Loki's Last Chance: The Chosing of a King

High Running Emotions and Painfull Recollections

Loki POV

After Mari stormed out, all I could do was stare at the door.

I had really screwed up this time. Mari was one of the most patent people I know. I must have really hit a nerve because, as I saw it, I hadn't said much at all.

Captain Rogers soon entered looking confused.

"What have you done now?" He asked, shaking his head. "Looks like you scared away the only person on this ship that was on your side."

"I'm not entirely sure of what I did to send Mari away, but you might want to inform agents to leave her be until she cools down. Anyone that approaches her may end up hearing things they shouldn't. She lashes out when upset, and though she is not the strongest Asgardian out here, she can bring your world down like that." I warned, giving a snap to emphasize the point.

"Understood." Steve then turned to walk back out the door and left.

I returned to the my single bench and tried to figure out where I went wrong.

When I had said that it was my future too, I meant it like I wanted to be with her, but she must have took it a different way. There had to be something I was missing. And what did she mean by history was repeating itself?

Mari POV

After walking for what seemed like forever, I found myself in the deepest, most secure area in the whole ship, typing in the key-code. It was a roomy safe containing hard copies of agent, mission, and target files in filingcabnets along every wall. I moved to the far corner and leaning on the wall, slid down to sit on the floor. There I pulled my knees to my chest and continued to cry.

I had always had trouble with relationships. Having no attraction to either sex, it was always hard to see the appeal of having another so close and enjoy it. I was just awkward when men tried to get close to me. I was asexual, as the Midgardians called it. But I was a lonely romantic, so craved the affection and love of a relationship sometimes.

I had been in courtships before, when it was custom on Earth, but they never lasted long. I knew that I could never allow the relationships to get as far as marriage, so I did not encourage the men. They each eventually gave up in their pursuit of me. Any man that was interested usually had ulterior motives like my money, body, or innocence, to put it lightly.

But there was one boy that broke that curve a looooong time ago. He was sweet and innocent, curious about everything I could tell and teach him. He was always asking questions. He was like Loki in many ways, from appearance to personality. And maybe that's why I let him hang around longer than the others. When he asked to court me, I kindly let him down saying I was not looking for a husband. Though he was disappointed, he stuck around; probably thinking he could wait for me.

I had started having feelings for him soon afterward, though I knew that I could never get too close. He had become like a best friend in many ways; always inviting me to spend time down by the lake, under the weeping willow. I looked forward to seeing him, was happy in his presence, and missed him when I was lonely in my empty house. (I had begun feeling this way about Loki recently, also)

It was a year after he asked to court me that everything went wrong.

He became fatally ill with Malaria after a visit to his uncle's cocoa plantation. He was rushed to the local hospital after I pointed out that his symptoms were more severe than a simple fever, so was placed in a cot and kept as comfortable as possible. I knew they did not have the right medicine and treatments to save him and that his recovery would rely on his ability to pull through on his own. I stayed by his bedside constantly, soothing and caring for him. Most of the time he had been in a fevered slumber, only waking for short periods of time to eat and drink.

He died after ten days in hospital; peacefully in his sleep.

Since then I have avoided his name and any memories related to his existence. I can't even say his name here. So the only real relationship I had had before Loki ended in the ultimate heartbreak.

As my tears slowed in the still room, I realized I was being ridiculous. There was no reason I should have lashed out like that, even if he meant it the way I took it. I was being childish, placing him in a category of men that he very well may not be a part of. But my self pity wanted to hang on so much that I let tears fall that had been pent up for years.

It was hours later when the lock on the door clicked open and a woman peeked her head inside. I quickly wiped my tears with my hands and looked to see who it was. To my surprise, it was a face I knew but had not yet met in person.

Pepper Pots gave me a soft smile from the doorway as she slipped into the room, closing the door behind her.

"Hey... you feeling better?" She asked, coming to sit beside me against the wall.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, rubbing at my sore eyes.

"Apparently the Avengers don't have the guts to try and deal with an emotional woman, so sent for their girlfriends." Pepper bumped my shoulder softly.

"I'm guessing Loki told them to steer clear of me while I'm upset." I laughed, sniffling. "So they sent you all alone to deal with me? That's not very nice of them."

"Well, they have asked Thor's girlfriend, Jane, to come."

"Now that is totally unnecessary. Thor isn't even here, so she has no need to be on the ship."

"SHIELD has offered her a short term position as a researcher, so she has at least one reason to come. Jane should be here in an hour or so." She moved to rub my back a bit as I tried to stop crying.

"But none of this is necessary! I just needed some time to cool down. I over reacted and set myself off."

"Sure, but they also think it would be a good idea for there to be more girls around other than just Natasha and you, so either way I think it will be fun." Pepper smiled.

I sat up and wiped the last few tears from my face. "I'm Mari, by the way." I introduced myself, holding my hand out to her.

"Pepper Potts." She replied, shaking my outstretched hand. "So what was that all about anyway? They played us the video feed from your argument, but you got really quiet just before storming out. What was that about? It looked like whatever you said was good, because you both smiled more."

Pepper bumped my shoulder, smiling.

"Oh... I'm glad the guys did not hear that." I chuckled.

"What did you say? There are no cameras here, and I swear I won't tell anyone."

"Well... ok." I smiled back, happy to have another girl to talk to. "Loki and I are courting. So I was telling him that everyone in Asgard knows."

"Courting is like dating, right?"

"Yeah."

"That is so cute! The others don't know, right?"

"Yeah, we thought it would be good idea if we didn't tell them. It would not have helped our case in any way." I shrugged.

"So where does this put you guys now? Are you still together?"

"I don't know... We will probably have to talk about it."

"Well, why don't we head back to the rooms. You look exhausted. You can talk to him later." She stood up and offered me her hand.

"Sure." She helped me up and we left the quiet room.

As long as Pepper keeps her promise and my talk with Loki ends okay, things may turn out fine. That is, if everything in Asgard goes well. 

A/N

Extra long chapter for you guys! It is almost 400 more words than I usually write, so be happy :)

Hope you enjoy!