Battles of the Heart - Ch. 1

It had been a common day in Asgard for yourself. Practicing, training others, and lunch in the castle was good as always, but by the time dinner came around you felt something was off. You were the finest warrior in the whole realm, living in the castle as an invitation from Odin himself, with the condition that you teach others your ways. You shrugged off the strange feeling you had and just prepared for dinner, cleaning off wounds and dirt from your skin from practices and battles. You looked in the mirror at your scarred reflection. Many were old scars across your abdomen and all the way down your back and legs and a few on your upper arms. You sighed. You don't remember the time when your skin was completely clear of anything. You smiled then. These were battle wounds. You survived, and there were your badges. You put the rest of your clothes back on; a long, pearly dress with a bare back and v-cut on the front. You braided your hair to the side and sat down reading a book. You had read about three or four chapters by the time one of the servants came to your room announcing dinner would be served shortly. You smiled and thanked her. Rosalyn was her name. You always called servants by their name because you believed they were no less than yourself. You climbed your way to the top and even though you were expected to act snobbish, you still trained commoners with no means to pay for your classes. You closed the book and set it down on your bed standing up and stretching. You then went out of your room and directed yourself to the dining room. You then heard a fast whooshing sound and turned around grabbing a familiar arrow. You looked at it and up at where it came from and you couldn't believe your eyes. Clint! Your best friend was there! You smiled widely and ran to him hugging him.
"Clint, what do you do here?" You said hugging him tightly.
"We came to pay you all a visit." He said, chuckling and wrapping his arms around your waist pulling you close in a tight squeeze.
"Oh, wait, "we"?" You said, pulling away just enough to see his face well.
"Yes, all the Avengers are here." He smiled.
Your mouth dropped. You really liked them, they helped Thor and all, but you remember not having a very good relationship with one of them:
Bruce Banner. He seemed like a very sweet guy but only you knew what he had done. He had hurt you like nobody had ever hurt you. He went to your soft spot, one with which he knew he would win. Of course he calls his other form "The Other Guy" but you knew it was him all along, no matter what. He was bad. He went to your lover. Imprisoned him, tortured him, and made you watch. It's not an easy thing to shake off the image of the one you love writhing in pain under the acts of a man very strong and not being able to do anything to escape. You were powerless under his command and he enjoyed it.
"Oh." You said pulling away, having the picture of those nights still in your head. The nights spent with your chest heaving in sobs, not being able to reach out to even touch the one you love. You tried. Both of you did, but the distance between you was so short yet so far away. It was the worst torture you could ever bare.
"Listen, I know you and Bruce have a bad past, but he's changed. I know he has." Clint said caressing your arm and smiling at you reassuringly.
You merely nodded. You weren't big on holding grudges but when it came to the ones you love, once someone betrays your trust, you never trust again.
"Come on, let's go." Clint said and got his arrow back from your hands wrapping an arm around your waist as both of you headed to the dining room to find everyone there. Everyone except…
"W-where is he?" You said frowning and looking around. Where was your love? Odin promised he'd be released for dinner in this special occasion.
"Child, have a seat. He will not be able to join us." Odin said and gestured to the chair next to Thor, who looked as surprised as you.
"He will not come tonight? Is he ever to come back?" Thor said, enraged at his father.
Odin merely shot a look at him, meaning that you all would talk about it later on in the night, away from the guests. You greeted everyone and sat down between Clint and Thor. You ate in silence, planning your escape to see your love. Since the attack to Midgard, he had been locked up in prison, with no one to talk to, except the ones who visited him. Which were mostly you and Thor. You hoped he liked your visits. He was never one to show much emotion after killing Laufey and pretending he had saved Asgard. Loki…. Your first love, first kiss, first mate.You loved him, and he had told you he loved you back. That was a long time ago though. He has sort of shut out from everyone over the past few years, but that never stopped you from visiting him and telling him  you love him in every farewell.
After dinner, the men went off to a reserved room to talk as they did every night and the women went to their chambers. Including you, but just long enough to escape and go meet your love.
"Hello, I wasn't expecting you today." The main guard said, smiling at you. He was a nice man, you'd gotten to know him over the years and he let you in, barely leading you to Loki's cell. He opened he door for you and you walk in. Your heart freezes. This is always the feeling you get when you see Loki. Arms spread apart, chained to the wall, hanging onto that, and head bobbing with no energy whatsoever to lift it himself.
"Loki.." You said softly walking towards him. You always had to be cautious. Being in confinement this way for years can mess with your soul.
He lifted his head, his raven tresses messy but never ugly framing his face and you studied his complexion. His skin was dirty, his lips were cracked, his eyes tired. His eyes. You locked gazes. His beautiful, blue eyes staring at you with what seemed like relief and happiness. You smiled a bit upon that. He did not smile back.
"My love…" He said hoarsely, as if he had just awakened from slumber.
Your eyes filled with tears upon hearing those words. He hadn't said anything for what seems like months and running to him you hugged him and despite his weakness he managed to somehow wrap his arms around you lifting the both of you from the ground. Oh his embrace was so longingly expected. You felt his heart pump in rhythm with yours and you knew he missed you as much as you missed him. The feeling was so good, to be with your love again. His body fit just right with yours. Complementing it in every way. It felt so right to be there with him, you just let him embrace you. He didn't let go, so neither did you.Your chest heaved with relief once and you felt him smiling as he set you back down He smiled at you.You smiled back. His smile hadn't been seen by anyone until now. It had been the first time in years he had smiled and it was because of you.Your visit. You caressed his cheek.
"Are you quite well, my love?" He asked you with the softest, sweetest smile.
"I'm better now, thank you.How about yourself, love?" You said smiling back just as softly.
"I am happiest when I am with you, but when you are away every day is like a rainy day." Loki said, with a yearning look
You stayed in silence for a second, just looking at each other, bathing in each other's happiness
"These shackles make me so uncomfortable, I am so close to you, yet so far." He said, sadness spreading across his face.
"Don't you worry about that, my love, soon you will be released.I know it, and then we can be together again." You smiled caressing his face.
"Forever." He says, leaning into your touch. "What has been happening in the castle?"
You shrug. You tell him about what has been happening; the new rulings, the visitors, the Avengers.
"Oh." He says, as you mention the Avengers.
"I know, I know. Bruce is there as well." He seems well composed, and changed since our last encounter, but trust him I still do not."
"You don't have to hold such grudges, my beauty." This makes you smile.
"I can't forget what happened, Loki, it was far too painful to handle." You say, shaking your head remembering all the time you had to spend with each other but apart and watching each other suffer.
"Just be weary then, my love, and be not bitter." Loki says, and looks back at the guard. "One last kiss to leave me hope, for you might have to go now."
You smiled and cupped his face in your warm hands and pressed your lips to his cold ones, sending a shock down your spine, just as you liked it. You pulled back smiling.
"I love you, farewell." You said smiling and walking off.
"Wait," he said, "Thank you for not giving up on me, I love you too." He said smiling softly.
You smiled and was led out by the guard as you saw Loki's head bow again, falling once more into slumber.