Scars

Anxious.

That's what it was like not having Loki around or at the distance. It was tough the first day without Loki Alice was in a state of hysterical panic. She had confined herself to her room, crying off and on all day a few moments of clarity in between everything. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep. The next day when she woke up she was still anxious and a bit light head but more settled, all be it sad, she was functional enough to move properly at least.

With Loki gone, Alice was free to walk around the tower but no one she was comfortable with was around. Bruce was here earlier but after Sam got injured and they got more intal they quickly came back and switched him out for Bruce.

Alice was left with Sam and Bucky, and they clearly didn't like each other.

She tried to go to the common room a few times but found them arguing or in hostile silence, she had no clue what they were arguing about and didn't want to stay to find out. And quietly as she came she left unnoticed, as always.

She calmed down enough to actually breathe once she was in the elevator. Closing her eyes, she leaned up against the elevator's cool metal walls it felt nice against her skin, something she really needed.

So consumed with trying to calm herself down, Alice didn't notice when the elevator stopped. But once she did, her anxiety returned. She tried to press a button for another floor, but the doors didn't close, she tried again, but the same thing happened. Sticking her head out of the elevator, "Hello?" it appeared to be an apartment floor, and no one was home. Stepping into the apartment, she found a sword on the floor. Picking it up off the floor, she set it against the wall.

Looking around, the layout of the apartment was just like hers but the color furniture and items lying around weren't. The Color scheme was black and gold. The furniture had somewhat home but a royal feel to her. The kitchen table had a black top and gold legs, and the chairs were the same. The couch was black, and the coffee and side tables were gold. The curtains were black with gold edges.

The apartment was like two different worlds colliding, one of a warrior with weapons, swords, shields, and spears littered around. The other of a scholar with books and artifacts carefully placed on the shelves. Very different worlds, but they seem to co-exist very well. To be honest, Alice guessed whose floor this was by the swords, but curiosity got the best of her and would no doubt leave her in trouble. At least she was no longer anxious.

Snooping around Alice found a photo of the brothers they were standing in this very room. Thor was giving his million dollars smile his left arm thrown lazily over Loki's shoulder. Loki was giving a small but genuine smile with his arms crossed they were both in casual clothes this was probably when they first moved in. Putting the photo back she decided to do some more snooping.

Coming to a hall, Alice found two doors with plate names. One with thick stone letters

THOR

Another a bit further down in thin golden cursive letters.

Loki

She hesitated for a moment standing in front of Loki's door handle. She wanted to see how he lived, how he slept, what entertained him, and what his room was like. All their time together was in her room as it was the only ever in her room and a few times they'd go to the beach too due to it being the only place without security. His room was uncharted territory and she kind of feared the consequences of going in without permission.

Her father had drilled the word 'no' and 'don't' and the idea of consequences into her at a very young age. For someone with a rich father who was barely around, "no" and "sorry" were the most common words she heard from him. With the idea of consequences drilled into her head, permission was always a must.

Alice never did anything that would invade anyone's privacy, and she wasn't going to start now. This adventure of hers had gone too far already. The anxiety was crawling back into her skin she stepped back from the door. Maybe she could ask when he came back.

As she turned to walk away Alice heard a click looking back she found Loki's door open.

It's okay. Go ahead. A voice said

For a moment, Alice thought she heard voices in her head, but then she recognized the echo, something similar to Jarvise, meaning an IA. But it was not Jarvis this was a female voice. Maybe her father made a companion for him. Her tone was far more gentle and calming than Jarvis usually was. How could she say no to such a Voice.

Alice took a deep shaky breath before slowly peaking her head into his room. His room was very different from what she expected.

The carpet was white, so white she scared with each step she left a stain. His bed sheets were emerald green with black and gold pillows. In the corner of the room was a black desk with its stylish and royal stationary for creativity. A little ways away was a bookshelf stacked high with what she recognized to be a few of his favorite books and more. This room was very...Loki.

Alice rubbed her arms, her thin sweater did her no good in the coldness of Loki's room. A gold Blanket was folded on the corner of his bed she took it upon herself to use it for warmth. Wrapping it around her shoulder, she sighed as it smelt like him.

Spotting a door to the side, it was left ajar, showing it to be his closet. Stepping inside, she found one side of his closet was covered in normal clothes and the other side earthly clothes but suits and other expensive earthly clothes. The man has got expensive taste. Alice left the closet, getting to his bookshelves slowly, she ran her fingers over each and every book she could tell which one he read the most by the dust each book did or didn't collect. Shakespeare and 50 Shades of Gray seem to be getting the most attention.

Alice bent over, looking at the third to last shelf, when she felt someone behind her, she stood up straight, feeling hands on her hips " What are you doing in my room, love?" Alice let out a sigh of relief hearing his voice, she let him continue to let his hands slide under her shirt and wraps around her waist.

"I've missed you so much. " Alice spun around in his arms "You were gone for too long"

"Only a few days," he chuckled.

"A few days too long," she whispered against his lips. He gave her a peck and then asked again.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she removed the blanket from her shoulders quickly "I just -"

"It's okay, love. No harm was done. I just want to know how you got here"

"The elevator stopped on the wrong floor, and I got curious. Sorry for poking through your things and invading your space," Loki laughed.

"I've been invading your space for the longest. I've been wanting to bring you here for quite some time. But with your father and the fact Thor doesn't knock..." he trailed off Loki leaned down letting her wrap her arms around his neck and let their foreheads touch

"I love your room, it is very much you. " Alice said then her thought process caught up with the moment and she realized " You're back. The others are back... My dad's back!"

Immediately Alice pushed Loki away and ran out the room. If her father was back then the first person as always would be her and the first place he'd look for her would be in her room. Alice fixed herself in the elevator making herself more presentable and not like she had run all this way, the run wasn't that far but she seemed to have winded herself.

" You're back. Are you okay?" she immediately ran into her father's arms.

"He, sweetheart, where have you been why weren't you here?"

"The Library," she spoke her lie quickly, well, it wasn't a lie she was in the library Loki's personal library, and this kind of helped her brush off the guilt.

Tony stared at her for a moment, Alice thought he saw through her lie. " Okay. Everyone is sort of okay. Clint got hurt, but he's getting fixed up as we speak. We got what we were looking for everything is okay... Where did you get the blanket?"

She looked to see Loki's blanket still in her hand.

"... The Library. Are you staying?" she quickly changed the topic and began to pull him along to the couch "We can watch The Beauty and The Beast again, the Live-action" Alice smiled he wouldn't budge.

"No, I'm sorry honey. I still got work to do" Tony gave his daughter a kiss on the forehead and a squeeze of the shoulder. And then left to experiment with Loki's scepter.

Alice didn't say anything as she watched him retreat she expected this he never stay for more than hello and goodbye these days. She didn't even bother to remind him Pepper was gone until next week.

She sighed, walking over and plopping herself on the couch she smiled as she felt a hand on her shoulder " I'll watch it with you," Loki said, kissing her cheek she giggled.

"Prepare to sing along"