Chapter Text
I sat in the avenger's jet wondering if Loki really was following us like he had told me he would. Natasha had wrapped my hand so it was only throbbing now instead of the hot spikes of pain that were there before.
“Thanks” I told her when she was done.
“No problem” she looked at me for a moment, it felt like she could see right through me “there is more to this story then you're telling us isn’t there?” she asked quietly so only I could hear.
“I don’t know what your talking about” I replied, Nat gave me a look that said she know I was lying but wasn’t going to push it. I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes hoping that Loki was close, we had made a deal before we parted. Loki was not to interfere unless absolutely necessary and by absolutely necessary I meant the avenger’s dragging me off to some S.H.I.E.L.D. prison in which case I had given him my unreserved blessing to interfere.
I must have fallen asleep at some point because I woke to Clint shaking my shoulder gently, telling me we were here. Tony had parked the jet at a clearing in woods not far from my mom’s house. As we walked I came up next to Cap.
“Cap can I ask you a favor?” I said nervously.
“What is it?”
“Could you make sure Tony behaves himself? I just mean um you see my mom” I took a breath to steady myself “she isn’t quite right, she has a mental disorder that has gotten pretty bad over the years so she isn’t all there anymore and she gets easily upset” I had started rambling again but luckily Cap had understood and apparently so did Nat who was standing next to him.
“Don’t worry” Nat chimed in before Cap could say anything “I’ll make sure Tony’s on his best behavior” she winked at me just as we came to the front steps of my mom’s house.
I took a deep breath before I walked up the stairs to knock on the door of the old colonial house.
Liz, my mom’s live in nurse was the one who answered the door “sweetheart!” she said pulling me in for a hug. Liz had been taking care of mom for the past couple years since her condition started to get really bad.
“Come in sweetie, come in and who are you friends?” she asked, giving the avengers a suspicious look.
“I um I work with them” I said hoping she would let it drop and she did.
“Well then you all better get in here” she opened the door so everyone could shuffle in.
“Liz, is mom in her study?” I asked already heading in that direction.
“She’s always in her study” Liz throw over her shoulder as she headed back into the kitchen.
I walked over the the study doors, everyone at my heels, and slide the sliding doors open. The room was dim and a complete mess “mom I called softly” she was sitting at her desk and didn't look up when I called to her. I went over and placed my hand on her shoulder “mom it's me, it's Dee” I said softly, afraid of startling her. Her hand stopped and then slowly she looked up “Dee?” she paused as I nodded my head “School must have ended early” she muttered eyes glazed over. It hurt to see her so out of touch with reality but I choked back the lump in my throat I had questions I needed answered.
“Yeah, school got out early but mom I have a question I need you to answer” at first it was like she couldn’t hear as she started scribbling away at her papers again “mom I need you to focus for a second okay?” I said again giving her shoulder another shake.This time she looked up at me “Of course sweetheart what it is?” she was having a moment of clarity, something that was getting rarer and rarer.
“Mom, how did you find me?” that made her visibly stiffen and for a moment she was lost. Lost in the past, in her memories, in some invisible horror I couldn’t see.
“It was horrible” She whispered “I was walking to my car and I heard a scream, she was fighting a thing, a shadow. It was huge and then I turned my car lights on and it was gone. I ran I did try to save her I did!” She was shaking my arm like she was trying to convince herself more then me “But I couldn’t the was red, so much red” she started to cry at this point “You were crying she tried to hand you to me but she was too weak” her sobs were coming harder “She told me to run so I did, I ran I was so scared. Scared the shadow would come back and you were so beautiful but they never did, they never came back” she finished, her voice little more than a whisper. Her eyes glazed over again, she turned back to her papers and was lost.
I could feel the tears prickling at the back of my eyes but I pushed them back. I stood and kissed the top of her head “Thanks mom” I whispered and the walked out of the study closing the doors behind me.
We sat in the living room, nobody talking.
It was Tony who spoke first “I’m sorry about your mom” he said quietly but I know he meant it. Tony Stark was a lot of things but he wasn’t a bad person.
“It’s ok” I said taking a deep breath “she wasn’t always this way. But what she said it makes sense with what that thing told me”
We were all quiet for a moment.
“That still doesn’t explain why Loki let you go so easily” said Cap
“I think it does” everyone looked at me “He can explain but you have to promise not to arrest or kill him. You have to hear him out” I said firmly.
“Um no, no we don’t” Tony said just as Cap agreed.
“Wait! You are actually agreeing to this?” he said to Cap.
