#Loki in the new chapter is so powerful he’s managing to piss me off

[heytherebuds]

Fanart for @erinwantstowrite fic (Leap of faith),aka the fic that’s been cooking my brain on low heat for the past 2 months (in a a good way 😀👍)

[tarithenurse]

Inhuman

Fandom: MCU Pairing: Bucky x fem!reader, eventually Loki x fem!reader, Stucky, more (some canon, some not). Word count: 3299. Contents: Preparations, quick travel, discussions. A/N: Any questions are welcome. Please comment and like and reblog. Let me know if you want a tag.

Chapter 45

… Bucky’s PoV ...

Bucky has never met any of the other Asgardians before. The original Avengers have told a lot about the adoptive brothers…and not all of it has been flattering. Especially because Loki has managed to piss everyone off repeatedly by. Naturally, Thor has to convince them before they allow Loki to come with them into the Compound.

Looking at the grim faces, Bucky understands that no one is ready to forgive him for the destruction in New York a few years back. He’s read about it and Steve has told him even more…but I wasn’t there. He can logically understand the hatred and resentment the others are radiating, but his only concern when he saw the man so close to [Y/N] was to keep her safe.

“I don’t like it.” Barton is pacing, glaring at the Asgardian that once took over his mind. “Why should we trust anything he has to say? Why isn’t he locked up”

The newcomer is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “Your trust is of no consequence to me. I care about stopping Thanos.” There is nothing but disdain in Loki’s voice. “Besides, I promised both Thor and your dear monster over there that I would be of aid.”

Everyone turns to look at Banner, who’s been standing a bit away, listening. “He…helped.” The curly-haired man clears his throat. “It might have been for his own sake, but he helped battle Hela which is how he earned his…parole.”

“Indeed. I have no wish for neither her reign in any part of the multiverse nor Thanos’…and he is coming.” Turning to his adoptive brother, Loki grows serious. “Remember the words? ‘He courts Death’? Hela was but a mere lackey in his quest. Anything or anyone affiliated with those powers will be the object of his greed.”

“Hold your horses, Reindeer-games. What powers?” It’s impressive that Stark can get away with such a comment, Bucky muses.

“She can...erm…” Banner is looking for the right words. “There is a reason Hela was the Goddess of Death. She could make people live longer…or die. Just by…hrm…by touching them.”

The room falls silent and Bucky can feel his insides turn to ice.

“Thanos had not a care about the people of this world, they were ants to him until you drew his attention.” With a sweeping motion, Loki indicates the original members of the Avengers. “Yet now…”

“Loki, speak with caution. These are my friends and I will not stand by idly if you insult or threaten them.” Thor’s nervous?

The cruel smile that curls the younger Asgardian’s lips makes Bucky tense up like before a fight. “…now he knows there is more to come for.”

“So he’s a sore loser?” Stark lets out an exasperated sound.

Turning slowly and deliberately to face the billionaire, Loki looks him over. “Hardly, Man of Iron. He wants her.” A long arm is aiming a pale finger at [Y/N] who looks stumped by the news. “The magic of Hela. Surely it must sound familiar?”

“Pretending for a moment that you are right, which you’re not…how would Thanos even know about me?” Her voice is steady, but the pinpricks of orange in the irises tells Bucky that she is scared.

“Word of you have spread past Earth via Asgard. If he hasn’t understood the extend of your skills, then he will soon.”

“Bullshit. He doesn’t know anything and she doesn’t kill with her skill.” Barton’s words are reassuring.

“It is conceivable that he does not. However…is it a risk you are willing to take?” The muscles on the archer’s jaws are working hard and a vein is throbbing on his neck as he meets Loki’s cold eyes. It’s the skinny Asgardian that backs down first, letting his arms hang lose. “I have…no right to ask for your faith, but know that I have seen the error of my ways.” Seemingly losing interest in the situation, the man turns and studies the shelves of books that line the wall.

Huddling together, they argue for and against letting Loki staying to help, especially Clint and Tony have their doubts which they refuse to let go off.

Clearing her throat, Wanda finally voices her opinion. “He is telling the truth…or at least he thinks he is.”

“You don’t think he can control what you see?” Natasha always takes everything into account.

“He can try, but it has a different quality when people lie like that.” The young woman sighs. “Trust me, I should be able to tell the difference between something genuine and something invented in people’s minds.”

