Seth could solve my problems?

Wait a second! You've only met this man once before now! He didn't say a damn thing about being with S.H.I.E.L.D. I looked at Seth critically with blue eyes. "And you expect me to believe you've got a cure in your pocket?"

He shook his head. "No, back at my place."

"But you said you were with S.H.I.E.L.D."

"I work off-base too. I never stop." He chuckled. "Kind of a workaholic."

I crossed my arms even though it was one of the worst things to do in the heat. "Could you give me proof?"

"If that's what it takes for you to believe me, then I'll give you proof that I am who I say I am."

"How long is that going to take?"

"Hopefully not long. Hopefully before you combust."

I flinched. "Wonderful."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to say that." Seth cleared his throat awkwardly. "Here." He held out a card for me. "My number, if I don't reach out to you in the near future."

I quirked my mouth in suspicion. "This isn't an elaborate plot that helped you slip me your number, is it?"

He chuckled. "Oh, no. When I give a girl my number, I'm way more direct." He winked, nodding towards the slip of paper in my hand.

I was left standing in the New York heat, with some possible hope between my fingers. My mind was reeling. I had the possibility of being cured!

That was if I decided Seth checked out though.

But something still wasn't adding up. If Seth worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., then why wouldn't he purpose his idea to the organization? Would this be his way to be an unsung hero and try to be heroic? Was it for some promotion that he was striving for?

A bump from a stranger pulled me out of my dazed state. I tucked the card away. I winced at feeling the burning in my chest again. Oh no, not here. I decided to end my venturing early by finding my way back to Stark Tower before something happened, like me setting another person or building on fire.

* * *

I kept the bracelet that Stark gave me on even after I came back into the tower. It might as well stay there for the rest of this situation, no matter how it ended.

I hadn't reached out to Steve, I was mulling over the number I was now staring at. I was surprised I didn't make it burst into flames with a look alone. I'd put the number in my phone beforehand anyway, so it wouldn't be a total loss if the paper disappeared.

Earlier, I had been confused, torn. I still was. What if this was false hope, too, that Seth was proposing? What if he was just another failed attempt? And what if nothing came back from Asgard to help me?

It was either I got help or I died, those were my only options at this point. And I wasn't looking forward to dying, especially the way I was thinking I was going to go at this rate.

I checked my phone when I felt it buzz beside me. It was Pepper of all people.

Coming down for dinner?

When Pepper was here, it was one more person I had to be careful around. But she acted like nothing was wrong with me and treated me the same, like I wasn't a fragile piece of glass. She went on like everything was fine. I guess when you ran Stark Industries, the company took priority over most matters.

I'll be down in a few.

After making myself a little more presentable, I found my way into a dining room, where Pepper, Stark, and Bruce were around. But they weren't the only three.

"Todd!"

Todd crossed to me to hug me, and I almost broke down into tears. He smelled like home, and a little bit of sweat and blood. I pulled back to look at him. He had huge bags under his eyes, but overall he looked in peak condition.

"We figured you'd like the surprise," said Pepper. She had her hair back into a ponytail, still dressed in formal attire.

"They gave me a night off, figured I'd use it to check in on you," Todd explained.

I didn't say anything, I just hugged him again.

"Uh, Kiara? Ow."

I dropped Todd, and I could hear the air rush back into his lungs. "I'm sorry!"

He chuckled, testing his breathing. "No worries. I'm good."

Todd and I took our seats next to each other at the table. It was almost a Thanksgiving sort of feel (yes, I knew the holiday, thanks to Todd's education) with how we passed around the food and wine. Todd declined the alcohol, but after some badgering he accepted a little.

"So, Stark," I said casually, "you didn't mess with my phone, huh?"

"That's always been your ringtone, Kia." He swirled around his wine in the glass.

"You and I both know that's not true." I looked to Pepper. "What brought this on?"

"Well, I got home and wanted to do something nice since we've got more than Tony and myself in the tower now."

"This reminds me of my family dinners," I reminisced. "Only the food looked way more appetizing on Asgard. Not that the food here isn't great, it's pretty good. Although I will say the alcohol here on Earth is pretty weak."

"Weak?" Stark looked aghast.

I chuckled. "One sip of alcohol from Asgard would send you into sleep easily. It's not for the faint of heart."

"One of these days, should you go back, bring some back with you. I want to try some."

Pepper rolled her eyes at Stark. Bruce quietly smiled while he continued to pick at his food. No discussion of my condition was said. No news was good news in this case right now.

Once dinner was over, I helped Pepper with cleanup while Bruce and Stark went back to work and be hermits in the laboratories. At some point, Pepper shooed me away so I could spend time with Todd since he was due back tomorrow afternoon.

We kept the TV on as we sat on the couch. Todd was sprawled out, his head in my lap, eyes closed. I kept my face in my hand, that arm resting on the arm of the couch.

