Birthright

Do we HAVE to?

They materialised on a sandy beach, in the shade of a palm tree. The blue of the Caribbean sea was an amazing turquoise, the sky an azure canopy.

A warm but gentle breeze wafted over them, and instantly, Loki conjoured more appropriate clothing.

Barefoot, he stood in a collarless linen shirt, pale linen loose trousers, and mirrored sunglasses. He looked, quite frankly, stunning.

Asa smiled as she realised he had given her a beautifully flowing sundress, sunglasses, and a large straw hat.

"Loki!" She grabbed his hands."We really shouldn't be here. We've abandoned our friends!" She sounded more sad than anything else. Her conscience bothered her that they'd managed to escape, leaving Fury and Tony and Thor to carry the can.

"Fear not pet, we will not be gone for long. I just want them all to get comfortable with Banner, make him aware of the situation. Let them work on him a little before I..." he trailed off, and instantly, she realised what this was REALLY about. He was scared they'd say no. He was scared Banner wouldn't agree to let them speak to the council. He was scared he'd end up on The Raft. Alone. Again.

She pulled him close, smelling his familiar mix of spice, citrus, leather, and good old-fashioned sex appeal. "Loki. It's ok to be afraid. It's ok to need others to help you through this." She reassured him, looking deep into his eyes.

His face darkened. "I only allow you to say that because I love you, Asa. I am NEVER afraid. Not of them, not of anything." He scowled at her, and his eyes sparked with emerald fire.

Asa didn't break her gaze. "Really? Do you think you can make me believe that, do you? You forget one thing. I am a Valkyrie. I can smell fear. And right now? I don't know who is more scared. Me or you." She entwined her fingers with his, comparing the sizes of their hands. "Sometimes, being afraid is a good thing." She looked up at him, and he raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"How so, my little Valkyrie?"

"Well, it proves you have something to lose. Something valuable. I am afraid to lose you." She smiled and squeezed his hand.

For a second, Loki hesitated, "Well, I am NOT afraid of any...." she felt her stomach plummet. "No, wait. That's a lie." He sighed, and his shoulders dropped. "That's simply not true. I am, as you so quite rightly point out, terrified." He shook, and his eyes filled with emotion. "Terrified we are parted before we've even begun. I so want us to be united. Forever. And I'm so scared this will prevent that."

Asa blinked. Was he saying what she THOUGHT he was saying? She watched as he turned and put a finger under her chin, tipping her head up to meet his gaze.

"Wh... what are... I mean... are you...' Suddenly, she couldn't string more than two words together. She looked at him, eyes brimming.

"Yes, my Queen. I am saying EXACTLY that. But not here, not now. We have a fight to finish. Then, we will have all the time in the world." He smiled and kissed her deeply. She slipped her hands around his neck and he pressed her to him.

"So we're going back then?" She murmured into his chest. "Do we have to?" She giggled and a deep laugh rumbled in his chest.

"You've changed your tune, as Tony would say!" Loki laughed and helped her to stand, brushing the sand off her. Asa nodded.

"Let's just say I've learned a new song." She smiled.

"If it's a song you want, I have just the one. I'll sing it to you tonight in bed." He winked and she knew he meant it. She also knew it might be a long time before that ever happened.

With a groan, he changed them back into their fighting gear and took her hand. "Ready?"

"No, but I guess we go anyway!" She looked up at him, trying to hide her own fears. If he could see inside her head, he could see her terror. He could see the fear of them being parted. He would also see her love for him.

"I see it Asa. Believe me, I see it." Was all he said as they walked hand in hand into the swirling vortex.

"So you're back then." Banner looked up from the screen he was studying in the lab. Even as Director, he still wanted to do practical things to help the flowm.

"No thanks to your goon squad Bruce!" Tony was openly hostile. This was NOT how friends acted towards one another. "What the hell man? We were friends!" He glared and Bruce looked away. It was difficult to believe things had changed so much.

"Things change Tony. People change. Ideas change. But some people? They never change no matter what you do. Loki is that person. He will never change his personality. He can't, its just not in his nature." Bruce paused and walked over to the little group of sorry looking individuals.

"I mean, look at today! He just upped and left, leaving you to carry the can. Some friend he turned out to be." Bruce smiled and looked as if he were about to leave. He paused and turned back, just in time to receive the fright of his life. His eyes widened, and even though he was green, he visibly blanched.

Loki had materialised in front of him, Asa to the side. He smiled as he saw Banners blood run cold. "Now THAT is just where you're wrong."

He looked at his friends. "I'm sorry, I went away temporarily, I promise to do better. Now, Bruce, what would you like me to tell you?"