Aura's eyes slowly opened. Her vision nothing more than a blur. Yet, she swore she saw…vibrant color? What happened to her? What happened to the black and white images with the subdued color? She didn't have the mental capacity for further wondering. Her eyes closed, and she inhaled a deep breath. Waiting for the sharp cold to pierce her lungs.

Warm air filled her chest instead.

She snuggled closer into herself. She loved the warmth. It relaxed her, made her feel at ease.

No. Something was off.

Wasn't there supposed to be cold? Why wasn't she frozen? Where was the cold chamber?

Eyes widening, she focused her vision on the space in front of her.

Loki sat a few feet across from her, elbows propped on his knees with praying hands held parallel to his face. His gaze trained on her.

She startled. Rolling off whatever held her elevated and onto a metal floor she wasn't familiar with. Crawled over to the nearest corner and drew her knees up to her chin. "What do you want with me? Where am I?"

He ran his hands over his face then slowly rose. "Aura, please take it easy. Your body temperature has just returned to normal, and you're weak. I don't understand why you were in a cold cell, but you need to remain calm."

"Stay away from me." Frantically looking around the tube-shaped spaced, she hugged her legs tighter, burying herself as far into the corner as she could. Where was she? How did she get here? Why did this strange place exist?

Then she remembered. Her eyes fluttered as her breath caught. She remembered the illusions, remembered the magic. The magic transporting her into another nightmare.

This was another aspect of Hel, wasn't it?

Her head snapped up when this Loki stepped toward her. Tears pooled in her eyes until they spilled down her face. "I-I said stay back! Don't come any closer. Leave me alone."

"Okay, okay, I'll listen. You obviously need space." He returned to a row of seats mounted to the wall. Placed his head in his hands.

Aura peeked through her arms she used to shield her face from him. He didn't look at her; she couldn't see his face. But her chest rose and fell rapidly. Where was the Loki she normally saw, the one who lingered along the outskirts? Why did this second one take over? Why had his appearance changed? She had never seen this Loki before, so she didn't understand why she saw him now.

The robots evolved, didn't they? She started fighting against the previous Loki, so they provided a new model. Did they think she would give in to a different form? Is that why this one didn't bombard her with questions? Is that why this one truly seemed to care for her wellbeing? This was a new tactic, wasn't it?

Loki sat up, running his hands down his thighs with an exhale. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes." She hid her face behind her arms. "Please go away."

"Who am I?"

"Leave me alone."

"Aura, what's my name?"

"Why do you numb my brain with all your questions? I've already told you everything I can. I don't know what more you want from me."

He sighed. "Okay." Several moments of silence. "May I tell you something?"

"Nothing you say will change my mind about what you are and why you're hurting me."

"None of this changes my love for you."

She looked up with a tear-stained face to see him crying, as well. Her heart wrenched at the sight of him. She hated seeing him cry. But this is what they wanted, wasn't it? They wanted her to emphasize with this Loki. That's why he was different. They pandered to the soft spots of her heart.

The heels of her palms went to her eyes, and she shook her head. "No. Stop. I can't take it. I won't fall for it. You need to go away. I'll make you go away."

"Would you honestly rather be trapped in a frozen chamber aboard that vessel?"

"Yes, I deserve it. I deserve to be in my cold room. The cold keeps me from hurting people. I can't hurt people in here. This is where I belong."

"You don't deserve to be in freezing temperatures. Why were you there to begin with?"

"I…I killed people." She hit her forehead multiple times with clenched fingers. "I'm a monster. I'm a monster. I deserve to be here."

"Aura, Aura, please stop." Loki moved forward and knelt beside her. "Please don't hurt yourself. You're not a monster."

Screaming at him, she clambered to her feet, summoning her alternate form out of pure fear.

He backed away. Held up his hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't give you space." He relaxed his stature, trying to appear nonthreatening. Studied the fire demon in front of him. "That's my fault. But this confirms a few theories I had about you."

Aura partially slid down the curved wall, but she caught herself. She didn't realize how much energy her transformations consumed. Unless this was another side effect of Hel. Regardless, her black eyes burned. "Leave me alone. I don't want you anymore."

His eyes closed. He rubbed them with a hand. Released a long exhale. "I honestly don't know what to do here. I thought, well, I thought kissing you would make you realize—" He cut himself off, his tone and expression crestfallen. "Please tell me what to do."

"You can go away. Leave. Let me die in peace." Bracing herself against the dark paneling, she held out a hand encompassed by flames. "I don't want you anymore."

He rose a hand in a placating gesture once more. "Aura, we're in an aircraft. I need you to understand this. If you damage the hull, people could get hurt."

"I know I'm in an aircraft. I'm in my room on the helicarrier. It's more than spacious enough for me to destroy you. Once and for all."

"We're not on the helicarrier." His eyes slightly widened when her fire grew. Without a second thought, he effortlessly shifted into his frost giant form. Approached her with a hand covered in ice. Wrapped his fingers around hers.

Their opposing elements canceled each other out with a hiss of steam.

