The darkness around us thickened, pressing down on me like a heavy weight. My breaths grew ragged, each step more labored than the last. Without my powers, I felt the fatigue creeping into my bones, a vulnerability I wasn't accustomed to. Loki, on the other hand, moved with a steady pace, his stamina seemingly untouched. But, sensing my exhaustion, he finally allowed us to stop.

We sat on the cold, damp floor of the cave. Loki reached for a stone and with a flick of his wrist, a small flame sparked into existence above it, casting a dim glow around us. The soft light barely penetrated the oppressive darkness, but it was enough. At last, I could see his face.

The flickering flame cast shadows across his sharp jawline and illuminated the concern in his eyes. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

As I caught my breath, I studied him—this man who had once been so much more to me. His presence, even now, was a mix of reassurance and complication. The glow of the flame made his features appear softer and I caught myself admiring his face for a brief second.

"How much did he take away from you?" Loki asked as he leaned back against the wall. The pathway of the cave was rather narrow at this point, not allowing much space between us.

I bit my lip, taking a deep breath, feeling anguish creeping back in. "Everything... I've lost all my powers. The only thing that's left is the strength, probably due to the fact I'm still an Astral being. But other than that... I've got nothing." I mumbled, my gaze fixated on the flame as I was trying hard to process it all. I genuinely had no idea how I was to ever get over this. How was I going to get out of this predicament?

Loki's eyes softened as he listened to my words, his expression unreadable but somehow comforting. The flickering flame between us cast fleeting shadows across his face, making it difficult to gauge his emotions.

"I'm really sorry this happened to you." He responded after a while. At least he didn't mock me which was a big change for him. But even Loki could read the room and see that this was not the time for joking.

"I'm sorry too." I sighed out and leaned back, closing my eyes for a brief moment. Then, my gaze met his and I asked, "so... how did the war over there go? Were you mounting a good defense?"

I didn't want to linger on the subject any longer. That was just the current reality and there was nothing I could do to change it. The least I could do was save myself from losing my mind by agonizing over it.

Loki hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place. "It was... brutal," he began with a deep breath, "it was different than I had expected. Probably due to the fact that Thor's hammer was gone." He paused, his gaze drifting away as if he were seeing the battlefield again in his mind. "Without Thor's hammer, the balance shifted. It was like watching a dam break. The gods were scrambling, desperate to hold the line, but the cracks were already there. The giants... we took advantage of every weakness, every hesitation. It was savage, relentless. You'd think fighting against gods would be some noble endeavor, but it was just chaos."

He clenched his fists, the memories seeming to tighten their grip on him. "I fought alongside the giants, even led them in some battles. But it wasn't out of loyalty. I think, at that point, I just wanted to tear everything down. There was a bitterness inside me—towards Odin, towards Thor, towards the entire fate that had been shoved down our throats. The prophecy said I would betray them, so I embraced it."

His gaze flickered to mine, his eyes betraying a flicker of vulnerability beneath the mask of indifference. "But it wasn't as glorious as it sounds. Watching the gods fall... It wasn't satisfying. It felt... empty. Thor, even without Mjolnir, was a force to be reckoned with. We clashed more times than I care to remember. Every strike felt like the world was ending—because it was."

I watched him closely, noticing the subtle tension in his posture, the way his shoulders stiffened as he spoke. It wasn't like Loki to show vulnerability, not even to me. But here, in the dim light of the cave, it seemed like the weight of everything was pressing down on him too.

"Then the veil between realms breaking down—it unleashed chaos on a level none of us were prepared for. Even with all our power, it was overwhelming." He finally finished with his retelling, his gaze distant as he was still lost in the memories in his mind.

I nodded slowly, trying to imagine the carnage he described. It was hard to picture anything that could shake someone like Loki, but I could see the weariness in his eyes, the weight of what he'd been through. It seemed like nobody came out victorious - the thought weighed heavily in my mind. It was as if every realm had been stripped of what defined it - Asgard reduced to rubble, Hell fractured beyond recognition with snow falling relentlessly, and all of us, once powerful beings, now little more than survivors clinging to whatever scraps of strength we had left. There were no victors, only casualties in this relentless war. Thor without Mjolnir, the gods without their realms, and me, dethroned and powerless.

