heart was healed for the meantime.

She lay awake; moonlight cutting across the room, starlight piercing the hangings of her bed.

A meteor shot across the sky – she wished with all her might that Odin would set him free.

It won't be like this forever, stolen kisses, distant gazes, she thought.

Sleep took her as she pretended their fingers were twined.

Thor circled Alana warily – she seemed small, but weeks of watching her fight had told him that size didn't matter – she decimated most, if not all, of her opponents, regardless of size.

She stood there, eyes closed, patiently waiting for his attack.

There was a larger crowd than usual surrounding them today – eager to see the Lady Sigyn take on the Mighty Thor.

"Any chance of a start date, Thor?" she asked patiently.

"It's all part of the plan, Sigyn…" he said and then swung at her.

She ducked, eyes still closed. "I'm going to pretend that doesn't count," she said.

He changed directions and charged her – she ducked under him again and hit him in the back of the head with her hand, throwing him off balance, but he straightened quickly and whirled back around towards her.

Close combat was where the fight was the most evenly tied – when he was right on top of her, catching blows on his gauntlets, taking blows to the chest, without pause. His height gave him the advantage there – she got a bit overwhelmed when he loomed over her but quickly compensated, thrusting her hands out and pushing him further away with her telekinesis, landing stronger, harder blows with her feet.

"Better," he said, as he blocked her punch.

He wasn't pulling his own punches – barely any of them got through. It was something that she had been working on – a shield about an inch or so from her skin that absorbed his blows but still allowed her to give them.

She was mortal, he kept reminding himself. She will break if I hit her at full strength.

"Let's see about that," she said, breathing heavily, her eyes a flash of blue.

He smiled and continued the fight.

High up above them, Loki rested his head on his hand, perched on the railing of his balcony, studying the way they both moved.

It was different than when she fought with weapons because they were both so much more vulnerable. Neither of them was dressed in full armor, and their actions were smaller because of it – quicker, more agile.

"Guard your left," he said out loud and then smirked as she delivered a roundhouse kick to the left side of Thor's abdomen. "Or not, I suppose."

Thor recovered quickly and began pressing steadily closer to her, catching her blows with his forearms, both of their arms a blur of motion. He seized her arm and flipped her through the air, using her force against her - he tensed as she hit the ground hard, one hand clenching slightly – and Thor pinned her to the ground, his mouth moving.

She nodded and he let her up, one hand reaching out to aid her. She bent over, breathing heavily – Thor patted her on the shoulder and spoke again – she laughed, shaking her head, standing up straight and grimacing, brushing off her clothing.

He rested his head in his arms, sick of being so far away.

She wandered through the library, fingers trailing across the books there – thick, encased in heavy leather embossed with runes and symbols, orbs of light floating in the air.

She stopped in front of the painting of Loki, still covered in grime and dust, and sighed heavily.

His eyes reached for hers, green and piercing, concealing a tinge of pain (how well she knew that look) and she reached up and touched the canvas, to his painted cheek.

Her fingers came away thick with dust, leaving tracks down the canvas against his face.

She spread her hand – the painting shook slightly, but as she focused (smaller, smaller) the particles of dust came away from the canvas, floating in a ball.

She released the particles, and the painting shined a little brighter, and her heart felt a little more content.

Thor frowned as he stared at the map. "The attacks have been coming more frequently now – Vanaheim is in chaos, and although Alfheim is holding up for the most part, there cannot be any doubt that they need our help, Father."

Odin's fingers tapped against the side of the table. "There has been no official declaration of war as of late – we cannot trace the N'itouri back to anyone – "

"You know that it is Thanos as well as I, Father. It was he who penetrated Loki's mind – I am sure that he holds a grudge for Loki's failure to obtain the Tesseract on Midgard, and Father – he is collecting the Infinity Stones. One is safe on Midgard, for now… but the others…"

"I want the Tesseract moved to the most secure level of the vaults. And send Volstagg back to the Collector – he will know if they are stirring, and we must make sure of the Aether's safety."

Thor paused for a second. "Father… Loki could aid us. He knows Thanos better than anyone on Asgard, he was privy to his plans – at least part of them…. Would it not be prudent to release him?"

Odin stared, unblinking. "You wish to have him released? After all that he has done?"

"I do not trust him, but he has changed," Thor said. "He is willing to help and to receive help – he is different than before."

Odin scoffed. "Because of the mortal? Because he is in love with a mortal? There are things that love can do," he said, standing, "and there are things that it most certainly cannot. And it cannot turn an evil man to good."

"Loki is misguided, but evil, Father? You raised him, I grew up with him, and we saw nothing – "

"He is not Aesir, Thor. He is not like you or me. He is a Jotunn, and he is Laufey's son. Laufey. I fought him for centuries, Thor. I know evil when I see it."

"Laufey abandoned him," Thor said. "He left him to die. Do you really think that Loki would do such a thing to a child?"

Odin straightened. "It is irrelevant. Loki must be punished for his crimes. He is out of the dungeons; that should be enough." He moved to leave the room, but Thor stopped him, one hand on his arm. "Father, please. Just for a little while then, not forever – either way he cannot be caged for long, he will grow restless and angry – let him free for a while and he will be grateful. Let him see Ala –Sigyn and he will thank you for it."

Odin lifted his chin. "One night, Thor. Then he will return to his solitude, his punishment."

Thor's fingers retracted from Odin's armor. "Thank you, Father."

Loki scoffed. "The festival of Sumarsmal? That is the night you have chosen? I doubt Odin will agree."

Thor shrugged. "It is as good a time as any. Sumarsmal is about the arrival of summer, about – "

"New beginnings, new life, I know." He sighed. "Very well, then."

Thor turned to leave, but was stopped as Loki said, quietly, "Thank you for this, brother."

He smiled slightly, although Loki could not see. "Shall I tell Alana the good news, or should we keep it a surprise?"

Loki laughed softly. "We might as well keep it a secret. Hide it away in your mind, then, Thor – you wouldn't want to ruin the surprise while sparring."

Thor nodded, smiling faintly, and left the room.

It was the first time he had heard Loki laugh like that in years.

A/N: I can promise that soon there will be explosions, dancing, big fancy dresses, crying, smexy times, and death! (Not necessarily in that order.) Stay tuned for more! Hugs to everyone reading. Love you all.