Stars Have Fallen - A Loki Love Story (Marvel/Avengers)

7

Loki closed his book and set it down delicately. A cool smirk graced his lips as he stood. "Back so soon, Brother?"

Thor nodded once, then explained while gesturing to the star, "it would seem you've gained a friend, after all."

"A friend," Loki repeated raising his eyebrows slightly in satisfaction. He watched Estrial hop gracefully through the barrier to meet him. "God, you're like a puppy," he scoffed. Though he was trying to remain cool, it was hard to convince himself that this woman wasn't completely adorable.

"I have missed," Estrial began in her quiet voice, "watching you."

Loki blinked, struck speechless by the awkward statement. His gaze turned to Thor for a moment. "Is this some means of torture?" He questioned. Again, the lies were heavy on his tongue. It was nothing short of releiving to have Estrial visit. He couldn't deny his excitement to know her. As a star in the sky, she was just a sparkle. But as a human now, who was she? He wanted to know everything.

Thor chuckled. "I have business to attend to here," he announced with a grin. He then left the two alone, satisfied with the helpless look of betrayal on his brother's face.

Now alone with Estrial, Loki felt no need to cover his curiousity. He squinted at the girl as she looked around his well furnished cell. "You're not glowing today," he observed.

"Tony Stark," Estrial stated.

Loki nodded once in understanding. "S'ppose I should've guessed that." Estrial's gaze rested back on him, lingering there for what would've been an uncomfortable amount of time. But Loki found it quite a welcome feeling as he stared back. "You're not very good at talking, are you," he guessed, a look of amusement on his face.

"I was silent for thousands of years," Estrial explained, "silent, sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Loki repeated in question.

Estrial nodded. "Most stars do," she shrugged.

"What makes you so different?" Loki wondered, feeling his mind caving into an enchantment. The enchantment he hadn't fallen under since he last saw her sparkling in the sky, centuries ago.

Estrial smiled slightly as she muttered, "I woke up."

Loki felt like a nervous young boy in front of his greatest idle, and it frustrated him to the core. He tried to convince himself that this star was no reason to get all tongue-tied. But as tricky as he was, he could not fool himself; Estrial was a perfect reason to become tongue-tied. The star who'd left her place in the galaxy.

"The young ones," Estrial began shyly, "they always watch with bright eyes. But as they grow, their eyes become dull. They stop watching..."

Seeing Estrial frown, Loki felt his own smile fall. Why did he hate to see that sad look on her face? His grin quickly returned as he asked slyly, "is that why you favored me? Because I never stopped watching the stars?"

"Yes," Estrial answered innocently, "your interest in me..sparked my interest in you."

Loki chuckled, turning his back to her as he paced a few steps away. He haulted at the magical wall that held him inside. Turning his head sideways, he smirked cheekily. "Can I tell you a secret?"

Estrial cocked her head curiously. Seeing this from the corner of his eye, Loki couldn't help but grin wider. His voice low, even somewhat sweet, he spoke quietly, "you were always my favorite, too."

• December 10, 2012 •

Estrial had once again convinced Thor to allow her to visit Loki. Of course, not without his own accompaniment. But when they arrived at the SHIELD compound, different plans were set for them. As they entered the building, a dark-skinned man was waiting for them. His one-eyed gaze was menacing and cold, making Estrial feel quite uncomfortable. She tried to read his feeling, but found nothing, which sent chills down he spine. She frowned and shrunk back to hide half-way behind Thor, visibly uneased.

"You must be Estrial," the man greeted in a deep voice, lips forming a hard line. He peered around Thor to view the girl. "Nick Fury, director of SHIELD," he introduced himself, "I've heard a lot about you."

Thor looked down at Estrial and stepped out from infront of her. "Don't be frightened," he urged with a kind smile, "Nick Fury is not one for you to fear." At these words, Estrial decided to give the scary man a chance.

"I can't say we've ever dealt with something like yourself before," he explained, trying to ease the woman's mind a bit. "But if you're willing to work with us," he went on, "I think we can be good friends. Okay?"

Estrial still was unable to detect any emotion in his voice. But she could feel his effort. Nodding slowly, she repeated, "friends.....okay."

Nick nodded in satisfaction before moving on to business. "It would seem, that you're stronger than Asgardian magic," Fury suggested.

Estrial knew exactly what he was talking about. "The wall," she muttered in understanding. The wall that she could pass through unharmed. The wall that had kept a powerful sorcerist at bay for months. The wall that could kill a mortal in an instant if they were to accidentally touch it.

"That's right," Nick confirmed firmly, "the wall." He let his gaze linger on the fallen star for a while longer, eye narrowed in deep thought. Finally, Estrial could pick up on a single emotion from him: uncertainty. He took a deep breath and turned, signalling behind him to the demigod and the star, "come with me."

Thor began to follow Nick without hesitation, while Estrial trailed after in timid caution. As they walked, she tried to understand what was going on. But this was to no avail. All she could do was follow these men and wait to find out.