Krystal

80

I go upstairs to the room where I know Loki is and pause for a second to compose myself. As excited as I am to see him again, I didn't know what I was going to say.

Once I've got the nerve I walk in there without knocking, I find him laying on the bed asleep. I kick off my shoes and lay down next to him, but try not to wake him.

I gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear. He looks so peaceful when he's like this. It's almost as if he knew I was here, because he wraps an arm around me and pulls me in close.

"Star?" he asks, with his eyes still heavy.

"Hi" I smile and place a kiss on his forehead to wake him up.

"You came back to me".

"Of course I did" I pull his head to my chest to comfort him.

"I failed you" he sighs.

"No you didn't, Loki".

"I should have come for you myself" his voice is full of regret.

"I'm hardly worth risking losing your head over" I laugh.

"You are to me" he sounds sincere and tightens his hold on me.

I scoot down a little so we're now at eye level, and his eyes look just like mine did yesterday, when I'd barely slept for days.

"Thor made a deal with your father so I'm safe now. I can go anywhere I want, do anything I want and be whoever I choose".

"Is that what you want?"

"As long as I can do it with you".

"I am not going anywhere" he smiles as I raise my hand to his cheek, gently caressing his handsome cheekbone.

"Just rest for now, you look tired".

"Will you stay?"

I hold him close until he falls asleep. In truth, I'm still worried about what that man in the golden armour said, but for now I just wanted to enjoy this rare moment of peace while it lasts.

It wasn't something I felt very often, but now I'm laying here with Loki, my thoughts had never been clearer. I wanted every part of him, his strength and his vulnerability.

I love him.

After a while, I sneak away and back downstairs to where everyone else is because I needed a favour.

I needed some time alone with Loki to figure everything out now that I don't have to keep constantly worrying about being killed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So what do you say?" I finally ask after I've begged Stephen to send us away somewhere private.

"You want me to find you somewhere so that you can spend more time alone with a known murderer?" he definitely looks like he's going to say no.

"Thor?" I plead with my eyes and pout, hoping he'll vouch for his brother.

"My brother will not harm her or anyone else for that matter. If he tries, then she is more than capable of stopping him herself".

"What is the worst that can happen?" Wong questions Stephen, who remains sat down, not even looking at me.

"Thor, you sent her to me so she could have a positive influence. In the time she's been with him, he's trained her to be a killer".

"That's not true. He taught me to protect myself from people who don't fight with honour, that's all. I would've been dead if it weren't for him".

"You should've called us!" he gets up from his chair, storming over to me.

"So you or Wong could get hurt again? He didn't hold back or take it easy on me, just like a real enemy wouldn't either. They don't stop once you're on the ground and help you back up. They actually kill you".

"So you kill them instead? Where's the honour in that?"

"And if I don't kill them, then at least I get to die as a good person, is that it?"

"I wanted to teach you to defend yourself, not watch you become a monster!"

I take a step back from him and watch his expression change to one filled with regret. He didn't mean it, but that doesn't mean it hurt any less to hear him say it.

"Fine. If that's how you feel then I'll go".

"Wait!" I hear Wong following me out of the room when I storm out.

"Do you think I'm a monster too?"

"No, he didn't mean that, he's just scared you will get hurt. Loki doesn't exactly have the best reputation".

"So you don't think people can change?"

"People yes, but gods are different. He is literally the God of Mischief".

"And I'm a witch, but that doesn't mean I'm walking around with a broomstick, casting spells on people, does it?"

"Let me send you both away myself for a few days, at least until you and Stephen have calmed down".

"I'm not the one with the problem. This isn't just some stupid crush, it's more than that".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few hours later, Loki wakes up and we get ready to leave. I hated the idea of leaving without Stephen's approval, but Wong's right. It's best if we both had some time apart.

Thor and Loki say their goodbyes, and I realise this is the first time I've ever seen them together. Stephen doesn't come out, even while I say my own goodbyes to Wong and Thor.

"Ready?" Wong asks before opening up a portal for us.

"As we'll ever be" I smile up at Loki.