Loki, too, was a shadow of the trickster I once knew. The weariness in his eyes told a story of battles fought, of losses endured. The weight of it all pressed down on us, suffocating in its inevitability. The Devil might have been without Lucifer, but even that small victory felt hollow. The demons, the gods— they were all caught in the same spiral, snowballing toward a future that seemed darker with each passing moment.

"So if everybody's a loser, why are they so set on catching us?" I frowned lightly, trying to make sense of it all.

"As I said - desperation. They think if they kill us, it'll change something, turn the tides." He sighed, annoyance clear in his voice as he let out a mocking laughter. The reasoning did sound rather ridiculous.

"Suddenly Odin lets them interfere with the destiny?" I snorted.

"I believe this is part of the prophecy." Loki mumbled as his laughter ceased. "But something tells me that not even he anticipated this turn of events."

I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him questioningly, "what do you mean?"

"He expected me to trick you, make you vulnerable by making you fall in love which in turn would cause the collapse of Hell as your logical side would become muffled. But I don't think he saw me siding with you. This was supposed to turn out way differently." He explained, a small smirk playing on his face.

The revelation hit like a punch to the gut even though I had expected it. Hearing Loki admit that his role was to deceive me, to make me vulnerable by manipulating my emotions, was a bitter pill to swallow. It confirmed every suspicion I had buried deep within me, every doubt I tried to ignore. And yet, despite the anger that simmered just below the surface, there was a part of me that couldn't muster the energy to lash out. Not now, when everything was already in ruins.

I looked at him, that familiar smirk playing on his lips, as if he found some twisted humor in all of this. Maybe it was his way of coping, or maybe it was just Loki being Loki—always one step ahead, always the trickster. But now, even that smirk felt hollow, like a mask he was struggling to keep in place.

"You never were there to kill me, were you?" I asked as I crossed my arms. His eyes locked mine as he shook his head.

"Nope," he replied quickly, almost too quickly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

"Figures. It was far too stupid of a plan, even for you."

Loki snorted, clearly unfazed by the jab. "Oh, please. If I were really trying to kill you, do you think you'd still be sitting there so smug?"

I raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a grin. "Smug? You must be confusing me with yourself."

He placed a hand dramatically over his heart, feigning hurt. "Well, someone has to maintain the charm around here, since you've clearly given up on it."

I rolled my eyes at that before retorting, "so, it's my lack of charm that you've gotten to love, isn't it?"

"Precisely, " he responded almost instantly, which almost hurt me when he said it.

"Wow." I grumbled before I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms and closing my eyes. Part of me was glad that we managed to make this horrible situation we were in into something humorous but part of me dreaded it because it was probably one of the last times we'd be able to joke like this.

I heard Loki laughing at my weak attempt to look offended. I shot my eyes open again as I glared at him and he started laughing even more. I continued to look at him with a blank face, waiting for him to shut up. And eventually, he did as he saw me not being amused by his mockery.

"Finally," I mumbled, exhaustion lacing my voice.

"You're no fun as always," Loki rolled his eyes, pretending to be annoyed.

"You're free to leave," I suggested, the words carrying a knowing edge. We both understood the futility of that statement; he was as trapped as I was in this cave.

"You're stuck with me, Asmo, whether you like it or not," he said with a grin, shrugging as if to underscore the inevitability.

I couldn't help but laugh once again. "So, let me get this straight. You were supposed to be my downfall, but instead, you ended up... what? Being my unlikely ally in this mess?"

Loki shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "What can I say? Plans change."

"Apparently," I muttered, shaking my head. "But if this was all supposed to go so differently, where do we go from here?"

He leaned back, that signature mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to make it up as we go along. Like always."