“Yes I am, Thor he’s your brother have any objections?”
“None, I think it would be wise to hear what he has to say if these shadow beast are real” Thor said crossing his arms over his chest.
Good they all seem to be on board. I pulled the beautiful gold and green snake necklace from my pocket. Before Loki had left he had given it to me saying that if I squeezed it and pushed my thoughts into it he would hear. I wasn’t really sure how to push my thoughts into anything but I figured I’d give it a try. It must have work because a few moments later Loki was standing in the middle of my living room. Everybody but Thor seemed startled by his sudden appearance.
Loki wasted no time. He took one look at me and my bandaged but still very swollen, purple hand walked right over and sat down taking it in his own hands.
“What happened?” he asked his voice had a deadly chill to it.
“Im fine” I told him trying to ease the anger I could sense just under the surface “I broke my hand punching Tony’s stupid face. It’s my own fault really” I laughed and Loki looked up, the tension in him easing a bit.
“Brother” Thor said calmly from where he stood on the other side of the room.
“I won’t give her to then” He said, his voice promising pain to any who dared try.
“Loki” I said “They aren’t going to do anything” I squeezed his hand with my good one when both Thor and Loki went stiff.
“What is it?” I asked, realizing something was wrong by the chill up my spine “what’s wrong?”
“We have to leave” he said taking my good hand.
“There is something evil coming” Thor answered the question I had asked Loki “Brother, I do not think you can fight these creatures on your own, let us help you” Loki looked at Thor and then at me before nodding his head in agreement.
“Then we should head into the woods and keep whatever is coming after us away from here” I was determined to keep my mom out of this, she had been through enough already.
“Sounds good” Cap was on his feet and leading us out the door. To say I was scared was the understatement of the millennia. I walked as fast as I could to keep up with them, Loki hadn’t let go of my hand since he had shown up and I was glad. I felt that if he did let go I was going to sink to the ground and just stay there. I wasn’t a fighter, I was a secretary. I had no experience with any of this. All the sudden a bone aching cold swept over me.
I stopped in my tracks “they're here” everyone took up defensive positions, Thor and Loki on either side of me.
Then they came. They were like ink seeping out of the ground and trees. They didn’t have faces just black, human like masses. The fight was like nothing I had ever seen, they could bend and shift. Nothing seemed to hurt them. Loki jumped to the side to avoid being hit. I watch like everything was in slow motion. It came up behind Loki, he didn't see it.
“It’s going to kill him!” my brain shouted “I don’t want this! Stay away from him!” I raised my hand, it was like a switch in my brain had been flipped. My body knew what it was doing even if my brain didn’t. I saw the shadow going after Loki and I stopped it, my world went white. It was like a million volts of electricity going through me. I screamed and screamed and screamed then nothing.
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When I opened my eyes my head was pounding “what happened?” I asked as I looked around to find myself in the jet.
Thor and Loki were both standing near me.
“We're not really sure but if I had to take a guess you turned into a bomb” Clint was the first to speak.
“It seems that you woke you magic” Loki said, looking down at me with concern.
“Oh” it sounded small even to me “well it felt more like Clint’s version of things” I said with a laugh trying to ease the tension while I tested my hand that had been broken only a few hours before.
“Whatever those beasts are, they are after you” Thor said matter of fact “and you don’t seem to be about to control your magic. The best option is to take you back to Asgard where you can learn to control it without fear of attack.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, Thor is right” Loki did not look happy about having to agree “I can teach you to control your magic but it will take time, something we do not have here” I had a feeling Loki was afraid I would refuse.
“I’ll go” when your mega hot alien boyfriend asks you to come to his home planet so he can teach you how not to blow yourself up with your own magic, you say yes.
“Good! then it is settled” Thor smiled “Stark! land the first chance you get” he shouted to Tony, who was in the pilot's seat.
“If you say so” Tony mumbled.
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We landed a few minutes later. Standing in a field I was getting nervous. Loki bent down and spoke into my ear “don’t worry, it won’t hurt” I could feel the smile on his lips.
“I not worried about it hurting” I said sticking out my tongue. Loki smirked and pulled me close to him, Thor coming to stand next to us.
“Heimdall!” Thor shouted “we're ready!”
The next thing I know we are back it that sea of magic. Except this time it was brighter, stronger then BAM! it was over. We were in a big golden room, a large man standing in the center with a sword. I tightened my grip in Loki and he laughed.
