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the tower. When they arrived, they tiredly dragged their feet to the penthouse to recuperate.

Alex was woken by Steve, who informed her she slept the entire ride back.

"Why not let me go back to sleep?" She asked groggily.

"Loki's got some shrapnel lodged in his skin."

"Do I look like a doctor to all of you? Seriously," She waved him off, walking toward the lab. She stretched her limbs, yawning.

Upon walking in, she saw Loki standing against the counter, eyeing her up and down.

"I'm not sure I want you fixing me while you're half asleep."

"I'll be too tired to actually hurt you,"

"Good point."

She collected her energy as she grabbed a first aid kit. She pointed to the counter, indicating for Loki to sit on it. She opened the kit, grabbing the bottle of peroxide and some cloth.

"I, um, need you to take your shirt off," She spoke, keeping her eyes on the bottle.

He rose an eyebrow, but took the hem of his shirt in his fingers. Alex guessed that he had already discarded his armor on the jet. Slowly to avoid pain, he lifted the shirt over his head. She stole a glance while the shirt covered his eyes, her eyes glancing over his toned abdomen.

She knew for a fact that a blush was beginning to form on her cheeks.

Alex poured some peroxide on the cloth, and stepped toward him. She placed her left hand on his shoulder, her soft touch sending chills down his spine. She almost shuddered at how cold his skin was as it came into contact with hers. With her right hand, she began to wipe the fresh blood away.

He hissed as the peroxide burned his flesh, and she looked up in alarm. He nodded for her to keep going, so she kept cleaning.

"I'll need you to lay down so I can take the shrapnel out,"

He nodded, laying back on the counter. She grabbed a pair of tweezers from the kid, and looked down at him. He was staring at her, his blue eyes never leaving hers. She placed a hand on his abdomen, inches from the cut. He seemed so innocent, like he depended on her. She looked away, focusing on the gash on his side.

She quickly took the small piece of metal out of the wound, and he grunted in pain.

"There's another piece," She quietly said.

"Just get it out."

She did so, wiping it every couple of seconds. Once she took the final piece out, he let out a breath.

"Are we not going to talk?" He spoke.

"Talk about what?" She unpeeled a bandage, placing it gently over his cut.

"Our kiss," He sat up, his long legs dangling off the counter.

"I wasn't thinking straight, I thought we were going to die--"

She was mid-turn, but he grabbed her wrist. He swiftly twisted her back toward him, and she was caught in between his legs. She let out a breath as he stared into her eyes intently.

"Tell me you don't wish to do it again,"

Her eyes flickered down to his lips, swallowing. She did want to do it again, more than anything. Then, what was stopping her?

"Those things you said yesterday," She stepped away from him. "Did you mean them?"

"I said many things yesterday."

She shook her head. "That you regretted so much,"

He slid off the counter. "I did mean it."

"Then why'd you do it?" She whispered.

His hand went up to her face, pushing hair out of her face. "Because I.."

"No," She slapped his hand away. "Don't say you love me....you can't. You can't possibly. You wouldn't have.....you wouldn't."

His heart fell as her voice cracked. A single tear fell down her face, and she immediately wiped it.

She was overwhelmed, to say the very least. Her heart begged her to tell him how she felt, but her brain thought better. She was terrified of being left again. But, what if he had changed? He did help them during the battle against Ultron.

"I did it because I love you."

Her head snapped up. Her mouth was slightly parted, shocked that he really just said that to her. Every moment they've spent together quickly played in her mind. The second she laid eyes on him. The time he slapped her. When he told her she reminded him of Frigga.

Tell him you love him too.

"I don't know what to think," She spoke. "I need to go think."

She started walking out of the lab, but Loki teleported in front of her. She looked up at him with a glare, moving to the side to move around him. He simply moved in front of her.

"Stop it."

"No,"

She then smirked, and froze him in his place.

"This is just unfair."

"Powers are always fair game." She called triumphantly, walking toward the elevator. She stepped inside, pressing the 'up' button to take her to the penthouse. She smiled in victory as the door closed.