“Okay.” Clint deflates. “He can stay then.” He and Wanda have a strong bond, like brother and sister even though her real brother can never be replaced.

Over on the couch, Loki is leafing through a book, feet resting on the coffee table and apparently oblivious to the discussion that has been raging. Bucky is struggling to let go of his protective instinct, and maybe [Y/N] can tell that, because she intertwines her fingers with his and squeezes his hand. She doesn’t have to say anything for him to understand and he nods.

… Reader’s PoV ...

The development has kept the phone lines hot. Both Thor and Loki had more information about the incoming army and the history of violence the two races have. Dark Elves and Chitauri. Each have graced the Earth with visits before and now they are back for more. You have kept your word and told Storm everything, but other than that, you have nothing to do as you all wait to know where the enemy will strike and you’re growing frustrated.

Frustrated and curious.

Loki’s words are ringing in your ears and even though you are telling yourself that he’s just messing with you and the others...there is something about it that almost makes sense. Fool, he is a liar that loves to watch the world burn. You turn around as the pacing brings you to the window. Outside the sun is crawling in snail-pace over the blue sky where a couple of birds are pretending it’s just a normal day like any other.

‘You heal or kill by exchanging lifeforces.’ Those were his words.

Inside the glass sphere, the little plant is pulsing hectically in response to your stress and your fingers wrap around the polished surface in an attempt to calm it and yourself before you resume the pacing.

“I’m not going to let him hurt you.” Bucky’s voice makes you jump. You thought he was napping.

“I’m not worried about that.”

“You are worried you will hurt someone?” He sits up with one leg tugged under him.

“…no…not this time.” Oddly enough. Taking a deep breath, you turn to face him. “But what Loki said –“

He jumps off the bed, landing right in front of you. “Don’t. It’s just his way of messing with peoples’ heads.”

“Listen! Please.” He sits back down, but doesn’t let go of your hands that almost disappear between his calloused or cold fingers. “I know he’s an adept liar, but it actually…makes sense. When I do what I do, I push something into the cells of whoever I am healing. That’s why I get tired and hungry, because I use my own energy to give their bodies more to work with…they go from minus to plus. But…what if the polarities were shifted?”

Looking at your hands he begins to nod. “Alright, doll, let’s say you’re right. How would it work?”

You are at a loss for words, healing people is the only thing that has come intuitively. Loki would know.

... ...

You hate the thought and you’ve done everything to keep from thinking about it: all afternoon was spent training in some way. After that, you obviously had to recheck everything you could to make sure you were ready, but as the hours ticked by, you ran out of distractions.

You’re brewing another pot of coffee, something most people at the Compound are surviving on at the moment, when an alarm goes off. It’s a system that Tony has made sure everyone understands: long honks signifies an attack on the place and short ones mean everyone have to gather in the war room. It’s the short blasts of sound emitting from the speakers now.

Sprinting down the halls, you join with more people who are looking as agitated as you feel and it’s a feeling that’s amplified the moment you see Steve’s face.

“Listen up.” The Captain’s voice is clear and calm. “We just got news from Cape Canaveral that two bogies have been spotted entering orbit, leaving the rest of the fleet behind. One is on a trajectory to Washington and the other London. ETA no more than four hours.” No one dares say anything as you all try to wrap your brains around it. “Despite overwhelming cooperation among the European forces, it seems they are going to be overrun and that’s why the Avengers have been tasked to aid.” All around the room people are nodding. “[Y/N]. I need you to tell your contacts about this, we need them to do anything they can to fight off the invading forces here at home, they will need to coordinate with colonel Blackwell.”

Nodding curtly, you step out of the room. While dialing, you realize that your hands aren’t shaking despite the news. Storm answers immediately and the conversation is brief, allowing you both to get back to your teams as quickly as possible. Inside the war room people have sprung into action, several of them relaying the intel to their assigned contacts or issuing warnings to local governments, their words the speed of machine gun rounds.

… Bucky’s PoV ...

[Y/N] joins them as they leave for the hangar. Four hours at the most…we won’t make it in time. Bucky knows those jets can move like all hell’s demons are after them, but it won’t cut it, not this time. Of course they have to try, and he knows that as they follow Steve and Tony towards the plane that’s waiting for them.

“This is ridiculous, we should have been in the air ready to deploy ages ago.” Natasha fumes. She’d suggested it.

