Annaleise's POV

It's been a week, she started work tomorrow. The car was gone and the horse training was fun. The feeding and clean up was easy. Considering she asked if they didn't mind taking a walk to do their business and she could ask them if they were hungry. Since she can talk to her horse and already have a bond, riding was easy. She just got on and went. Anywhere and everywhere they could. They found a pond that connected to a creek not far off the property, so there was somewhere they could go to drink. Tucker has been hanging out with the horses, in or out of the barn. They were skeptical of him at first, but Tucker has the personality where he grows on you. He doesn't really give anyone a choice. Always in their business.

But the ridings didn't make Loki happy. She would often ride bareback instead of forcing a saddle on Zeus. He has yet to ride Frigga because he was focusing on hovering over her actions. He seemed upset he didn't get to teach her at all. Saying she was being reckless and childish.

She hasn't spoken to Frigga yet, she seemed silent. Maybe she was a mute, she didn't even talk to Zues or Tucker when she asked them if they heard her speak.

She still couldn't figure out what his problem is with being so protective. She honestly never thought she'd see him act this way. He was acting like a spoiled child protecting what's his.

She wasn't his…

So what difference does it make?

Why act this way if he didn't feel something for her?

That made her blush, what if he did like her?...

Maybe not…

He probably just cares for her well being because of his deep respect for her. She bet that's how he would put it. She was overthinking the situation because of her little crush on Loki.

She knew it, it was too obvious now. The way his closeness gave her goosebumps, his voice sent shivers up her spine. His gentle touches when he tries to help her or move her politely, make her legs shake. She wanted to hear him say more nice things or get angry at her goofy side. She wanted to be close to him and if he wasn't she didn't know what to do in her spare time. All she could do was think of him…

She couldn't understand her emotions.

Especially since, she would have never been this easily charmed by anyone in her life before.

She just had to gain a crush on a man from space, a former prince/God no less. Her life just became more complicated. If she were to admit it, her crush would most likely be crushed. He's the type to never go below his standards. Being a prince and a God will make him want someone just as powerful as he is.

Yes, she might be more powerful than a human but not enough for God level. He would never take interest in her. So she decided to keep her feelings and never reveal them. Just being his friend and being in his life was enough. At least that's what she convinced herself that it was.

Thinking back on Loki's past, she did feel he was still keeping something from her.

He told her all about Asgard, the war, and the frost giants. But there was a big part missing. He told her that he fell from the bifrost after it was destroyed. Though, he never explained why it came to be destroyed, or why he felt he was banished if they knew he lived.

Something was definitely missing. She didn't push it on him before because she figured it was a touchy subject. Even more so than his entire life stolen from him. Maybe he felt guilty, something she knew he would never admit to feeling. She thought that maybe she would confront him about it, considering there was to be no secrets between them.

Since they were at the dinner table eating in silence there was no better time to ask.

"So.."

He looked up from his food to gaze at her. With his beautiful green eyes…

"You didn't mention it before, I figured I had no need to ask because you were to tell me everything. But there is a large gap in your story. You told me once before you did something you felt would never be forgivable. Do you feel up to telling me?"

He remained silent. He looked down at his food once more. Giving a look she has never seen on his face before… It was guilt.

"Nothing gets past you…"

He chuckled sadly with his reply.

"I-... I-I don't think I'm ready…"

"Why?"

"I don't think… you, of all people, would find it in your heart to forgive what I've done. It is far worse than anyone could ever do."

"Surely, it can't be that bad. You said you would tell me all your truths. I promised you I would listen to be here for you. If it is as bad as you say, I will find a way to forgive you. Though, I feel I already will."

"I doubt it."

"Try me."

He was silent once again. He looked even more in guilt as he thought about where to start. She could tell, he was going to tell her the very last of it. He wouldn't be giving that look if he wasn't.

"After the discovery of my adoption and my heritage, my desire to prove that Asgard was my true home, made it look like revenge. In a way it could have very well been revenge, but truly my intention was to prove that I was home, that they were my true family…. But in the end, I did something very wrong… I see that now."

She placed a hand on his, silently reassuring him that she was there for him.

"I-I set a trap to kill the Jotun King."

"Your birth father?"

