a/n: okay, confession time. I lied about updating quickly, but I'm sure you already figured that out. To those of you who have waited patiently I thank you! I am back in college now so I cannot guarantee quick updates, but I am trying!

And I am pretty sure you guys will love this one :3

The Path of Destruction

Loki Odinson

Chapter Five: No Reason

"Whom the gods would destroy, they first call 'promising'." –Cyril Connolley

it was the next morning when I was allowed to go home and escape the palace infirmary. I hadn't heard anything about what happened with my father and Stein. I wasn't too far down the hallway when I spotted Loki walking briskly towards my direction with his head focusing seemingly on his shoes. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides and I noticed the dark bruising and few scabs adorning his knuckles.

I was caught. His head snapped up immediately when he sensed my staring and I jumped back slightly from the sudden movement. He seemed so calm when I awoke the other day, now it was as if he was paranoid. He stood rooted to the spot for a good while, his piercing gaze locked onto me, then to my bandaged feet that held no shoes.

His brow furrowed. I shifted, uncomfortable to be such under an intense gaze.

"What happened to your sandals?" he asked quietly, barely above a small muttering, his green eyes soon locking onto mine once again.

"I lost them," I said quietly, looking down to the floor when I realized he knew I was lying. How could I even think I could slip a lie past him? His cool fingers were quick to wrap around my wrist and pull me to a near by balcony, away from anyone else.

I gasped when his hands quickly grasped my face forcing me to look at him, his brow still furrowed.

"Now now little one, why would you lie about something so trivial?" he asked quietly tilting his head to keep my gaze when I looked away. I opened my mouth but the words wouldn't leave my lips. My head was still trying to comprehend his surprisingly gentle touch. This was the first time he had been this close, my heart was pounding loudly in my ears and I am sure he could hear it as well.

Loki straitened his posture, still keeping his hands in the same place.

"Why would you think lying to me about anything would get you anywhere?" now I realized why he seemed so rigid. He was angry with me. Loki smirked slightly when he saw the realization in my eyes.

"Do you know why I am angry with you?" why did he think I had the answers to all these questions? I shook my head as best I could with his cool hands still cupping my face.

The next words fell from his lips hoarsely, my heart beating faster than I ever thought possible.

"He was hurting you, why would you think it was okay for him to hurt you? You should have told someone, do you know how hard it was for me not to scold you as soon as you woke up in the infirmary?" Without a thought my hand shot up to grasp one of his, realizing where his injuries had come from. It wasn't my father who had landed a punch on Stein.

He let me grasp his hand without pulling back. Without thinking I pressed my lips to his knuckles, Loki looking at me all the while never pulling away like I expected him to.

I didn't see the Loki I was accustomed too, he was always reserved and averting my gaze, now, I couldn't escape it. The feeling of his skin against my lips was overwhelming. I placed light kisses on each knuckle, every one a silent thank you.

"It's not okay for anyone to ever hurt you," he mumbled, resting his forehead against mine, his fingers tangling through my own.

Am I dreaming? I never would have thought Loki could me this gentle. For as long as I had known him he always had a cold gaze and never spared me a second glance. Now, here he was, so close to me his lips now pressed against my fingers firmly. He was so quick to let his walls crumble and let me in; I didn't even know I wanted in so desperately.

When he let me I couldn't help but hold onto him tightly not wanting to let go. I didn't even notice him move and jumped when I felt his lips run along the healing bruise on my cheek, his other hand still on my cheek turning my face into his lips.

He gripped my hand tighter when he felt me begin to shake.

"Is this even real?" I asked quietly, the first words I was able to muster after so long. Loki slowly pulled away, as if realizing what he was doing. He looked at me once more, and then briskly walked away and down the hall out of my sight.

My hand was still in the air not leaving the spot where he was holding it not long ago.

I shouldn't have said anything; I let my hand drop disappointment filling me.

I hadn't even known I craved for his touch until he finally gently held my face in

his hands.

Now all I could think about was how gentle he was and how much I craved for more.

I had been at home for two days, the feel of Loki's lips still lingering on my skin. I

hadn't said a word since then.

My father was sent on a mission as punishment for his actions, but it was barely a punishment. He was only needed to provide protection for peacekeepers as they visited the other realms.

My mother was her usual self, she hadn't paid much attention to me since she found out she was pregnant once again. Maybe she would get the son she was hoping for instead of pretending I was. When I was little she never allowed me to wear dresses unless it was for an important occasion.