“Guys.” [Y/N]’s voice is drowned by the clanking of the ramp to the cargo hold.

“We couldn’t know where we would have been needed.” Steve sighs.

“Guys!” The irritation of being ignored sharpens [Y/N]’s voice and finally makes them stop, some of them already inside the jet. “There is another way to get there.”

Banner bites back a sigh. “How?”

“I can get you there.” A man dressed in clothes and a cape that could be inconspicuous in the dark ages ducks under a wing as he strides towards them.

“Doctor.” Stark exchanges curt nods with him. “Impeccable timing.”

“Miss Wanda called me.” The Sokovian girl looks bewildered. “Not by phone, but something tapped in my head and I thought I had to come here. Where is ‘here’ by the way?”

“The Compound.” Steve is over the first surprise. “How quickly can we leave?”

With a series of hand movements, the tall man with the same beard style as Stark, conjures a circle of embers and sparks out of thin air. As they look through it, they don’t see the grey concrete floor or few aircrafts and vehicles that are waiting for use, instead they see the rain-filtered daylight of a city street.

“I can’t get the jet through, but you can pass with whatever you can carry.” The Doctor smirks.

[Y/N] has sidled up to him and is muttering something under her breath. What the…? Bucky could have sworn the cape just moved on its own, but he has to get moving as Steve barks out a few orders to some nearby agents before getting the team to grab what they are going to need which includes Stark suiting up.

… Reader’s PoV ...

Stepping through the gateway the clammy London-air makes your nose tingle. The group finds themselves outside an old townhouse on a near-deserted street, the only other company is a family who is packing their car with such an intensity and focus that they don’t notice the newcomers who just walked out of thin air.

“We’re not far from the British Sanctum Sanctorum.” Doctor Strange explains as he leads you towards a bigger street which is filled with cars all travelling one way – out of town.

Steve shakes his head. “We need to get to the command centre. Do you know where it is?”

The timing couldn’t be better as a military vehicle drives past, stops with screeching tires before hitting reverse. There are two men inside the Jeep and both stare out of the window like they’ve seen ghosts.

“Captain,” one of them salutes, almost elbowing his friend in the face, “are you…are you all here to sa-…to assist?”

Nodding, Steve returns the salute. “Where can we find those in command?”

“Lord’s Cricket Ground. Need a ride?”

There is plenty of room in the back for those who can’t somehow fly.

As you pass through the streets you see how the evacuation is progressing thanks to an overwhelming presence of uniformed people as both the police force and soldiers are following strict procedures. Those that cannot transport themselves are herded together onto busses and trucks.

“Where are they all going?” You have never witnessed anything like this and it makes you feel insecure.

“The suburbs first. Those who can are urged to go further to stay with family or friends, others will be housed in shelters we’re setting up at schools or stadiums.”

It becomes clear as the throngs of civilians start thinning how much of a difference it makes when armed forces, friendly or not, take over entire neighbourhoods.

A couple of your friends seem at home as soon as you enter the field. Field…somewhere there should be grass and open sky.

The entire place has been filled with hastily raised tents and canopies. Everywhere are people that are either taking or giving orders and most don’t even notice the odd-looking group as you snake your way through the maze before you are presented to Brigadier Thompson who seems exceedingly pleased to see you.

“Marvellous! If what we are learning sticks, then we’ll need your help to tear those twats a new one.” He shakes hands with all of you all before launching into a long description of the current plans. “All civilians are being told politely to bugger off and those who can’t move on their own are being moved. We’ve got some issues with lack of adequate transport for many elderly or critically ill.”

Your ears perk with the mention of something that could get you activated. “Not enough ambulances?”

“Exactly, miss. We can’t stabilize them for transport, so we’ve had to try to empty out one hospital at a time starting at the centre and moving out.” He points to a neighbouring tent. “They’ll be able to give you full status over there in case you think you can help.”

“Thank you, sir, excuse me.” You wedge the earpiece in place and leave the rest to find their own tasks.

You can help of course. In a matter of minutes you have been told to get to St. Mary’s, and after getting a portal from Doctor Strange you’re making your way past groups of patients that are being herded out by nurses and soldiers. Now, a woman stepping through a portal is a dead give-away that something different is at hand and a female soldier dressed in the dusty green colours is hurrying towards you right away.