"Great. Just what I needed—another chaotic, poorly thought-out adventure with you," I replied, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Hey, at least it won't be boring," Loki shot back, his smirk widening.

And despite everything, I couldn't help but agree. In a world spiraling into chaos, the fact that Loki was still here—still making light of our predicament—somehow made it all a bit more bearable. I found it hard to believe that he really did come back even though it wasn't in the best circumstances. Still, there was nobody I would rather spend my remaining time with.

Our eyes remained locked with each other, neither of us daring to look away. His gaze softened and so did mine. I couldn't help but feel this odd warmth spreading throughout my body. Maybe being stripped of all my demonic powers made it easier to accept love that gripped me with a relentless force - again.

"I'm glad you're back." I dared to be honest. I figured it'd be the right thing to do considering the unpredictability of our future.

Loki's lip stretched into a smile, this one being genuine. "Me too. I thought I'd lost you for good."

"Abaddon assured me you'd be back, I just didn't know when." I laughed but as a means to ease the tension. The air was thick with unspoken feelings and overwhelming desire to say them.

"Abaddon, huh? Haven't heard that name in a while," Loki chuckled. "I bet he's still fine, too." He grumbled lightly, indicating that he still didn't trust him much. I didn't want to entertain his sentiment however.

"Yeah, he is." I nodded, a smile playing on my lips. Loki breathed out sharply at my response before he shook his head.

"What about others? Beelzebub? Belial? Mammon?" He inquired and I felt a punch in my gut when I heard him bringing up Belial. How much should I even tell him?

"Mammon and I fell out as he was the one who orchestrated you to get found by the Norse gods." I explained quickly and there was a clear surprise on his face. It seemed like I wasn't the only one who got fooled by Mammon.

"Oh wow," Loki laughed, though it was tinged with disbelief. "I guess anyone with that much gold isn't to be trusted." He snorted, shaking his head in bemusement.

"I guess so," I agreed, my smile faltering slightly.

Loki had a point, but it was easy for him to see it that way. As a demon, I understood the lure of power and obsession all too well. Each of us had our own twisted fascinations, and Mammon's greed was just one example of the corruption that came with our kind.

"Everyone else is fine," I shrugged. "They're fine enough to chase me to kill me, I guess." I figured it was unfair to say that because they might have not had options. At the same time, Loki didn't have many options either.

"Welcome to my world," Loki said with a dramatic flourish, spreading his arms wide.

I chuckled, my mood lifting instantly at his playful gesture. His ability to make even the darkest moments feel lighter was something I genuinely appreciated. At that moment, I realized there was no one else I'd rather be stuck with. Loki, with all his flaws and complexities, was exactly who I needed by my side, especially in this type of a situation.

Suddenly, he moved from his spot and took a seat right next to me. I frowned in confusion, a little taken aback by his unexpected action. He turned his head toward me, his gaze softening, and then gently brought his hand up to my face, caressing my cheek.

The touch was tender, unexpected, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I met his eyes, searching for meaning in that gentle gesture. There was an intimacy in the way he looked at me, one that spoke of vulnerability and unspoken emotions.

"But enough about others, more about us, while we have time," he smiled, nothing mocking about it. I felt like my whole body began melting the more he was looking at me. It was a strange feeling being able to surrender to these types of feelings so easily. It no longer felt like I was running through a maze but rather like an enjoyable water slide.

I looked into his eyes, feeling a connection that transcended the chaos outside. The world beyond the cave, with its impending doom and shattered realms, seemed to fade into the background. Here, in this dimly lit space, it was just us—two beings, finding solace in each other's company.

Loki's hand remained on my cheek, his touch grounding me, pulling me away from the turmoil that had dominated our lives. I leaned into his hand, allowing myself to be enveloped by the warmth of his presence.

"I've missed you so much," he said, his voice unexpectedly soft and vulnerable. I caught myself stopping breathing as I felt everything in me twisting. Oddly, it was an enjoyable twisting, I was beginning to feel excited - not angry. Who knew that losing everything was the one thing that allowed me to feel love?