The only reason she makes them for me now is because she wants me to be married and out of the house so she can raise her new child and forget about me. She wasn't a terrible mother, she never scolded me without reason or lay a hand on me, she just never showed me any kind of affection.

Thankfully I have my father for that, but now he was gone and I had no one to feed me the attention I so selfishly and quietly craved.

All I want to do now is go to the palace garden, but I didn't want to risk running into Loki. Eventually my boredom got the best of me and I was changing out of my nightdress I hadn't taken off since I had awoken this morning.

I put on a pair of grey pants I never wore and a white loose fitting long sleeve shirt. I eyed the sandals my mother had placed on my bed one afternoon, the ones Loki had given me. They were the only shoes I had available; reluctantly I slipped them on frowning at all the cuts that were clearly visible.

I left my hair down to cover the ugly yellowing of my cheek, the bruise was almost gone but it was still rather large. The other bruises left by Stein were still fresh and covered by my clothing.

At least he was out of my life now.

The cool breeze blew past me as soon and I walked out the door and I gripped my shirt pulling it closer to my skin trying to keep in as much heat at possible.

It was a slow walk to the palace; I was trying to ignore the aching in my feet wanting so desperately reach the garden, the place where I was able to forget about everything else.

By the time I reached my destination I was limping and holding my arms close to me trying to keep warm. Just a few days ago it was warm enough to wear a light dress, now it felt freezing.

Although, my lack of eating might have something to do with not being able to retain heat; with a heavy sigh I sat on the bricks of the small fountain and pulled my feet up to slip off my sandals to let my injuries breathe.

The garden was eerily quiet, the birds were not singing or even chirping, only the running water of the fountain was heard. I laid back against the edge of the fountain and closed my eyes focusing on the sound of the water. The light from the sun warmed me up slightly and I sighed in relief finally able to absorb some warmth.

"What do you think you're doing here?" I mentally groaned when I heard her voice. Freya was not someone I wanted to deal with now. Ever since she saw me with Loki at the palace ball I couldn't escape her sneering looks and under the breath insults.

I ignored her but she didn't make it easy, I gasped when I felt her shove my shoulder causing me to fall into the cold water of the fountain.

"After the ruckus you caused you think you can come back here?" she asked incredulously. I was shivering uncontrollably now, the water sticking to my skin and the breeze biting at my ears. I tried to climb out the water only to be pushed back in falling harshly onto my backside.

"You should leave," she spat giving me a harsh glare. She was right; I should leave, to find dry clothing.

"You're the one that should leave," it wasn't my voice that startled her. It was the deep voice belonging to Loki that caused her to jump and look terrified. She opened her mouth to protest but was cut off.

"Go away Freya," he said sternly sending her a glare. Like an obedient dog she scampered off out of sight. I once again tried to climb out of the cold water, my shivers not helping at all.

Loki was quick to grab my upper arm and pull me out of the fountain and set me once again on the brick. I stayed silent as he detached his green cape from his armor to wrap around my shoulders. He rubbed up and down my arms muttering incoherently under his breath.

"Didn't I tell you no one should be hurting you?" he finally spoke coherently.

"Then why did you hurt me?" the question slipped past my lips before I realized I spoke and I immediately closed my mouth looking away from him. I felt his stare on me for the longest time as I hoped I hadn't angered him in any way.

"Kari," he whispered quietly, but I refused to look at him. Finally he grasped my chin between his fingers forcing me to look at him. "I never meant to hurt you," he spoke, louder this time.

The tears fell from my eyes, too fast for me to notice them; he was quick to wipe them away with his thumb. I didn't understand why I felt so hurt when he left, but now sitting here before him and looking into his green eyes I felt so stupid. I was easily falling for him, the more he pulled away from me the more I wanted to pull him back, but now here he was in front of me holding on.

I didn't want to admit that I had fell for him this quickly, but as soon as he opened that door and let me in I was trapped. We had both reached the breaking point.

His cold lips on mine had my head spinning, but I was quick to recollect myself and cupped his cheeks pulling him closer not wanting to give up his touch. I loved the way he kissed me and craved for so much more.

Loki pulled away slowly looking at me directly waiting for me to say something. I couldn't form a coherent sentence after what had just transpired and settled for actions instead. My hands pulled him in for another kiss to which he complied.

There were no words needed in this moment.