Into the Unknown

I Think We're Alone Now

Loki steps around the corner.

"I didn't wish to startle you." He says as he continues to walk towards me. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to clear my head a little, so I figured I would take a walk." Then I frown as I think about my answer. "Am I somewhere off limits?"

Loki shakes his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "No you're fine." He steps beside me and holds out his arm. "Come with me?"

My heart skips a beat and I wrap my hand around his arm. He leads me down stairs and along the path.

"If you really want to see Asgard, then you should see it during the day. I can take you on a tour of it while you're here." He says.

I look at him with a look of worry. "Is that ok? I mean you already risked getting thrown in the dungeons for me once."

Loki stops and looks at me. "Yes, well... I am free to go about as I please now."

"I'm glad." There is a bench with hedges behind it that we stop at and sit down.

"May I ask, who were they?" He asks hesitantly.

I let out a breath and look up into the night sky.

"Hydra. They're a terrorist group. They're the ones that were after the Tesseract during World War II."

"And why did they have you?"

I look at him. "Because I knew what was going to happen. They wanted to know what I know." I look away and wrap my arms around myself. My thumbs running against the faint scars from the electric baton. I am silent for a minute. "Umm...the dagger you gave me," I look down at my lap, "I lost it. One of them took it from me."

Loki gently places his hand under my chin and turns my head to face him.

"Don't worry about it. We'll get it back." He says.

I nod my head. "Ok."

He removes his hand and sits back. "We told Tony Stark that you are safe here in Asgard."

"You did? Did he know I was missing?" I ask.

Loki nods his head. "He seemed to be looking for you and did look relieved that you had been found."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Maybe that means he's forgiven me." I say softly.

At Loki's confused look I shake my head. "We didn't exactly part on good terms."

Loki still looks confused but doesn't say anything.

"So did you go down to Earth to tell him?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "After we came back, Odin forbade both Thor and I from going back to Midgard. I sent a illusion of us to tell him."

It doesn't escape me that Loki called him Odin and not Father. But I don't blame him. I wouldn't call him Father either. But then, my brain registers what else he said.

"Wait. You mean...you and Thor...were grounded?" At that I begin to laugh.

Loki frowns. "I fail to see the humor in that."

I laugh so hard that tears begin to fall and I wipe them away. "I'm sorry," I gasp for air as I try to calm down. "I just find it funny, to think of two gods being grounded." I fall into another fit of laughing.

I eventually calm down and look to see Loki's annoyed face. "I'm sorry." I breathe deep.

Loki huffs but cups my face in his hands and wipes away the tears with his thumbs. "Don't be. It's good to hear you laugh."

I feel like my face catches on fire at that. We stare into each other's eyes before Loki lets go and stands up, offering his hand out to me. "I'll take you back to your room."

"Oh. ok." I take his hand and he loops it around his arm.

He walks me back to my room and opens the door.

"Tell me, Pet. Do you know how to ride a horse?" He asks.

"Well, I haven't been on one since I was kid, but I think I can remember. Why?" I turn to face him.

Loki just smirks. "Oh no reason." He takes my hand and brings it up to kiss the back of my hand. "Until tomorrow, Pet." Then he turns and leaves.

My heart is pounding as I stumble into my room and close the door.

"My Lady? Are you alright? Your face is all red." I hear Kari's voice say.

I look at her and smile. "Oh hi Kari. What are you doing here?"

She raises an eyebrow. "I came to see if you wanted a bath and to help you get ready for bed."

I look down at my hand, the one Loki had kissed, and shake my head. "Uh, no bath tonight but I think I am ready for bed."

"Alright then My Lady." Kari says as she walks back towards the bedroom.

I bring my hand up to my chest and sigh, wanting to put off washing it for as long as possible, I can still feel his lips on it. Kari helps me out of my dress and into a nightgown and I lay down in the bed.

"Goodnight, Kari. Thank you." I say as she gathers up my dress.

"Goodnight My Lady. Sleep well." She curtsies and then leaves.

I let out a happy sigh. Even if Loki is just being nice, I'm going to savor every minute of it I can.