"Yes. But he didn't know I was to kill him, what he knew was part of the plan. It was to let him and a small group of frost giants into Asgard to kill their King… that I would help him in to do the deed."

"Your adopted father?!"

"Yes… it was all a ruse. Just to show my family and Asgard that I would always protect them. That no matter where I was born they were my family."

"So the trap was of good intention. But, did you really kill your birth father? Did you succeed?"

"Yes, I struck him down right before he was to kill Odin, so they would know I rescued him from an assassination."

"And It worked?"

"It did, it impressed my mother and I assumed Odin at the time. He was in Odinsleep, so there was no way of really knowing. I didn't expect for my brother to arrive, that ruined a lot of things for my original plan. He told mother what I did to him and the Warriors Three, here on earth."

"What did you do?"

He was silent again, trying to form the words.

"In Asgard we have a powerful guard that protects our most valuable relics. It is called the Destroyer, only to be commanded by the king. Since I was king at one point, after Thor's banishment and Odin trapped in his slumber. The throne was left to me, as the remaining air. I could use it. Let's just say, it lives up to its name without fail…. Remember how I said the Warriors Three went to get Thor to bring him home?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, that would have ruined my plans if he came home. He would have made everything I worked hard for to end. So I sent the Destroyer down here, to earth,... to kill him."

"B-But you wanted to prove yourself to your adopted parents… why would you try to kill your brother? Didn't you love him?"

"At the time… he was a threat to my plans… I did what I had to, to try, and make things right… I never thought he would actually get killed."

"He died! Then how did you fight on the bridge?!"

"Apparently his sacrifice to save the people earned him his right to regain his powers once more. Making him no longer a mortal, it saved him. In turn, with his god powers returned, made him more motivated to stop me. He didn't realize my true intentions."

"You sent the Destroyer to kill him, what is there to not misunderstand?!"

"In that you are correct. Though, in all the time I've had to spend here with you, I have had lots of time to think… plenty of time to regret… and I feel that I have much to feel guilty for… Many things I have done to never be forgivable and I feel the kindness I have received was never mine to earn. Though you have no idea how hard it is to speak of this. How difficult it is, to betray who I've been for so long just to tell you. You, out of all the people in the universe, should know my truth were it ever to be made a tale to tell once I am long gone. At least one person would know my side of the story. You have every right to that honor for all you have done for me."

She was not sure how to continue this conversation. She felt honored he opened up himself to her, despite the war inside of him. Though rather than to linger on that, she had to have her questions answered. She always felt that he was rude in the beginning but never so harsh as to attempt to murder his brother and to kill his father…. Though… maybe his real father deserved to see his regrets in his final moments for underestimating his son…

"But you didn't want him to die… right?"

"No! I may have envied my brother, but not once have I ever stopped loving him."

It looked like he was shocked by his honesty once again.

"Then why...?"

She said in a flat tone, that startled Loki by the looks of it.

"I-... I don't really know why… I was blinded… by what I truly wanted… Even though I desired to belong in my family, I wanted nothing in my path that would end it all. Unfortunately, with the Warriors Three not knowing my true intentions, twisting them to Thor it made him a threat. I simply wanted to make it harder to return so he wouldn't stop all that I've worked for, nothing more. I admit, ordering the Destroyer I wanted him to be eliminated, was too far. In the end, he did grow strong. He fought for something, for once in his life, that meant something to him. He lived his life before, a selfish man, he would only fight for what he thought was honor. He never understood what it meant to rule or fight for the good of the people, not for glory… He was an arrogant, brash, childish brute. Only through his suffering and pain, the kindness of a woman and his new friends of Midgard, did he start to see. He finally learned unselfishness and the desire to keep people safe, even when he was completely powerless. With no gift or abilities he faced it. I really thought he would run but he didn't. He died… but got everything back, his powers, his kingdom, his home… except the girl. So maybe it was what he needed… to be a better man... a powerful god... and an even greater king."

He spoke highly of his brother, like he was proud of his changes. To Rule Asgard to a Peaceful existence without a need for Glory in battle. But it still couldn't change the fact he tried… but didn't try… to kill his own brother. This is an odd family. They definitely have unresolved issues… If only they felt like they could talk to each other, really listen… Maybe they could understand one another…

She still needed to know why... she needed to undersand. she needed to... to know him better... what was he thinking? He can't be that heartless. He couldn't...