“So you have brought her here” The man, who I assumed was Heimdall, spoke more to Thor than Loki.
“We thought it wise considering” Heimdall nodded, agreeing with Thor’s answer.
“I believe it best you take her to your mother” he told us as we left the golden room.
“What!?!?” my brain screamed “you are going to meet his mom!! What if she doesn't like you?” I took a deep breath “Shut up brain I need to focus more on not becoming a walking bomb and less on if his mom likes me!” that shut me up. We walked through a magnificent palace until we came to a particular door, Thor knocked and a heard a voice say enter.
When we walked into the room there was a women sitting on a chair by a window. When she saw us she rose with a smile and kissed Thor and Loki on the cheek.
“Your finally back” she said turning to look at me “and who is this?”
“Mother” Loki pulled me forward so I was standing beside him “This is Desiree, She has magic but doesn't know how to control it” this is where their mom, if I am remembering my mythology right, Frigga raised her hands to stop Loki.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning” she said gesturing for us to sit.
We told her the whole story, glazing over the kidnapping part which I didn’t mind, and just as Loki finished I chimed in “and now I am a walking bomb”
She looked at the three of us seriously “I see now why you brought her here.”
“Let me teach her mother?” Loki asked and Frigga laughed.
“Of course and I will help as well if you’d like” she said smiling at me.
“It would be an honor” I smiled back, I figure being polite couldn’t hurt.
“Now I am sure you are exhausted” she looked at Loki “why don’t to take her to rest”
I must have been hallucinating because I could swear Loki blushed “of course” he rose taking my hand and bringing me up with him. We said our goodbyes and Loki led me out and down the hall to another room. It was beautiful, all dark blues and silver. I let go of his hand just so I could spin around looking up at the ceiling. It looked like the entire galaxy has been painted there except that it was moving.
I heard Loki laugh softly so I stopped spinning and looked at him.
“Is this my room?” I asked smiling.
“It is, do you like it?” he closed the distance between us and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“I love it” I giggled, I grabbed onto his coat to pull him down so I could kiss him. Just as our lips meet I heard someone clear their throat. We both turned to look at the now occupied doorway.
My cheeks must have been beet red when one of the men spoke up “if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed it!” he sounded part shocked and part mocking “what magic trick did you use to catch her Loki?” he asked and I could tell that it annoyed Loki by the why he stiffened under my hands.
“How did you know that I wasn’t the one to caught him?” I asked raising one eyebrow daring them to contradict me. The blonde that had spoken put his hands in surrender.
“It seems you have meet your match” one of his buddies laughed, smacking the blond on the back.
“She has a sharp wit but she is still small” it was the only woman in the group that spoke this time. She obviously did not approve of me but I didn’t need her approval.
“Brains over brawn” I replied and she glared at me just as Thor came up and announcing that that they were going to drink, shoeing them away. Loki and I were left alone once more.
All at once it felt like I had been awake for days, dragging my feet I went to the closest chair and collapsed. “I need a nap” I was so tired my words came out slurred.
I heard a soft chuckle before I slipped into sleep.
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When Sif, Fandral and and the rest showed up Loki was not happy. They were here to mock him but when Desiree had retaliated in his defense he couldn’t help the smirk on his face. she was like a cat, small but her claws were sharp. Finally Thor had came and dragged them away. Desiree had collapsed on a chair as soon as they were out of earshot.
“I need a nap” her words were slurred with sleep and her eyes closed as he laughed softly. She was fast asleep so he picked up her small frame and placed her on the bed making sure the seal he had placed on her magic earlier that day was still strong. Her magic had been powerful when released. He could still remember how she had looked, she had glowed with a brilliant white light. He had also heard her voice in his head, filled with power “He is mine, you will not take him from me” the voice had said and in a blinding flash the shadows were gone. The light had faded but then she had started to scream. Loki had ran to her but she had kept on screaming, when he touched her it hurt. The power was too much, her body didn’t know what to do with it all so he had sealed it. She stopped screaming when he did. Loki had carried her back to their vessel knowing that there was only one real option left. And now she was here in Asgard with him, willing to learn magic from him.
“Goodnight my love” he whispered as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead before disappearing into the night.
