Winter Sunshine

Mirrors

If Savannah was surprised to hear that Loki knew the words to Queen, Tony was even more so. He'd been watching them from his penthouse, asking JARVIS to send him the live video feed. Now Tony was astonished, for Savannah and Loki were having a pillowfight. They then collapsed in a tired heap on the bed, giggling like hormonal teenagers.

Tony knew that it was wrong to watch them, that it was an invasion of their human rights, or, at least Savannah's human rights- Loki was a god, you dull creature- he still could not bring himself to trust them.

Well, he trusted Savannah, but he most certainly did not trust Loki. So when Loki suddenly pulled Savannah up, and started twirling her around, he had a sudden urge to see if gods were resilient to machetes being thrown at their heads. Probably. Were they dancing?

Savannah hated dancing.

She was good at it though, but that didn't stop Tony storming down the stairs as the end of the song approached. Loki was not going to kiss Savannah. He burst in, terrifying Savannah, but Loki didn't even flinch. Damn. 

Savannah seemed embarrassed, but Loki just turned to Tony, and asked, in a scarily calm voice-

'Is there anything you wanted, Stark? Savannah and I are busy at the moment.'

'No, I just-'

'Goodbye, then.'

Tony turned on his heel, absolutely terrified. Loki was one scary mothafucker. Before he left, however, he shouted back over hs shoulder-

'Careful, 'Vannah.'

Savannah glared at his retreating back.

'He still does not trust me.' Loki mused.'Interesting.'

'Is it now?' 

'Calm yourself, Savannah, he has much cause to distrust me.'

'Like what? Since you've come here, you've been nothing but good. You just saved the Avengers' lives today. He has no right to treat you like that.'

'Savannah, I killed people, I attempted to subjugate Midgard, I tried to kill my brother while he was mortal, I used a sceptre to control people's minds and force them to kill people. He has more than enough reason. I killed my own father, you know. Why should he trust me with your life?'

'Because you're not like that anymore. Because all of us can see that you are trying.'

'Perhaps he believes that it is a ploy. I am, after all the God of Lies, Mischief, Trickery and Dec-'

'But you said that you were only called that beca-'

'Yes, I know. But it is the principle of it, is it not?'

'Loki, you've been as well behaved as Steve, while you stayed here.'

'Exactly. I am supposed to be the bringer of Ragnarok, I am the epitome of Chaos, Savannah. It must be a lie. How can the Destroyer of Worlds, the Bringer of the End possibly be good?' Loki snapped, bitterly.

'Oh, Loki. Come here. You need a hug.'

'Hugs don't solve all problems.'

'Yeah, but they come pretty damn close.' Savannah pulled Loki into a tight hug, reaching up to stroke his hair placatingly. The 'thank you' that ensued was muffled, but genuine nevertheless. When he was released from her grip, surprisingly strong, for a mortal, he noticed, with a shock that she was glowing. 

'This is me, Loki. You don't have to show me your Jotunn form anymore, but I want you to see this. You made me understand that if people called me a monster, that didn't necessarily make me one. You showed me that people can care about other people. You told me that I was wrong for hating myself. I may be hideous, but you told me that others can look beyond the skin.'

'Savannah, how do you remember me?' Savannah realised that she could remember everything, but that she was in her other form.

'Loki, this is amazing.'

'And, Savannah, if you could see what I can see, you wouldn't hate yourself.' He led her to her to the bathroom, but she flinched away at his touch.

'Don't touch me, my skin will burn you, like acid.'

'I am a god.'

'Yes, we know, Loki. But still...'

'Fine, but you must look into the mirror.'

'Okay, but I want to do it in private.'

'Agreed.' Loki left the room, and Savannah turned slowly to gaze at her reflection. A scream, and the sound of broken glass caused Loki to teleport back into the bathroom.

'Savannah?' She was oblivious, sobbing hysterically and shivering. When Loki approached, she scrambled away from him, whimpering loudly.

'Sssh, Savannah, it's me.'

'Who are you?' She didn't remember him again. Wonderful.

'I'm not going to hurt you, I promise.' He reached out to take her hand, but she hissed, and pulled it away. Loki sighed, and lifted her up. She hissed, and shrieked, and writhed. Damn, she was right, her skin burnt. Loki laid her down gently on the bed, and looked at her. She had started jerking now, and was in danger of hurting herself. There was nothing for it. Loki stretched out his consciousness, invading her mind. He pulled out, with a shock. The mirror. Loki entered her mind again, and calmed her down, urging her to return to her preferred form. She whimpered again, a long, drawn out cry, and he scooped her up into his arms. He felt her body lose its resistance, and she shrunk, a little, and faded back to her normal skin tone.

Tony. The mortal would see this with the cameras soon, and so he used his magic to shield them both.

'Loki?'

'Yes, pet?' She was conscious again, thank the Allfather, and she was frowning up at him, worriedly.

'What happened?'

A/N: Mwah-hah-hah. Eating peanut butter from the jar.