"So there was more to your plan?"

"Yes, though far worse than anything I have told you. Do you really wish to hear it?"

"I do, Loki, I want to know all of it. I need to know everything so I can get it all out of the way. The sooner I know the truth, the sooner I can forgive you. Though I have to admit… so far it is proving to be difficult. I know it didn't happen to me, and I have no part in it. But it's the principle that you never told me everything I needed to know when it was supposed to be put out in the open. That, and… the fact I thought you would never do such a thing…Learning these new things about you, will help me to know who you were. I have to find a way to get over the things you have done because I want to be there for you…the you now… and the you before."

"After all you have done for me you have earned that right. Though… I am truly sorry. I never should have kept that out, you had the right to know. I should have told you when we were telling each other everything days before, but... I was…. afraid..."

"Why!? What could you possibly be so afraid of to keep the truth from me???"

"If I'm being completely honest… I was known as the God of mischief and lies. Lying was second nature to me, it came easily. Lying wasn't the hard part… it was lying to you… you have never once lied to me with ill intent, you even warned me that knowing the truth can put me in danger. Meaning there were things you were forced to lie about… I could tell if you were to lie to me to affect me. You only lied for my safety, not for your gain."

"I already knew you were a good liar, without knowing you were a God of lies. I could tell when you lied to me too. It was very convincing when you did. But that doesn't explain why you were afraid…"

"I-I… It-..."

He stuttered in his words, but finally he was able to form them.

"I-I was… scared… to lose you-... Your friendship."

He looked like he wasn't really wanting that sentence to end where he added on.

Regardless of it being convincing she knew it was a lie, but she decided to leave it where it was. She didn't want to push him into admitting what he doesn't want to, it's not like it was anything important. It probably was her home he was going to say.

"Okay… tell me the rest then…"

"A-Are you sure?"

"Why are you stuttering? You're a God, you shouldn't be this nervous."

"You think it's easy for me to admit the worst parts of myself! I'm doing the best I can, God or not!"

"Sorry…"

"It's fine, I'm just…. not really sure you can forgive all of my past actions."

"I promised that I'd try."

"That's right, you did, but that doesn't scare me any less."

"It's gonna be okay Loki, do you trust me and my promises?"

"Of course, you have never steered me wrong, I could never see you doing so."

"Then there's nothing to fear."

He took many deep breaths trying to calm himself.

"When Thor returned, he told my mother of what I had done in sending the Destroyer. No doubt my father and all of Asgard would hear of it as well. So it only made the rest of my plan not an alternative but an absolute must. It had to be completed if I were to prove my loyalty. End the war in the process."

He continued to breathe trying to shake his fears.

"The bifrost if left open on a realm can tear the realm in two. Destroying the entire planet and everything on it."

"You didn't..."

She gasped in horror as his head dropped. He couldn't look her in the eye.

"I-I did… that's why me and my brother fought. In his change, he cared for all life, even the frost giants."

"How could you?!"

"I didn't think-"

"You didn't think what?! That the women and children may have been innocent! That if they weren't to be taught the ways of the frost giants before them they had the possibility to change! Their lives were precious, they were the generation that could have made the frost giants different!"

"But, Thor stopped me, they were spared. Only a quarter of the planet was destroyed."

"A quarter too many, that many on earth could be millions of people. You slaughtered millions of frost giants!"

"There weren't that many-"

"It doesn't matter if your actions are still the same!"

He was frozen in his gaze on her, he looked very sad.

"You look just as disappointed as my father was."

"Why wouldn't he?! Why wouldn't I?! Would he have done that as a king?"

"No… he would never…"

"Then what made you think that would make him proud?!"

"I agree, after much thought it wasn't the best plan-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence!"

She pointed violently at him. He had a look of hurt that reflected off of her own. With nothing but betrayal that lingered in her heart.

"Plan or no plan, someone would have to work up a lot of courage to slaughter an entire planet. You talk as though you didn't bat an eye before you had time to reflect on what you had done."

"It wasn't easy-"

"I wasn't finished!"

