The Devil Is A Gentleman | Loki

7

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𝙰𝚜𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚍

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Aria opened her bedroom door and stepped inside, walking over and flopping onto the bed.
She sighed and looked up at the stone serpents on the ceiling before putting on something new to wear.

The dresses were glamorous, however Aria felt more comfortable in the same blouse-like shirt with lace cuffs and leather pants she had worn earlier.

Walking out of her room in her new clothes, she caught sight of Loki at the end of the hall and walked over.

"I have to ask, when am I going back?" She said, not wasting any time

"What do you mean?" He said nonchalantly

"I mean how and when do I get back.. to Earth"

"I don't think that will be necessary."

"What? You're not letting me go?"

"Of course not. I can't have you walking freely on midguard when my brother still assumes us dead. I mean to rule Asgard, why would I throw that away for some mortal?"

His words stung a little and she was taken aback by how much he'd changed in the last hour. Had he been putting on a facade this entire time? What had she gotten herself into..

"So I'm your prisoner now?" She crossed her arms

"More or less" he smirked again

"You can't-"

"I think you'll find I can. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Take your pick." He said darkly.

She paused for a second taking in what he'd just said. Then strode past him, determined to escape.

She hurried past multiple halls, trying to find someone who could help her.

Finally she caught sight of a distant guard,

"Excuse me?"

"Is there something the matter?"

"Yes, yes there is! I need to-"

Just then an illusion faded, to reveal the one person she dreaded seeing.

"Right. The hard way it is." He growled, and seized her wrist, dragging her back past the halls into Aria's room.

He locked the door behind him.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Making sure you don't undo everything i've done."

"Where even is the king?"

"I don't see why that matters. I am the king now."

"And I want to go home."

"It's too late for that now."

"So all that time you were plotting? I thought you were-"

"You thought wrong."

"What are you gonna do with me?"

"You're staying in this room. So I can keep an eye on you. This used to be my chambers so no one will find you here. Leave and you'll be sorry."
He said before unlocking the door, stepping outside and closing it again.

"YOU CANT GET AWAY WITH THIS." Aria yelled frustratedly

Loki immediately swung the door open and glared at her,

"I already have." He said very seriously.

Her breath hitched and she widened her eyes, a pang of fear striking her gut.

He then closed the door again and locked it behind him.

•

It had been a few hours and all Aria had done was walk endlessly around the room and occasionally lie on the bed to stare at the ceiling.

She jumped up with a start however when she heard the door unlocking.

In walked Loki with some bread on a plate.
He set it down on the side but Aria just stayed silent and glared at him.

"You should eat."

"Why."

"You're getting on my nerves."

"Let me go then."

"I remember you saying you wanted to leave midguard behind"

"That was an over exaggeration."

"Mortals are even more irritating than I thought."

"Yeah I'm quite proud of it."

Loki looked at her then at the food on the side,

"Fine. Starve for all I care." He said and turned to storm out.

"What is even your problem?!" She called

"My problem? My problem - at the moment - is you. I have waited years for what I was promised and it won't be ruined for me by a mortal no less."

"What do you mean you were 'promised'?"

"The throne is my birthright. And now my oaf of a brother is out of the way I can fulfil it."

"But Thor said he didn't want the throne only a few hours ago, couldn't you ask Odin-"

"Not that he would care what I think. And I am not going to take advise from a midguardian."

"If you would listen to me maybe I could help-"

"no one can help me."

"What?"
She asked, and stood slowly, he sighed, looking at the floor in thought, then snapped his head back up suddenly.

"Eat." He said before striding out of the room.
But that time he did not say it with spite or anger. He said it dismissively, as if he had forgotten their current argument and had gotten lost in his own thoughts.

Nevertheless, Aria walked over to the plate and began to eat.

•

Aria slept in her clothes. She pulled the silk sheets over her head and lay on the pillow, looking toward the balcony at the asguardian city at night before drifting off.

When she awoke it was still nighttime, but the moon was at its highest point, and she couldn't resist the temptation to look at it.

She left the bed and stepped out onto the balcony, immediately feeling the sting of the cold night air but allowing it to numb for a few seconds before walking further out and leaning on the edge of the stone railing.

Near the moon was Frigga's constellation, and Aria felt a strong tug on her heartstrings yet couldn't help feeling glad that her legacy was now imprinted on the night sky. so that the next person to walk out onto their balcony and gaze upon the stars would see her. And remember her grace, bravery and victory.

Frigga may have lost the fight with Malekith herself. But she contributed to all of their survival. And more importantly she stuck it out to the end, fighting for what she believed in.

And that is what Aria intended to do.

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