A Tale of Death and Debt ✔

Chapter 9

36 Hours left.

Tessa was standing in the middle of the basketball court – their designated meeting point. The crisp autumn chill nipped the nape of her neck. Loki was late. Or he probably wasn't going to show up at all. Even if he did show up, Tessa had no concrete plan. She'd have to wing it. Just like she'd been doing.

She glanced at her reflection in a little puddle beside her foot. There were large dark circles under her grey eyes. The roots of her hair had a deepened Azul color. The more worried she got, the moor the blue bled into her silky dark, black hair. She didn't always have these icy, grey eyes or fluctuating hair color. Before the tesseract's effect she had hazel eyes and plain old black hair. Lean and slender, but not very tall, Tessa looked like a dainty ballerina dancer. That's what she loved about herself: nobody could perceive how deadly she was. Not that it mattered since she'd stopped fighting. But even in times of self-defence, she always had the upper-hand: the element of surprise.

She dipped her shoe in the puddle, making slight ripples in the water. She had been living a good, peaceful life for the past century, her travel magazine was doing well, money was raining. Sure, she had been turning her back on a lot of things her 100-year-old self would have fought for, but it was for the better. She was helping by healing those in need, she consoled herself.

And then out of nowhere the Ancient One summons her for this weird time travel shit. Now she wondered what the future had in store for her.

Footsteps came from behind her. Tessa turned, "You're late."

Loki was standing at the other end of the court.

"I never promised to be on time" Loki smirked, "What do you want, mortal?"

"You know, a little reminder, you're mortal too!" Tessa called.

"What do you want?!"

Tessa looked at Loki. She didn't know what to say. "Maybe you should just be direct and tell him everything. No, no that will spook him, bad idea. Just say something!"

"Frigga would be proud to see your magic" Tessa said. "Ok that was random," she berated herself.

"You speak of my mother as if you knew her well." Loki said.

"Oh, right. Play the mommy card, play the mommy card."

"I did actually. And she knew you very well. She told me a lot about you, Thor, Odin."

"Do not speak of Odin. He is of no consequence to me."

"He is your father."

"No, he is NOT!"

"Then was Frigga not your mother?"

Loki stared in to Tessa's eyes. "You sound just like her."

"Boy it's a good thing I have reference from the main timeline" Tessa thought.

Tessa walked towards Loki. "Loki, who are you?" she hollered.

"You know who I am!" Loki snapped backed

"That's true" Tessa smiled. "But do you know? Who you are?"

"I am a frost giant. Abandoned by my father, used by Odin, mocked and belittled my entire life."

"You're wrong Loki. You are loved. By Thor—"

"Thor! Ha! Don't speak of him either." Loki said with a painful-looking smile.

"Why not! He always stood up for you protected you—"

"I need neither him, nor his protection!"

"Just because you don't need something doesn't mean it's not nice to have. Look at you, you're miserable!"

"I do not need you to tell me how I feel or what I should do."

"Who are you Loki? Who do you believe you are?"

"I. DON'T. KNOW! What would you do if your ENTIRE life had been a lie? Would you know what to think, or . . . or who to trust?!"

"You are the person, your beloved made."

"Nobody cared for me."

"You're wrong and you know it!"

Tessa took a deep breath and declared "You are Loki! God of Mischief. Son of Frigga. Beloved brother of Thor. Proud Asgardian."

By this time both parties were exhausted by the emotional drain.