“Ma’am, this way please.” After presenting herself as private ­­­­­­­­­Kaur, she doesn’t say much on the way down the strangely familiar corridors towards the ICU. “We’ve gathered as many as we can down here, regardless of age or ailment. They say you can help them?”

Apparently word has been sent ahead of you.

“Enough to allow them to be transported with the other patients.”

“Fuck me sideways.” A moment of sputtering realization comes and goes as she tries to retract her exclamation.

“That’s about the sanest thing I’ve heard to all of this shit, so don’t worry.”

“I’ve been asked to assist in any way possible. What do you need from me?”

They’ve come to their destination, a hallway overflowing with patients suffering from anything from cancer past pneumonia and pleural degenerative diseases to trauma. There are hundreds.

“First I’m going to need you to get me anything to snack on, quick energy so nuts, chocolate, and pops. After that I’ll need you to help clear them out as I okay them.”

The young soldier looks stunned but doesn’t object to the weird orders and you can set to work.

… Bucky’s PoV ...

Get your act together. Bucky both loved and hated how it felt each time he watched [Y/N] walk away and he had to force his focus back to what the English Brigadier was telling them. There wasn’t a lot to do at the moment apart from show their presence or oversee the evacuation of the city. It would have been easier if they were the ones to pick the place for the battle. Being in London and knowing that it was just a matter of time before they were faced with the enemy brought him back to the old days. When he was young and thought he was just another soldier like the people scurrying around now. Both he and Steve can’t help but comment on it under their breath to each other. It feels like a lifetime ago.

“Dude. It is a lifetime ago for you.” Sam’s crooked smile makes his eyes look like thin slits. “Now get your ancient asses together and show the poor people of London that Captain and His Crew’s got their backs.”

Breaking away from the others as they leave the arena the two old friends make their way down towards Hall Road.

“You’d have thought things would have been more different after all this time.” Steve’s eyeing the houses on either side of the street.

“Well…a lot of what we saw of London back then was different…”

Parts had been smoking rubble left behind by the ongoing Blitz. Still many people had stayed in the city simply because they had nowhere else to go. Now they are all gone. Almost all, he corrects himself silently as they hear the clinking of broken glass from down a side street. Heading in the direction of the sound they find themselves outside a small electronic shop that now finds itself the unwilling target of a small gang of looters, two of which are bickering about how to haul a giant flat screen TV out of there.

“Unless you intend to pay for that, then you better put it back.”

Bucky always admires how dry and calm Steve becomes when seeing people being bullies or breaking the law.

“Yeah right, twat, make us!” Of course, the voice belongs to the only one of the looters that didn’t turn and he gets a slap on the back of his head accompanied with a hiss. Turning around to see who could make his friends react like that, he turns and immediately goes white as a sheet. “Sorry. Sorry, we’ll put it back.”

Steve and Bucky make sure that the young men do just that, then they assure that they do their best at closing off the gaping whole that used to be the door before finding a truck that will take them out of the city.

“What was it Pinky always said?” Something has stirred Bucky’s memory.

“He said a lot of things.”

[valeriethepussycats]

Assemble

Chapter 10

Pairing- Loki x Reader x Steve (one side)

Warning- cursing

Your thoughts and other characters are in italics.

Your Alter ego name- Red Wing

Iron Man arrives at  Stark Tower where Selvig, activates the CMS device, holding the Tesseract.

“Sir, I took off the arc reactor. The device is already self-sustained.” Jarvis informed Tony.

“Shut it down, Dr. Selvig.” Tony ordered Erik.

“It's too late! It can't stop now. He wants to show us something! A new universe.” Erik explained.

“Okay.” Iron Man aims his hands toward the CMS and fires. The energy from his boosters shatters with a deafening crack! Erik falls backwards. Down below, the citizens of New York look up at Stark Tower. Iron Man stares in disbelief at the CMS ... unharmed.

“The barrier is pure energy. It's unbreachable. The Mark VII is not ready to be deployed.” Jarvis  explained.

“Skip the spinning rims. We're on the clock.” Tony lands his  suit and goes through the gauntlet and unsuits  him. Loki  looks up at him, smiling. They proceed to walk into  the penthouse.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Loki walks in, holding the scepter. Tony casually walks down the  steps, towards the bar.

“Please tell me you're going to appeal to my humanity?” Loki wondered.

“Uh...actually, I'm planning to threaten you.” Tony stated.

“You should have left your armor on for that.” Loki remarked.