I found myself drifting off as well.

***

I didn't know this place. It felt damp, and it was dark. There were rock walls, and from what I could see, there were force fields.

Wait. These are cells. But I wasn't looking out from a cell; I was on the outside, looking into the cells themselves. Is this Asgardian prison? Why am I here?

"Ah, so it worked."

I turned at his voice. Behind the glowing barrier stood Loki. My former love.

I walked up the steps to him, stopping just at the humming barrier. He looked at me fondly with those green eyes that had captivated me from the moment I saw them. I noticed his hair seemed a bit longer than I remembered.

"This is a dream, right?" I asked. "I didn't get transported to Asgard?"

He chuckled. "No, Kiara. You're still on Earth. I wasn't sure if this was going to work since our other communication got scrambled."

I pushed hair behind my ear. "Did you find out anything?"

"Thor isn't exactly happy with me right now." Loki frowned. "Anything I ask falls on deaf ears."

"Well, did you mention it was to help me?"

"Yes, but he blew that off too. Said something about how much nonsense it was and that if something was wrong with you, your friends would help you through it." Loki snorted. "He puts too much faith into your friends, Kiara."

I rolled my eyes. "And you can't convince him?"

"If we were on better terms, possibly. Right now, there seems to be no chance."

I rubbed my forehead. "Damn."

"If you're considering returning, the only means to getting here is here on Asgard."

"The Bifrost isn't repaired?"

Loki chuckled. "Do you honestly believe that I would know that, kitten?"

I shrugged. "It didn't hurt to ask."

Loki put his hand against the barrier, there was a longing in his eyes. "If only this didn't exist."

I felt the tears coming on, felt the heartbreak coming on too. "You know how this could have been prevented."

His eyes darkened. "You chose your side."

"As did you." I sniffed. "I do miss you, yes, but the Asgardian Prince that I once knew."

"You mean the faux prince."

"Frost Giant or not, you're still a prince. You were my prince, Loki." My chin wobbled.

"I don't like to hear the past tense in your voice. You make it sound as though..."

I sighed through my nose. "That's exactly how it should sound, Loki." I dabbed my eyes.

I cried out, feeling flames lick at my chest. I looked down, screaming in horror, as my chest went up in flames.

"Kiara?" Loki panicked. I looked at him, fear clear in my eyes as the light of day. "Kiara?!"

I continued to scream and catch fire.

***

"Kiara!"

I jolted awake, taking in a huge gulp of air. I wasn't choking or coughing, but I was feeling the heat grow in my chest. Todd was beside me, and I put a hand to my chest. I jumped off the couch before my skin could set it on fire.

"Stay away, Todd!" I warned him.

"What's happening?" His brown eyes were wide in terror. "Kiara!"

I stumbled away from Todd as he advanced.

"Kiara!"

I looked past Todd to see Stark, Pepper, and Bruce rushing in, all with wet cloths. They threw the cloths at me, handing one to Todd, barking orders at him. They tried to not touch my skin as they smoothed me down.

"Easy, Girl on Fire," Stark murmured. "Easy."

"Breathe," Pepper said in a slightly wavy voice. "Breathe, Kiara."

"What is this?" Todd demanded.

"You didn't tell him, did you?" Bruce asked me. I shook my head.

"This has happened before?!"

"I was going to tell you," I panted as the cloths were slowly starting to help. "We...This started a while ago."

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"I'm sorry, okay?" I snapped as Pepper put a wet cloth around my neck and chest. "I knew you'd be like this if I kept it from you!"

"Well, you did keep it from me!"

"It wasn't like I was going to take this secret to my grave!" My voice got louder.

"Kids, break it up!" Stark called us to order.

I felt the dizzy spell start up again in my head. I closed my eyes, feeling my pulse thunder in my ears savagely. "I'm sorry, Todd," I whimpered. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Kiara," I heard him say softly. "It's okay. We've got you. Easy."

After some time, the sensation stopped, and I was normal temperature again. Pepper and Todd remained with me while Stark and Bruce left for their laboratories again. I rested against Todd, not burning him in the process, as we sat on the couch.

"I've got her, Pepper," Todd assured her, smoothing down my frizzy blonde hair. Pepper gave us a parting glance before she left the room. "They'll find a cure, Kiara," he murmured against my hair. "Tony and Bruce know what they're doing." He groaned. "If I'd known things were this bad..."

"You're not quitting training for me," I said quietly. "I'm the reason you got into it. Besides, we seem to have a handle on this."

"Well, I'm staying with you tonight in case."

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Anything for my best friend."

**[sighs] Todd and Kiara. These two <3

And that conversation with Loki. Ugh, I've got echos of Lokiara feels going on, guys. But alas, that ship has run its course.**