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temples, trying to recall what happened. The last thing she remembered was being with Thor, running up to his mother's chambers.

Then, it suddenly hit her.

Frigga had died, and she had failed to save her.

She sprung to her feet. She had to speak to Thor. What happened after she passed out from exhaustion? Did they escape? Was Jane safe? Did Loki know his mother was dead?

The door opened, and the one person she feared to see walked through.

Loki stepped in, a desperate look etched on his defined features. His eyes met Alex's, who looked away in shame. He closed the door, and stayed where he was in the room. Alex was unsure of what to say, and unsure how he was feeling. She could normally read him fairly well. Right now, his expression said so many conflicting things.

"You're awake,"

"I am."

"You were unconscious for a whole day,"

She rose her eyebrows. "I was?"

"Yes,"

"How are you?" She asked with utmost caution.

"Lost," Was all he said.

"Loki--"

"I had finished fighting all the prisoners, and the guards had them contained. I was on my way to find where you and Thor had gone, when I heard the clap of thunder." Loki's eyes were trained on the floor. "I entered the room to find Thor in a rage, and my mother,"

Loki's voice cut off. Alex felt her heart sink at his obvious distress, and took steps closer to him.

"My mother dead, and you unconscious, holding her hand."

"I'm so sorry, I tried to stop him, I tried to save her--"

"No one has ever made such a sacrifice for me." He spoke.

She looked at him, confused. She looked for traces of sarcasm or anger, but there was none. Only grief was held on his face.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do it,"

"You've nothing to be sorry for."

She nodded once, unsure of what to say. She had somehow made her way across the room, for she was now standing right in front of him.

"You're the only one left that wants to help me," Loki said, his voice so quiet Alex almost didn't catch it.

"That's not true,"

He chuckled. "You're naive,"

"I prefer optimistic."

He let his lips form a smile, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

"You looked quite heroic in the dungeon," He spoke.

"It was a rush. Kind of how I imagined fighting with the Avengers might feel, knowing you're fighting for a cause."

"What was the cause?"

"You," She said. She felt an awkward blush crept onto her cheeks. She quickly added, "Thor, your mother, Jane."

"I wonder what you'd look like as an Avenger,"

"I barely am one. They don't quite accept me yet. I don't have a suit, or even a name for that matter."

"You'll think of one," He offered.

She looked at him. How foolish, she thought, to be talking as if she would ever return to the Avengers. Or Earth, for that matter. Somewhere in her mind, she had accepted her new fate. She'd remain in Asgard, maybe until she died. She had lost hope of going home, but had gained hope in something else.

She had gained hope in Loki.

Not that she would ever admit it, but she had diminished the animosity she initially felt toward him. Now, she felt remorse. Sympathy. She wanted to see him happy, because he deserved to feel that.

She broke away from his gaze. But, why did he deserve happiness? He's murdered hundreds, with no second thought to it. He'd continue to push her away, even when she wouldn't relent.

Yet, something about every time he pushed her away, she saw a flicker of desperation in his eyes. Something that begged her to keep trying. Something that told her he would let her in, on his own time.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked after the long silence.

"What your name would be if you were a superhero." She tried to joke. She didn't allow him to know she was thinking about him.

"I'm far past that point, I'm afraid."

She met his eyes. "You don't have to be."

He looked away. When she spoke to him like that, like he could change, it got under his skin. He didn't like to be pitied, and she looked at him with such sympathy.

He thought about his last conversation with his mother, and how she had looked at him with the same sympathy. Frigga no doubt saw a bit of herself in Alex, which explains the liking she took to her. He recalled how Frigga accused him of seeing hope in himself, and he grew angry. He grew angry Frigga wasn't more clear with her words as to what she meant. He grew angry that Frigga was almost passing her hopes onto Alex.

He grew so angry, he caused the furniture in the room to turn upside down. With a quick turn of his wrist, he sent chairs crashing into the wall.