I wanted to tell him that I had missed him so much that I ended up erasing my feelings for him. I wanted to reveal how loving him had been the most painful emotion I'd ever experienced, how each moment he was gone felt like I was losing a piece of myself.

Yet, as I looked into his eyes, I realized that now was not the time for such confessions. I was unwilling to disrupt the fragile peace we had found together. The weight of those words felt heavy, and I wasn't ready to bear it just yet.

"I've missed you too," I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling with the emotion I was trying so hard to contain. The words seemed inadequate, but they were all I could muster in this fragile moment of honesty.

Loki's gaze never wavered from mine, and there was a quiet intensity in his eyes that made me feel both exposed and safe. His eyes softened even more as his lips got pulled into a smile. It looked like he couldn't wait to hear me say that. Soon enough, words were not needed anymore as he slowly leaned closer as he pressed his lips against mine.

Despite the fact that we already kissed earlier, this time it felt wholly different. It was far more tender and gentler. There were no negative feelings present as if it was a clean slate, a fresh start amidst the wreckage.

I could feel the softness of his lips, the warmth that radiated from him, and it was as if every lingering wound was beginning to heal. The intensity of our previous arguments and pain melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace. His kiss conveyed an apology, an understanding, and a deep-seated affection that words could never fully express.

When our lips finally parted, we remained close, our foreheads touching as we both took in the reality of the moment. Loki's eyes were filled with a softness I hadn't seen before, and I could sense the same relief and hope reflected in my own.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for you to be this... accepting," he chuckled, finally breaking the silence.

"I think I have a pretty good idea." I said smugly.

"You're right, you were just incredibly stubborn." He snorted as he pulled away but his hand remained on my cheek, refusing to let me go - and I didn't want him to. "What changed?"

"I think no demonic powers may give you a hint." I drawled with a smirk and he looked up for a second, pretending like he was thinking.

"No demonic powers, you say?" he mused, a dramatic air about him. "Could it be that losing all your grand, fiery abilities made you a bit more... human?"

I chuckled, "something like that, sadly. As much as I don't like the vulnerability humans have, I think love is pretty kick ass."

Loki's smile widened and then he burst out laughing for a moment before continuing, "I'm glad you think so." He said, still grinning.

"Life's funny. Sometimes it takes losing everything to find something real."

A surprise painted Loki's face when I said that and I thought for a moment he was left speechless. His mouth opened partially as he stared at me for a few seconds before responding, "clearly, it made you wise as well."

"I suppose so," I shrugged with a wry smile. Suddenly, an immense tiredness overcame my whole being and I frowned in confusion. I thought just by resting a bit, the exhaustion would leave me as it usually would. However, it just seemed to progress and I began to fear the worst. I was far weaker than I had anticipated.

I pulled away from Loki's touch and leaned back against the wall, taking a deep breath. His brows furrowed as he watched me, awaiting for an explanation.

"I think I'm experiencing... prolonged tiredness?" I mumbled as I began to find it hard to even speak. I was sure I was not dying but it was still worrying.

"Oh... your body is much weaker now. You may need to sleep to regain your strength." Loki suggested with a soft voice as he got closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

"Sleep?" I asked, barely audibly. Loki's embrace provided comfort I didn't know I needed and it further relaxed my body.

"You may be able to experience proper sleep for the first time ever." He said, squeezing my body to his. "You can relax, I'll wake you up in case there's something weird going on."

However, I didn't need much convincing. As much as I wanted to resist, the pull of sleep was too strong. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, chasing away any remaining fear or stress. His embrace made it easy to give in. Slowly, my head dropped onto his shoulder, and for the first time in my long demonic existence, I surrendered to the darkness of sleep.

The world around me faded away, and for the first time, I dreamed of nothing.