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When I woke up, the sun on my face, it took me a moment to remember where I was. I rolled out of the bed that I couldn’t remember getting into and explored my room. It was big, more like a suite then a bedroom. On one side of the bed I found a door. I opened it slowly to find a dimly lit room on the other side. Stepping in quietly I glanced around only to have my eyes fall on a sleeping figure. Coming closer I could see that the person sleeping before me was none other than Loki. Laying on his back, face turned toward me, he breathed easy. I knelt down by the edge of the bed, asleep Loki looked younger, more at ease. I knew that it was really creepy of me to sit here on my heels watching him sleep but it was like I was hypnotized. It must have been 4 or 5 minutes before he stirred, opening his eyes groggily. The moment I stared into the emerald green eyes I knew I was in trouble. A squeak escaped my lips as a bolted for the door yanking it closed behind me. Oh boy oh boy I had just been caught being a creeper. I could feel my face turning red as I pulled my knees up to my chest in one of the chairs. Half of me wanted to disappear from embarrassment and the other half wanted to squeal with happiness. I must have sat there for a good five minutes before the door opened quietly and Loki entered still in the shirt and pants he had been sleeping in. I could see him out of the corner of my eye as he came in and leaned against the post of my bed.
“I didn’t mean to watch you, I didn’t even know that was you room unit I saw you” I said very quietly my chin resting against my knees.
“You could have joined me” he said a laugh in his voice.
I turned to look at him a bit shocked “are you inviting me into your bed” Loki’s blush gave me the courage to advance. I stood up and walked over to him leaving barely an inch between us “I thought you were cute when you were asleep” I grinned at him, happy to know I was the reason his cheeks were pink.
“I think it best if we start practicing your magic today” he spoke softly coming closer and just as our lips were about to touch the door opened. Damn! We were always getting interrupted.
“I have brought you food my lady” giggled a the girl as she placed the tray of food on the table and left the room.
“I guess that's our que to get going” I said smiling up at Loki.
“Afraid so” he smiled back and after brushing the back of his fingers across my cheek he turned and left through the door that connected are rooms
“I have a feeling I am going to enjoy teasing him” I giggled to myself as I got ready for whatever the day had to throw at me.
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When I had opened my eyes the first thing I saw was her face. The gold glinting in her blue-green eyes. For a moment I thought I was dreaming until she squeaked and ran from my room. I layed there for a minute wishing that I had grabbed her and pulled her into bed with me. I still couldn’t understand why I was so attracted to her. Yes she was beautiful and it was true that she treated me different, like she actually cared what I thought and felt. But it was more than that. There was a pull in my chest whenever she was near. Like the pull of the tides. I wanted to be near her, touch her, feel her skin against mine. I wanted her, I loved her. It was still a shock to realize that I was in love.There has to be more to it, I will need to speak to mother about it but for now I am just going to enjoy it. I rolled out of bed, ready to enjoy every moment.
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An hour later Loki and I were standing in a practice yard. Thor and his group of cronies were leaning against the far wall watching us.
“You know I have never been every good in front of an audience” I told Loki.
“Don’t think about them focus on your magic, now I am going to release the seal are you ready?” he asked me calmly. I nodded, when Loki raised his hand to release the seal I could hear laughter coming from the far wall. I tried to focus but as soon as the the seal was gone I screamed. The pain was overwhelming, like every molecule in my body was on fire. I fell to the ground curling into a ball still screaming until Loki was able to put the seal back and the magic faded.
Loki ran to me, Thor just behind him.
“I’m sorry” he said, helping me to sit up “I didn’t realize that it would hurt you so much”
Through shaky breath I laughed “I think we might need to go slower” I said resting my head against his chest trying to get my breathing back to a normal pace. When I looked up Thor’s crew was still standing against the wall but they no longer wore mocking looks.
“Let’s try this again” I said letting Loki help me to my feet “but slowly this time ok?” Loki nodded.
We spent hours working, the pain didn’t get any better. Finally, laying on my back breathing heavy I told Loki that I was done for the day. At first the pain had faded with the magic but now it hurt to even breath.
“Are you alright” he came over and knelt down at my side.
“I would love to say yes but no not really” I groaned as I sat up, every muscle shouting in protest.
“You do not look well” he said, he helped me to my feet and steadying me when I swayed.
“I don’t feel very well” my legs had begun to shake and Loki must have noticed because one second I was standing and the next I was in Loki’s arms. He carried me, bridal style, back to my room. I would have been embarrassed if I hadn’t hurt so much but as it was I was just glad to be off my feet. Loki was warm and seemed to vibrate softly wherever we touched. It was so soothing I found myself falling asleep. Loki brought me back to my room and gently placed me on my bed.
“Rest now” he said brushing back my hair and I drifted off to sleep dreaming of his beautiful voice and gentle touch.