Her black lip curled in disdain. She couldn't produce another flame as much as she tried. Nor could she continue holding herself up. With labored breaths, she sunk to the floor.

Loki supported her. Eased himself down with her. "I'm here. I've got you. You'll be okay."

Aura grimaced and pressed her head against the wall. Searched his blue skin and crimson eyes out of the corner of her own. "You've never appeared this way before. What new trickery is this?"

"You weren't the only one with hidden heritage. My father is Laufey, king of Jotunheim. I am a frost giant."

"What a perfect way for you to meet the demon. Your illusions will fool me no longer." Snarling, she seized his throat with an ignited hand.

His jaw set, and he held eye contact with her. Kept his breathing steady as he prepared enduring any heat she thrust upon him.

Her twisted expression of glee soon faded into confusion. She released his neck. "You should be susceptible to the heat. You should be charred, dead. Why do you taunt me this way? Why do you remain untouched by my fire?"

He kissed her palm and held her flaming hand to his cheek. Lifting his gaze to meet hers once more. "Perhaps it's because you won't allow yourself to hurt me, illusion or not."

She trembled. "No. No, this isn't right. I have the power here. I'm the one with confidence. I'm the strong one. I am in control. I control my fire."

"We can never truly control magic, love. We can only guide it."

"No…none of this is right. This proves this is another hallucination. I can murder who I want at will. I—"

"Aura, look me in the eyes and tell me you want to kill me."

Her gaze hardened when she looked at him, but her mouth remained closed. She blinked a few times. Jaw clenching and unclenching.

Loki brushed a few strands of charcoal hair away from her face. His voice quieted. "Are you going to tell me?"

"I…" Aura turned away from him, removing her hand from his face. "You're not even real, so why should I bother wasting my words on you?"

"Do you remember when we were at the palace, and I would practice my illusion spells on you? Outside of Frigga, you challenged my abilities the most. I never once fooled you. You knew the real me from an illusion without fail. Can't you tell I'm not an illusion?"

"We're no longer in the palace, and I no longer care about such trivial times. All I care about is figuring out how to kill my soul." Standing without his help, she moved to a row of seats opposite the ones he previously occupied. Her back faced him. Half-spaded tail twitching.

He closed his eyes and remained on the small carrier's floor. His pale skin and blue eyes returning. "I can't help you if you won't let me in."

"You really are stupid, aren't you? You're already in my head. I want you out, and I want you out now. I'm too exhausted to keep dealing with you."

Minutes of agonizing silence dragged by.

Aura glanced over her shoulder. This Loki still hadn't moved. Head returning forward, her posture straightened. Pathetic. That's the only word she could describe their current attempt at Loki. This Loki was pathetic, and she would no longer be fooled by him.

"Aura—"

"Don't waste your breath. Not that you have any to begin with."

More muteness.

"Aura, you don't have to listen to me. You don't have to believe me, but I'm going to speak to you."

"And I will continue believing that if I ignore you, you'll eventually disappear."

"Not so long ago, beings tortured me, as well."

Her gaze traveled over her shoulder once more.

"There's a titan in the universe. One who seeks to appease death by destroying all he comes across. When I fell off of Asgard, I fell into his lap. He's tortured me since I've been with him because, frankly, I'm a threat to him. At first, minions did his bidding, but I resisted them with ease."

Aura wrapped a strand of hair around her finger, biting her bottom lip. There were times when Loki trained using various torture methods. He wanted to build a tolerance, he said. It scared her every time. Her nostrils flared, and she straightened once more. Those times didn't matter. They wanted her empathy to break her. It was a good thing this side of her felt none of those sentimental emotions.

Loki continued. "The titan decided to break me himself. Something he has yet to accomplish. He managed influencing me with a stone that controls the mind. I'm not fully under his command, but the stone managed pulling at feelings I've long desired indulging. I won't lie to you. I've enjoyed it. But look how quickly it all fell apart."

His voice fractured. "When I found you…I never felt so much joy in my life. But your response to me, it's the worst form of torture I've endured yet. Worse than when Odin initially banished you. I have solutions for every problem I've faced. Except this one. I'm at a complete loss. My heart is shattered. I haven't the slightest inclination how to repair it, repair you."

She swallowed. Rolled her neck. Her weaker form threatened taking hold. She couldn't let it. She needed to remain in control. They probed at her weaknesses. They wanted her to show emotion. If she wasn't careful, this was how they would break her. With the weakness that had once been her love.

A man in protective gear entered the hold of the light carrier. "Sir, we've arrived."

Loki must've knew the pilot was coming, for he had risen and masked any possibility of vulnerability. "Very well."

The controlled agent eyed the fire demon then retreated back into the cockpit.

He followed suit. His words loud and clear. "Keep the jet at a safe distance. If anything happens to her, I will not hesitate to rip out your hearts and feed them back to you."

Aura quickly looked away when this Loki faced her. As much as his threat appeased her demonic cravings, she couldn't give in. As much as she longed giving in, a stubbornness inside her kept her fighting. She was tired of fighting. So tired. Yet, a part of her wouldn't allow it. The part of herself she hated. And, as much as she hated herself, she was the only person she could trust.