***

I woke up to the sound of frantic footsteps pounding against the ground, echoing through the cave. Then came a tumbling down of somebody's body before running continued. My body still felt heavy, but the haze of exhaustion was gone. I blinked, the cavern coming into sharper focus. Loki was already on his feet, his gaze locked on the source of the noise.

"I only hear one person," he mumbled quickly as he saw me open my eyes finally. Suddenly, a frame appeared in the darkness, dim glow from the flame barely showcasing the figure. But it was enough for me.

Belial. His clothes were torn, streaked with dirt and blood, and his eyes were wild with desperation. My eyes widened in shock - I would have never expected to see him but deep down I was glad.

His wild eyes scanned the cave before locking onto mine. "They're coming," he rasped, his voice hoarse from running. He stumbled forward, nearly collapsing in front of us as he dropped down next to me. "I barely escaped... gods, demons, everyone. They've joined forces. There's a horde out there, tearing through everything."

I forced myself to shake off the last vestiges of sleep as I straightened myself. The weight of Belial's words slowly began sinking in. Loki took a glance at me, a bit confused as to why I wasn't surprised to see him. But eventually he relaxed too as he frowned lightly at Belial.

"Yes, we know. How did you know we were here?" Loki inquired, still not letting the guard down fully.

Belial's wild eyes flickered between us, his breath still coming in ragged gasps. "When I woke up, the castle was pretty empty," he began, "then I saw the gods and demons united, searching for you. I knew I had to find you, Asmo. Then I saw a trace of magic, faint but unmistakable, so I followed it and found you here." He explained, his voice still strained but there was no deceit present.

I glanced at Loki, distrust still in his posture. "You had to find him, huh?" His voice dripped with suspicion.

Belial's gaze didn't waver, though there was a flash of something—pain or frustration. "Believe what you want," he muttered, running a hand through his disheveled blonde hair. "But we don't have time for this. They'll be here soon."

The tension between them crackled, but I could see the truth in Belial's eyes. He was desperate, not just to save himself but to warn us. "Loki, we can't afford to waste time," I interjected, my voice firm as I slowly stood up.

Loki sighed, the mistrust still evident but slowly melting. "Fine," he muttered, uncrossing his arms. "But if you're leading them here, Belial, I swear—"

"I'm not," Belial cut in, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm not leading anyone. I came here because I... because of Asmodeus. Believe it or not, you're not the only one who cares about him." He said sharply, making me stop breathing for a second as I glanced over at Loki whose face darkened a little bit. His jaw tightened as his gaze lingered on Belial for a few seconds and the tension was now even more palpable than just a few seconds ago.

"Well, I'm glad you're here Belial nonetheless," I smiled faintly, trying to reassure him that I was at least glad that he was here. He smiled back at me but he still held himself back from reacting the way he would've had it not been for Loki's presence. Even he noticed that Loki was not quite glad that Belial, too, cared about me.

"Thank you," he replied quietly, casting a sideways glance at Loki, who was doing his best to mask his irritation.

"What about others? Did you get a chance to talk to Beelzebub or... Mammon even?" I asked, trying not to linger on the topic as I feared it would lead into an unneeded argument.

Belial shook his head. "No, not really. I saw Beelzebub briefly. He's clearly trapped under the Devil's influence. I don't think he's looking to kill you, but he's not in a position to help us either." He sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "And Mammon... I didn't see him. But knowing him, he'll likely hedge his bets with whoever seems to be winning."

I nodded, absorbing the information. "I see. Typical." I sighed, a bit annoyed and disappointed but at least Belial kept proving loyalty until the very end. "I am really glad you've managed to get out." I said and Belial's face softened.

"Well, if it weren't for you, who knows what would've become of me." He laughed, trying to ease the tension. It was clear he was holding himself back, fearing Loki's reaction.

Loki's eyes darted between Belial and me, his expression a mix of skepticism and concern. The unease was palpable, but it was clear that Belial's presence had shifted the dynamic somewhat.