Until, he teleported inside.

"Jesus, Loki," She clutched her chest.

He smashed the button that stopped the elevator, causing both of them to stumble a bit.

"You infuriate me." He spoke, still angry that she froze him.

"I hate you."

"How long do we have?"

"About forty-five seconds."

"Perfect."

He put both his hands on the sides of her face, and brought her lips to his. She instantly melted like putty in his hands. Involuntarily, her hands reached up toward his long hair, tangling her fingers in it. She gave a slight pull, receiving a hum from Loki.

He closed the gap in between them, pulling her flush against his body. He could feel her through the skin-tight suit with ease. Alex held onto his arms, feeling the tight muscles that weren't protected by any piece of fabric.

The elevator door suddenly opened, revealing Tony.

They both jumped back, blushes and grins evident on their guilty faces.

"Alright, no. You're coming with me." Tony grabbed Alex's bicep, pulling her out of the elevator. "You, you're going down."

Tony pressed the 'down' button, sending Loki down to who knows where. He gave a sarcastic wave, not seeing Loki send a wink to Alex.

"Way to ruin the moment," She spoke.

"Alex, what are you doing? You want to throw your life away for this guy?"

"If I recall, I threw my life away for this guy." She dug her fingernail into his chest. "My life is just starting. Here, Asgard, it doesn't matter to me. If I'm with the people I love, I'm good."

"And that's not us?" His voice fell quiet.

Her eyes widened, and she pulled Tony in for a hug. "Of course it is, but I need to figure this out with him."

"I just don't want you getting hurt,"

She smiled at him. Tony will make an amazing father one day.

"I can handle anything that guy throws at me. Literally, I can freeze whatever he throws at me mid-air." She said, smiling wider when Tony laughed.

"You're stronger than you know, kid."

"Don't call me a kid."

"Should I call you Mrs. Reindeer Games, then?"

"That's even worse."

"You'll come back and visit, right?" He said.

"Whenever you need me, I'm here."

"Well, before you go, I want to make some adjustments to your suit. Go put it in the suit room before you taint it again."

"We were just kissing," She said, walking off.

"Don't make me give you the 'birds and the bees' talk!" He called.

She walked into the suit room, quickly changing out of it. Underneath, she wore leggings and a white tank top. She hung the suit up, smiling to herself. She had accomplished so much since she left Asgard, she was almost thankful for it.

Alex couldn't help but feel scared, however. Was she making the right decision? Or, was she undoubtedly still naive for going back to him. Either way, she couldn't deny how she felt. She thought she was over those feelings, but seeing him again...just reignited the flame that burned between them.

She took a deep breath, and walked out of the suit room. She wasted no time going back to the room Loki stayed in, hoping he was in there.

Her heart soared when she discovered he was.

"I love you." She blurted.

Loki rose an eyebrow.

"I do, and I didn't want to admit it because I'm scared. I'm scared of the power you hold over me. You have the opportunity to shatter my heart, if you wanted to. I thought I never wanted to see you again, because of how betrayed I felt,"

She didn't notice him begin to saunter over toward her.

"I felt so useless to you. But when you came back, it felt like we were back in Asgard. Back in my chambers, when you told me that 'no one had ever made such a sacrifice for you'. When I stood next to you at your mother's funeral, the look on your face made me never want to hurt you as badly as you've been hurt. What I see in you, Loki, that hope, please don't let me be wrong about it."

His eyes flickered around her face as she babbled. His amused smirk was unnoticed by Alex.

"If I take this jump with you, I have to know it won't come back and bite me in the ass. Also, I know you cut Bruce's face. You told me you didn't hurt anyone when you came down here, you liar--"

He finally shut her up by bringing his lips to hers. She was alarmed, but didn't argue with the gesture. She held his biceps, but pulled away.

"I'm not finished."

"I know you aren't, but we can discuss this back in Asgard. I want to make up for lost time," His head dipped to kiss her again.

"I hate you, you know."

"I can live with that."

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𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙳!

𝚕𝚘𝚕 𝚜𝚒𝚔𝚎