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Chapter 8: Infectious

After Steve and I talked I went to the pool. I put my crop top on, though took off my sweatpants, and had my legs in the water. I heard the elevator ding and tensed my shoulders. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I just came down for some quiet."

Loki.

"I'm not stopping you."

Loki sat at the other end of the pool. We just sat there for five minutes I broke the silence. "How are you here?"

"What do you mean?"

"On Earth. Last I checked you went back to Asgard after you attacked New York." I said looking up at the Norse god.

"That wasn't me. Someone... was controlling me, the only person who believed me was my brother. It was either here or an Asgardian prison cell." Loki was looking at me now, we stared at each other, his depressed blue and my broken green.

"Thor isn't the only one who believes you." I say, giving him a small smile. I close my eyes and think back to the Battle of New York. Loki's eyes were green, almost neon. Now they were a deep blue.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I was pulled under water. I snapped my eyes open to see Loki swimming in front of me. I breached the surface with Loki following soon after.

"What the Hell?!"

My question was answered, not with words, but a laugh. A happy, genuine laugh coming from Loki.

"What's so funny!"

"Your reaction."

"What?"

"Your reaction... lighten up!"

Without thinking I then took off my crop top, so I was only were my sports bra and underwear. I didn't realize what I had done until I looked at Loki again. He was so red I thought he was dying.

"What? I'm not wearing a soaking wet shirt. Especially a sweatshirt."

Loki let out a breath, "Y-yeah. Of course."

"Was that a voice crack?"

"N-no."

"You're just using your powers. God of Trickery." I say moving to the seat at the side of the pool. The Norse god moved to sit next to her. "I'm not... even if I wanted to... I couldn't."

"What?"

"Odin stripped me of my power before Thor could vouch for me. I'm just a powerless immortal."

"I'm so sorry Loki." I said giving him a side hug. He tensed up, though soon hugged back.

"You didn't know."

Now it was really awkward. We were both just sitting there. Silent.

*splash* *splash*

Loki and I were splashing each other.

_---o0o---_

It was like that for 20 minutes. A splash fight. Loki and I were splashing each other in the pool for 20 minutes. When we finally decided to get out both of us were giggling. I started to dry off, "You are such a Trickster. You know that?" I say trying to get water out of my ears.

"Alright you Starfish!"

"Starfish?!" I said laughing.

"If you're giving me a nickname I'll give you one!"

"Alright Loki. See you later." I say leaving. I head back to my room and go to take a shower to get the chlorine out of my hair. I undressed and went to get into the shower when I felt a stabbing pain in my heart.

I looked in the mirror. My skin looked... green? With black veins radiating from a spot above my heart. But the placement is what scared me...

Exactly where I was touched by Loki's scepter.