Loki stared at Aura as the jet prepared for landing. He wanted nothing more than to reach out to her. Wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms. How long had he waited for their reunion? How long had he waited to feel his beloved's embrace?

None of it seemed to matter anymore.

She claimed he wasn't real, yet, here he was. He had rescued her from the clutch of the mortals, but she refused accepting it. Refused accepting him. Repetitively told him she didn't want him.

His eyes closed. His heart ripping apart more than it already had.

He tried reasoning with her. Showed her his true form. Attempted bearing his soul to her. He hated allowing her to see him cry, but even that didn't have an effect on her. Not to mention he kissed her.

A moment he dreamed of since they were young. He knew she didn't take physical affection lightly. After years of thought, he comprised of a plan escorting her to the royal gardens and situating her under the largest flowering tree. They would spend some time there. They would laugh and eat. He would let her braid flowers into his hair. When the moment came, he would kiss her. A proposal of marriage may or may not be involved.

When he kissed her in the cold chamber, it was out of desperation. He was desperate to prove his existence to her. It was the only thing he could think of. He thought it had worked. The way she said breathlessly said his name made him think he won over whatever plagued her mind. How foolish he had been, assuming a mere kiss could cure her psychological ailments.

The Aura he once held dear was broken. So broken. And now, so was he.

However, his earlier statement wasn't false. His love for her hadn't changed. Even if this was the first instance in which he truly felt utterly powerless. Granted, he could use his magic and read into her mind. He could force her to accept the truth, but it could potentially cause problems later on.

He didn't want to rely on his magic with her. He already hated himself for using it to knock her unconscious. But what else was he to do? A plan had been set in motion, and they needed to get out of there. He wasn't leaving her behind to be at the mercy of the mortals. There wasn't a guarantee they would fix their aircraft.

Loki watched the carrier door descend into its ramp. Glanced back at the fire demon.

She was oblivious to the flood of light, to the rush of fresh air. She remained still and caught within her own mind.

His chest expanded with a deep breath. He long wondered if her fire derived itself from her lineage. He had been right. But he couldn't relish in it. Couldn't even grin at himself for knowing the truth all along.

How could he? Despite her status as a servant, she used to be full of life, full of love. Now, now she spoke only of death, solitude, and the killing of her soul. What had they done to her? Were the mortals really this capable?

Aura was his world, and his world crumbled through his fingers like the ruins of his own soul.

What was he to do? She wouldn't allow him near her. Wouldn't listen to his words. Wouldn't look at him or even call him by name. He had never imagined this as a potential scenario, and quite frankly, he didn't know how to deal with it. He honestly didn't know if he could process the immense grief.

It was, indeed, worse than any form of torture Thanos provided. Thanos…

No. There was a way of dealing with it all.

It may not help him with Aura's predicament, but it would help him process. Help him release the pent-up aggression he harbored since the time of her banishment.

His entire demeanor changed. He summoned a scepter from his pocket dimension. The original plan was simply launching a large enough invasion that would prove threatening to the mortals and bring together their defenses against an enemy much bigger than they imagined. The original plan was allowing them to defeat him and have Thor take him back to Asgard as prisoner.

No longer.

The Midgardians constantly talked about power. He would show them his true power. He would show them why he wasn't a foe to be taken lightly. He would show them why they shouldn't mess with his beloved.

Once he had his fun with the mortals, Asgard and Odin would be next. If that meant incapacitating Thor along the way, then so be it.

Loki looked back at Aura one last time. She rejected acknowledging him. His grip tightened on the weapon in his hands. The gem within brightened, feeding off his growing anger. Anger he didn't direct toward her. None of this was her fault. She could be so hard on herself, he only hoped she realized this wasn't her fault.

Green magic swirled around him. His full battle regalia adorned him. Helmet and cape included. Whatever he chose to do would be for her. Everything he did, he did for her. Her current state would not change that.

Determined strides carried him off the jet and onto the building brandishing Stark's name. The man's mentality didn't differ too far from his own; he would be the first to catch on to pomp and circumstance.

He approached the mortal scientist named Selvig, who finished setting up the tesseract's machine.

Selvig faced him. "The portal is nearly ready."

"Make it bigger."

"I…make it bigger? But the plan—"

Loki grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close. "I will no longer tolerate a controlled invasion. I want them all to come through, do you understand? This is the plan." He took a deep breath and soothed his hostile tone. "Why see only a sliver of the universe when you can gaze upon the entirety of it? That is what you wanted, wasn't it? To see the universe?"

Selvig nodded, his enthusiasm renewed. "I'll make the portal bigger." When he was released, hurried over to the CMS device for more tinkering.

Lust for revenge swirled within Loki's eyes as he gazed upon the city that would soon become his play thing. He walked to the edge of the tower. His trademark smirk emerging when he caught the glimmer of Stark's suit flying toward him. "Mark my words, Aura. They will pay for what they've done to you."