Bodega Girl

Loving Loki

Mickie collapses at Loki's feet.

"My apologies, Pet.  Teleportation can be a little disorienting."

"It's okay Loki." Loki helps her to her feet and wraps his arms around her.

"Where were they taking me Loki? I don't understand." She whimpered. "What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing, Pet. Nothing at all. You're safe now" he pulls her closer.

Looking around, Mickie pulls away and walks around the small room.  "Where are we?"

"A little pied-a-terre I acquired before I became an Avenger.  None of them know anything about it."

"Are we still in New York?"

"No, my darling. Come and see." He opens a set of French doors and walks her out on to the ornate balcony.

"Loki," she gasps, "is that the Eifel Tower?"

"Yes, darling." He walks up behind her, wraps her in his arms and places his chin on her shoulder. The intimacy of their contact make Mickie's heart stutter. Loki spins her around and her night clothes are transformed into a loose romantic flowy dress.  He has changed from his black silk pajama bottoms into a loose-fitting shirt and black jeans.

"Oh, Loki, its beautiful." He waves his hand over her head and her curls fall loose from the braid she wore it in.

"I love your hair.  You should always let it run free." He buried his face in the dark brown curls.  Her hair smelled of coconut. He runs his hand down her arm and intertwines his fingers with hers.  His skin was so pale compared to the rich brown of hers.  He gazes into her hazel eyes.  Beautiful in looks as well as spirit, he thinks to himself. He brushes a stray curl out of her face and leaning down, takes her chin in his hand and kisses her.  Mickie returns the kiss.

"I have fantasized about this moment." She says, curling into his chest. "I never though it would come true."

"You've fantasized about me, Pet?" Loki says genuinely confused.

"Of all the Avengers, you were the one I could most relate to."

Dumbfounded, Loki walks her back indoors.  A gentle breeze blows the sheer curtains out the open doors.  There wasn't much furniture in the room, a simple bed, a small table with two chairs, a tall boy dresser and a bookcase, of course filled with books.

"How so darling?"

"Well, I was abandoned as a baby too.  It was 1865 and the Civil War had just ended." She notices Loki's confusion.  "We'll review Earth's history another time baby. But basically, people who looked like me were kept as slaves by those who..." she pauses and takes a deep breath "basically looked like you."

"I don't understand."

"In my world, there are divisions between those who have darker skin and those who have what we call white skin."

"That's ridiculous."

"I know baby but that's how it is there. But let me continue my story.  We can discuss human, mortal failures at a later time.  Anyway, a young couple were heading North after Emancipation (when the slaves were freed) and they found me in a basket at the base of a tree.  Their former master had sold away all their children to pay off his gambling debts."

"He sold their children!"

"Like I said, there is some ugliness in humanity's past, well at least in my reality but Loki, baby, let me finish."

"Apologies."

"Anyway, they thought I was a gift from heaven.  They raised me and cared for me.  I was so happy even though it was still rough for former slaves. Then..." her voice hitches and Loki rubs her back in support. "Then, I stopped aging.  The woman I had loved, the only mother I ever knew, called me demonic, my father, beat me so I ran.  I sort have been running ever since. Different, and not really accepted."