_______________________________

Alex exhaled, catching her breath. She stood up, accepting Loki's assistance.

"I can tell everything you're going to throw at me. How can I get better if I know what to expect?"

"Well, I can't very well create a war for you, now can I?"

Since she consumed the vines, Loki pushed her to train with them. At first, she was getting stronger as each day passed by. However, now, she had reached a plateau.

"I know, and I appreciate you training me. I'm just frustrated." She said, sitting down on a bench in the gardens.

He walked over to sit next to her. "I know, my love. Let's take a break, yes?"

"No, I can do this."

"Alright, get in position."

Alex walked about thirty yards from Loki, and shook out her hands. She jumped up a couple times to get her blood flowing, and nodded to him.

Loki conjured an image of a man, looking the same as the other forty he'd conjured that day. The man was basic looking, and was meant to simulate a fight. He charged at Alex, who was ready to strike.

As soon as the man approached her, she ducked to avoid his punch. After he stumbled, she swept his leg. Once the man was on the ground, she was able to get her hands around his arm. She straddled the man, and once he squirmed under her grasp, she drained his energy.

"Must be a record time."

"Funny," She spoke, getting up as the image disappeared.

"How about a real target?"

"Oh, no," She feigned fear.

"Oh, yes,"

She looked over, and Loki was running toward her.

"Fine," She cracked her knuckles.

Loki slid under her punch, chuckling. She huffed and caught his wrist, pulling him back toward her. He stumbled on top of her, and pinned her right arm down. With her left, she pulled his hair, earning a grunt from Loki.

"Now, now, don't play dirty."

"What ever could you mean?"

She tried to drain him, but he switched their positions to make her lose focus. She knew his tricks, however. Once on top of him, she caressed his face before freezing him in place.

"You really are the worst," He could barely speak.

"So you've said."

She stood up, and offered her hand as a joke. He only scowled at her hand, only his eyes moving. After a few seconds, he could move again.

"You've really grown into your powers, and in such a short time. Don't be discouraged, Alexandra."

He stood up, dusting himself off.

"Thank you," He held his hand as they walked back to the castle.

"Why don't we try to train with your suit after lunch? Can't hurt, I'd imagine,"

"I have been itching to put it back on," She squealed.

"It's settled, then,"

The pair walked toward the dining hall, where servants had already been serving Odin. He read a book whilst he ate, and didn't take his eyes off it as they waltzed in.

"More training, I presume? I can smell you from here."

"Good afternoon to you as well, father." Loki smirked.

"And your powers, Alex?"

"Getting stronger, but I seem to have reached a plateau."

"You'll soon be able to exert them."

Alex was confused by his statement, but nothing Odin said ever made sense. So, she shook it off and took a seat beside Loki.

She always resented be served so much, but Loki ensured her it was no big deal. She even helped the servants sometimes, carrying dishes with them or holding items for them as they cleaned. She didn't like to feel helpless, she liked to feel capable.

Once they finished eating and conversing with Odin, Alex headed back to their chambers to change. She had the servants find a sort of display for the suit, as if it was still in Stark Tower. She brought it to the bathroom, where she began to strip of her usual training outfit.

To her disappointment, Tony refused to place the program that allowed her to put it on with the press of a button. (Even though he definitely possessed it.)

Once she put her suit on, her wrist system began to vibrate. She clicked it, and the Menu hologram appeared before her eyes.

One new message, it read.

She furrowed her brows. The only message she received was right when she arrived to Asgard: a test message from Tony to make sure it worked. She clicked the message to play it, and instantly wondered how much of Earth time had gone by.

Hey, kid. I know it's been a while, and I hope everything is going well in Asgard. Some things have happened, and, well, it's best I don't say much over this thing. You know I don't trust technology, and definitely nothing of Stark's. I need your help. If possible, you need to get down to Earth. I've sent an address. I hope to see you. Over.

She was frozen in disbelief.