She shouted over him with tears forming in her eyes, despite her inner protests to hide them. What she was going to say was going to hurt not only him…

"What you did was not justified, it made you no better than THEM! Your father and family had every right to be disappointed in you, for what you did… You felt no remorse for them! You didn't even think of the lives you were taking! That is nothing to be proud of, you should feel guilty!…. I can't believe you would do such a thing, It hurts knowing you did something like that. You called yourself a monster… I never believed it before but I definitely do now. You are a monster!"

The look on his face was unreadable, but it definitely looked like pain. Tears fell from her eyes, she felt it needed to be said but that didn't make it any easier. She made a promise to forgive him, but now it was definitely easier to break that promise. At least it felt that way with how emotional it made her. Though the longer the silence was, the more she regretted what she just said. She realized only after what she put at the end of her statement is what haunted him the most. Monster…

"Oh god… I- I'm sorry I…"

She felt more tears as he sat there, almost lifeless.

"I'll just go… sorry…"

She did as she said and left. She walked to her room and shut the door. She paced around her room, feeling the pain wallowing in her.

"God I'm the worst! How could I say that!? To him of all people! I say I'll forgive him, then go calling him a monster. That was the worst thing I could have ever done!"

'I'll say.'

She jumped to the voice, she knew it was a familiar voice, but it still startled her nonetheless considering she thought she was alone.

"Cleo… jeez… I'm sorry I didn't know you were here."

'It's cool, It wasn't like I was taking a peaceful nap till you stormed in.'

"Thanks for the sarcasm, it was very much needed right now."

'And yet your response to sarcasm is sarcasm.'

"Shut up… I was better off talking to myself."

'Well I don't care about human problems so go talk to yourself elsewhere. Better yet go talk to your new horse buddy.'

"You know what, maybe I will!"

She definitely didn't feel like walking past Loki again, so she ripped off the plywood from her still broken window and left without another word.

Loki's POV

He sat there for what felt like a thousand lifetimes. He never moved an inch from where he sat at the dinner table after she left. It could have very well been hours though he could care less how long it's really been.

Though he could tell by the remaining cold food on his plate and the darkness of the night from the window said it all. He should be mad, he should be sparing, hitting something, or cursing to the world. But he was here, wallowing in his…

Wait a minute, pain?…

He was hurt by a human no less, a pathetic mortal?!

Now that made him angry, though it didn't last long… neither did the word pathetic seem to suit her at all… His mind trailed to what she said, the scene on constant repeat in his head. He knew she regretted it, but the strangest part is that she didn't believe what she said. It was a lie, but… why say it if it was a lie. Maybe she was just really upset.

He saw her tears… and wanted nothing more than to wipe them away.

This stunned him, why in the Nine Realms would he care for someone else's well being? Let alone what they think or feel. A mortal, a being he thought so lowly of.

But in her case, she is thought so highly of that she surpasses even him… and he held himself above the highest of standards. She might as well be more important than Odin…

But why!?

It can't just be because of her kindness, anyone can be kind. Though another person can just as easily call him a monster, it would be the truth, but he would be unaffected. For some reason though, not her… and she even apologized, when he very well should have been the one to apologize.

But again, why did he want to apologize to a human? He was a God… right… Was… a God… and being a God didn't nearly make him as happy as he has been in her presence.

So, she couldn't be compared…

She was different from any God or mortal. She had everything he wished he could have. And it's nothing that she owns or the company she keeps.

It's her loyalty and strength…

Her kind and caring nature…

It's her love for everyone and everything…

No matter how much she's lost…

She still finds a way to smile and be thankful for all that she has.

That is something he wished would come to him just as easily. But he felt that even if he did have it, it still wouldn't be enough… then

what was it?

What did he really want?

Then it hit him…

Sometimes, the most important questions aren't enough… it just takes one… one that made him realize what he really wanted all along…

He denied it for so long, kept thinking it was a fluke, maybe he was mistaken. No matter how many times he denied it, it remained the truth. For finally realizing it didn't seem wrong at all, in fact it was his truth.

He should have seen it in his obsessive need to keep her safe. To protect someone who probably didn't need his protection. But, he worried and cared for her anyway.

He tried his best not to see her that way, or let her get closer. Only for her to slip past his walls and barriers, somehow making it easier for him and harder at the same time. His brothers actions began to make sense, the words he didn't want to be right… were just that…

The reason why he respected a mortal.