"Loki!" Alex exclaimed, clutching her chest.

"She didn't have to die!" He yelled.

A hurt man stood before Alex, she saw that very clearly. He was burdened with anger, confusion, and despair. And all she could do was watch the emotions overtake him.

"Loki, look at me." Alex spoke.

His breathing was heavy as anger washed over him. He didn't want to look at her. He didn't want to see his mother's gentleness in her look.

"Loki." She spoke more firmly.

Loki thought of returning her to Earth. Then, he would be free of this girl, who so desperately tried to look inside his heart. He was sure he wouldn't be able to handle it. On the other hand, something cried out to let her in. He just couldn't bring anyone else into his darkness, especially not someone filled with so much light.

He turned to walk out of the door. He reached for the handle, but her voice interrupted him.

"Look at me."

He froze, but not on his own accord. No, his hands couldn't move. His legs couldn't move either, and he grew confused.

She blinked, and felt her familiar surging-fuzzy-feeling overtake her hands. Looking down at her hands, she realized.

She had just stopped him from moving.

It broke after a second, but he looked back at her with confusion. She looked as if she didn't mean to do that, and a look of remorse mixed with realization flashed across her face.

"You just," He spoke.

"I had no idea I could do that, I'm sorry." She breathed, shaking her head in confusion. "But, Loki, please hear what I am saying. Don't shut me out anymore. Help me,"

It took one look at her pleading face for Loki to cave. She was in just as much distress as he, even if she acted as if she had herself figured out.

"I'm sorry," He spoke.

She gaped. "Did you just apologize to me?"

"I believe I did."

"You, Loki, high and mighty, all-knowing asshole--"

"Don't make me regret it."

"Right." She blinked.

They both looked away from each other, sitting together in the silence. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't comfortable either.

"Are you going to be alright at her service?" Alex broke the silence.

"If you're asking me if I am going to turn furniture upside down, no, I will not."

She let out a loud laugh, and covered her mouth once it escaped. She didn't mean to interrupt a somber moment, but she couldn't help herself. She didn't see it, but Loki formed the tiniest smile at this.

They sat in each other's presence for the rest of the afternoon, exchanging comments about Jane and Thor, or what happened in the dungeon.

Loki told Alex stories of the things Frigga taught him in his younger years. She was the first to see that Loki had possessed special capabilities, and taught him how to control them. Odin was apprehensive to allow his son to grow his magic, but Frigga fought for it. She fought for Loki. Thus, Alex began to understand the deep relationship Loki had with his mother. She was the only one who saw Loki's potential, not Loki's past.

Later that evening, it was time for Frigga's funeral.

Every citizen of Asgard gathered around the large waterfall at the edge of the city. They held soft lights in their hands in respect for their fallen queen. Frigga was placed in a small boat, and was donned with a veil over her face. Directly in front of the water stood Thor and Jane, with somber looks on their face.

Thor looked to one of the soldiers as the boat floated away, nodding. The soldier dipped his arrow into a small flame, and shot it into the sky. The arrow reached Frigga's boat, igniting it with a yellow flame. More arrows were shot into the sky, reflecting off the water like stars in the sky. The citizens then allowed their balls of light to float into the sky slowly. Alex marveled at the beautiful sight, relishing how Asgard looked just as beautiful at night as it did during the day.

Loki stood off to the side, not standing by Thor and his friends. His eyes never left Frigga's boat, even as it drifted off the edge of the waterfall. Alex took a step toward him, keeping her face on the water as well.

She slowly slipped her hand in his, letting him know she was there. At first, his hand pulled away. Then, his fingers lingered on hers, letting her hand take his again. She let out a breath she was holding in, surprised he returned the small gesture.

Thor glanced at his brother, and his eyes travelled down to where their hands were connected. He furrowed his brows, and it started to dawn on him that there was more of a connection between Alex and Loki than he thought.

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𝚠𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚎𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚟 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛. 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔!!

𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 :)