"Alright, we need to move. It's bad to stay here longer, maybe they've picked up your trail even if you haven't willingly led them here." I said, quickly shifting the topic to something more immediate. Loki nodded, his silence speaking volumes. It was a rather awkward situation and while I understood Loki's feelings, he didn't have a right to feel this way despite everything. "Do you know what this cave is, Belial?" I inquired, hoping that he had some intel due to working alongside the Devil for so long. "Is it, as they say, an extra torture chamber?" I added with a forced laugh, trying to lighten the mood despite the dire circumstances.

Belial shook his head, looking more serious than before. "No, it's not a torture chamber. This place was used for... more clandestine meetings and secretive activities. It's not well-known, but it's not entirely safe either. We should assume that it's not just a hideout; it could have other purposes." He paused then quickly added, "or so I've overheard."

I nodded, taking in his words. "Great, so you're not sure either." I sighed out, rubbing my temples in annoyance.

"It is kind of suspicious. Nobody knows its real purpose." Belial commented with a shrug.

"Could that be the reason they are avoiding it so much?" I hummed in curiosity and he looked like he was thinking for a few seconds before responding.

"Yeah. Could be. We might need to be extra careful and not split up under any circumstances." He said firmly as he slowly stood up as he regained his strength.

We all knew the stakes were high. With Belial's warning and our limited knowledge of the cave's true nature, we had to stay vigilant. The cave was no longer just a refuge but a potential trap.

"I'll lead the way then," Loki declared, finally breaking his silence, his voice firm and commanding. "Since I don't fully trust you yet, Belial, and Asmo... you're too weak to dive headfirst into anything right now."

I couldn't help but appreciate the decisiveness in his tone. It was clear he was taking charge, and there was something reassuring about his determination. Belial raised an eyebrow at what Loki said about me, clearly not knowing what happened in the meantime.

"Excuse me?" He asked, clearly bewildered by the statement. "Asmo is too weak?" His voice dripped with worry as he locked his eyes on me, scanning me top to bottom.

I shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny but managed a weak smile. "It's true," I admitted, my voice steady despite my fatigue. "I've been... well, the Devil has taken away my powers now I'm nothing more than just an Astral being. I can't say if I'm even a demon at this point."

Belial's eyes widened in shock as he processed my words. "The Devil... took away your powers?" His voice was barely above a whisper, a mix of disbelief and horror etched across his face. He stared at me as if trying to reconcile the sight of me with the magnitude of what I had just revealed.

"I had no idea," he murmured, his gaze shifting between Loki and me, clearly taken aback by the severity of my situation. "You're... you're not even a demon anymore?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of his shock but trying to remain composed. "Not quite," I said softly. "I'm just an Astral being now. It's been a rough transition, and I'm still adjusting."

Belial's expression softened with empathy, but there was a lingering sense of disbelief in his eyes. "This... this is worse than I thought. I'm sorry, Asmo. I didn't realize."

Before I could respond, Loki stepped closer, his expression softening as he saw the impact of the news on Belial. "Yes," Loki confirmed, his voice firm yet gentle. "Asmo's powers are gone, and we need to be cautious. We're in a precarious situation, and pushing forward recklessly could be dangerous."

Belial took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "I see," he said, nodding slowly. "We'll have to adjust our plans then. But you're right, Loki, we need to move quickly. If the Devil has aligned with other forces, we're running out of time."

Loki gave a curt nod, "alright. Stay close and don't stray from the path. We don't know what else might be waiting for us."He extinguished the flickering flame over the stone with a swift motion, the shadows retreating as the light died. He turned on his heel and took the lead, his back rigid and unyielding, not even glancing back at us.

I clenched my jaw as I followed after him with Belial right behind me. The air between us was charged with an unspoken tension, a palpable shift that seemed to widen the distance between Loki and the two of us. I glanced over my shoulder at Belial, catching the glimmer of worry in his eyes. His gaze met mine with a silent apology, as if he were saying sorry for the additional strain he'd brought into our fragile circle. For a moment, the cavern's harsh reality seemed to fade, leaving just the three of us tangled in our own personal chaos.