The reason he desired to keep her safe and protect her.

The reason he defies his nature to lie and speaks to her with nothing but his truths.

The reason he felt the need to never see her cry and to always see her smile.

The reason that even the smallest things she does make his entire day.

The reason that even a moment without her around was nothing but a bore and when she came back the room would get much brighter.

The reason he realized he can never go on living a life on earth without her in it.

The reason he desired her body, her mind, her soul… her heart…

He didn't want what she had… he wanted her…

That thought alone felt impure, why would a God desire such a weak creature. Though she has proved time and time again she wasn't weak. He felt he was at war with himself, fighting his new self versus the old.

Though no matter what the arguments were they both said the same thing.

That no matter how he looked at it, all of him wanted her…

HE wanted Annaleise.

She was his compass, stearing him the right way. Making sure he doesnt lose sight of his true worth. She was always there making him feel better, looking out for him, caring to his needs without being asked to or even k owing of his life before. Treated him like a person... rather than someone always pretending to like him because they felt like they had to. Or valued his power or wealth instead of him...

She just does all those things, because she cares for him as a person.

That made her the most unique of them all.

How could she forgive him? She promised she would, but he doesn't understand her understanding. A normal person would call him a Monster and mean it. She couldn't even follow through, she didnt mean what she said. Which meant she didnt think he was a monster. She still held hope for him... which is more than he felt he could have.

He felt as if he didn't deserve her. Him, a God, felt he didn't deserve a mere mortal. He was starting to get tired of those words, God and mortal. It doesn't seem to define who she is but what she is, same as him.

They were titles, nothing more, they didn't make her any less of who she is... and that was okay. So, maybe being a God had no meaning.

Only his actions and who he chose to be, did.

That's what did it for him, that's what made him want to move, to get up and see her face again. He didn't care if she was mad at him. She could even hate him, but he wanted there to be nothing but truth between them. As proof of his loyalty only to her, since she has done him that courtesy. He was going to look into her dazzling eyes and tell her exactly how he felt. Not as a God talking to a mortal, but as a man talking to a woman.

He walked up to her door, hesitant to knock.

He felt a fear linger in him, what if she rejected him, could he live with that.

He shook it off and chose to deal with it if the time came. He then knocked on her door, nothing but silence to be heard after.

"Annaleise… I wish to speak with you…"

Silence.

"It's just, I wanted to tell you something. I promise, I don't wish to anger you or anything… I just.. Can you please open the door?! I wish to talk to you, not to it!"

He was raising his voice a bit. He was both nervous and frustrated to be talking to a door.

But once again there was only silence.

"Annaleise."

Nothing. This began to worry him.

"I'm opening the door, okay?"

He did just that to find an empty room and the plywood off of the window.

"Not this again…"

He leapt through the window, onto the ground. He looked to the grass looking for tracks, expecting to find something animal. To his surprise they were human, he followed them to the barn. He looked up to see only his horse in the barn.

"Shit!"

She doesn't know how to properly ride a horse, it's even worse that it's night time. What if she runs them down a cliff, or gets knocked out by a tree.

Both highly likely in a forest for days. He had no other thought than to find her, he could care less about Zos or Zes, whatever the horse's stupid name was. He prepared his horse only to notice she left her saddle.

"Stupid girl!"

Now she was an inexperienced rider, riding in the night, without a damned saddle! He shouted in frustration, which spooked his horse. He calmed and patted her neck.

"Sorry, girl."

He managed to work with her for saddling but never got the chance to mount her… it was now or never.

He could only hope through their current bond, she understood his desire to find Annaleise.

He finished saddling her up and hopped on with ease. He patted her neck in thanks to her calmness. It felt good to feel the breathing of a horse again, having its might in control of his transportation. Though another time can be used to enjoy this moment, right now he needed to locate his dumb mortal. Though he had to smile at the thought of thinking of her as HIS dumb mortal.

"Let's go, Frigga."

He tapped her sides and left the barn.

Leaving it empty…

At least that's what it would have been if a shadowy figure wouldn't have been standing there. Watching as the God raced into the forest.

They kept looking around as they felt eyes on them. Continuing to follow their trail into the woods.