What did this mean? Why hadn't Tony notified her? A small part of her was annoyed, thinking maybe Tony was leaving her out of yet another mission for her "safety."

But, she had proven herself in Sokovia, had she not? That she was a part of their team?

She looked at herself in the mirror, and played the message once more. Some things have happened, he said. What could "things" mean?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock.

"Are you ready?" She heard Loki's voice.

"Um, yes, sorry,"

She exited the bathroom with him, and walked to the gardens in a daze. Her mind was racing in all sorts of directions. However, she knew she couldn't let Loki know about this message before she had processed it herself.

But, Loki noticed. Every man he sent her way beat her in seconds. After an hour, he began to grow frustrated with her failure. Alex buried her head in her hands, trying to clear her mind.

"Why are you so distracted?" He huffed.

"I guess I'm tired?"

"You don't get tired anymore, since the vines--"

"Then I'm hungry." She tried to hide the recent discovery.

"We just ate."

"I guess my digestive system is better since I'm immortal now?"

Loki rolled his eyes. "You think I don't know when something is up with you?"

She sighed.

"I got a message." She relented.

"A message?"

"Yes,"

"That said what exactly?"

"It was from Cap, he needs my help."

"For what?" Loki was growing impatient.

"He didn't really say, but it sounds urgent. I...have to go back to Earth,"

Loki paused.

"Absolutely not."

"What?"

"Did I stutter?"

Alex's mouth dropped slightly. "You can't just say no,"

"We're done training, and most definitely done discussing this."

Loki began to walk back into the castle.

"That's it? That's all you're going to say? My teammates--scratch that, my friends could be in danger, Loki."

"They can handle it themselves."

"Cap wouldn't reach out all the way from Earth if it wasn't urgent."

"No,"

"I can't believe you're being like this. You can't stop me from going."

"Oh, I definitely can." He laughed humorlessly.

"Why? I wasn't really asking for your permission, anyways."

"My answer is final."

She threw her hands up as they walked quickly back to their chambers. She struggled to keep up with his angry pace as they neared the door. He reached to open it, but she slammed it shut.

"Why are you treating me like a prisoner again?!" She exclaimed.

"Because when you were a prisoner, you couldn't leave me!" He yelled.

Her hand fell from the door, and her expression softened.

"If you go back to Midgard, how do I know you'll come back?" His voice was softer.

She reached up to touch his face. "Loki, I love you. I'm not leaving you,"

"How can I trust that?"

"That's what relationships are about, trust."

"I won't be able to go with you, I've some things regarding Odin to deal with."

"What things?"

"Remember that plan I had discussed with you? Regarding a switch?

"Oh, right." Alex nodded her head. "Good. I need to do this alone,"

"Why?"

"To prove to them I'm just as strong, if not stronger, than when I left. If you're at my heel, they'll think I'm attached to you now."

"Are you not?"

"Of course, I am. But they don't need to know that."

"When will you depart?"

"As soon as possible," She spoke. "I don't even know how old that message is. What if everything is in absolute turmoil when I return?"

"I won't be able to communicate with you while you're down there."

"I'll return as soon as it's over, I promise," She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You won't even know I'm gone."

"Every second away from you is agony," He smirked.

"Should've thought about that before you traded me for a stick."

"You truly will never move past that, will you?"

"Nope," She brushed off her suit. "Come on, I've got no time to waste."

Loki took her hands in his. "You're strong, Alexandra. I've no doubts you will be able to beat whatever is waiting for you down there."

"Thank you, Loki."

"You wanted unpredictable, well, now you've got it."

"I just hope it's not a dangerous unpredictable."

"Unpredictable is dangerous. But, that's how you get better." He kissed her forehead. "Let's get you down to the Bifrost, shall we?"

___________________________________________

𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚙 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 ;)

𝙰𝙻𝚂𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙺 𝚄 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝟹𝟶𝙺 𝚆𝙾𝚆 𝙸 𝙰𝙼 𝚄𝙽𝚆𝙾𝚁𝚃𝙷𝚈