“Yeah, it's seen a bit of mileage. You've got the blue stick of destiny. Would you like a drink?” Tony asked as he walks over to the bar.

“Stalling me won't change anything.” Loki made known.

“No, no, no! Threatening. No drink? You  sure? I'm having one.” Tony said pouring himself a drink.

“The Chitauri are coming, nothing will  change that. What have I to fear?” Loki asked.

The Avengers.” Tony stated as Loki looks at him, confused. “It's what we call ourselves, sort of  like a team. `Earths Mightiest Heroes' type of thing.”

“Yes, I've met them.” Loki grinned.

Tony looks at Loki smiling. “Yeah, takes us a while to get any traction, I'll give you that one.....But, let's do a head count here. Your brother, the demi-God; a super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breath-taking anger management issues; a woman who can control and move stuff with her mind, a couple of master assassins, and you, big fella, you've managed to piss off every single one of them.”

“That was the plan.” Loki disclosed.

“Not a great plan. When they come, and they will, they'll come for you.” From underneath the bar table, Tony pulls on colantotte bracelets, a honing device.

“I have an army.” Loki announced.

“We have a Hulk.” Tony replied.

“I thought the beast had wandered off.” Loki claimed.

“You're missing the point. There's no throne, there is no version of this, where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it's too much for us, but it's all on you. Because if we can't protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we'll avenge it.” Tony declared.

Loki slowly walks up to him; raising the scepter. “How will your friends have time for me,when they're so busy fighting you?” Loki taps Tony on the chest with his scepter. Ping! Nothing. Confused, Loki tires again. Ping! Nothing.

“It should work.”

“Well, performance issues. You know?” Tony said sarcastically.

In anger, Loki grads Tony by the throat and flings him across the room.

“Jarvis. Anytime now.” Tony mumbled.

Loki grabs Tony by the throat again. “You will all fall before me.”

Loki throws Tony out the window. Tony freefalls  down the tower. From behind Loki, an elevator opens and a red pod shoots out. The pod laser signals the colantotte bracelets on Tony. The pod begins to transform into the MARK VII suit. It latches onto Tony.

The suit flies up before he hits the ground or the gazing people. Loki looks up, angry. “And there's one other person you pissed off! His name was Phil.”

Loki raises the scepter. Iron Man fires at Loki, sending him on his ass.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Selvig looks up at the sky. The Tesseract's energy beams  into the sky. The beam then forms a vortex, which then opens up another portal. Y/n flies towards Stark Tower and see Erik on the roof lands next to him.

”Erik...what is he done to you?” Y/n asked with concern in her voice.

“He showed me the world universes. Y/n he can show you to.” Erik grinned.

“I’ll see it on my own time..how do you stop this?” Y/n asked.

“You can’t it’s too late they’re coming.” Erik voiced.

A hole in space rips open, and from it, the Chitauri army spills  out in flying chariots, carrying energy rifles with a bayonet on the end. Y/n flies up near the the portal and holes out  her hands and direct most of her telekinesis  to try to close the portal. It doesn’t even seem like it’s trying to close.

“Right. Army.” Tony murmured.

Iron Man flies up towards the Y/n.

“Can you see if you can try to close it with your powers?”

“I already tried is did nothing.....you got anything lethal in there?”

From his shoulders, a miniature multiple rocket launcher, pops out and fires. Like the Jericho missile, several targets are taken down unlike no missile. It's useless. Thousands of Chitauri  fly out. Iron Man and Red Wing flies towards the city.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

The Chitauri unleash. New Yorkers fill the streets, staring at the fire fight in the distance. Boom!!! The Chitauri unleashes blasts as it goes, blowing up cars, setting storefronts aflame. Loki walks onto the balcony as the sounds of the Chitauri rings out. He admires his soon to be kingdom. Thor lands on the tower. Loki turns to his enemy.

“Loki! Turn off the Tesseract or I'll  destroy it!” Thor demanded.

“You can't. There is no stopping it. There is only the war!” Loki grinned.

“So be it.” Loki and Thor rush at each other. They and their weapons collide. The two battle -- Loki unleashing another pent-up rage and jealousy, Thor having no choice but to defend himself.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Soldiers and cops have taken positions covering the streets. They see from the sky, Iron Man and Y/n leading a trail of Chitauri towards his tower.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

The Quinjet booms  into the city.

“Stark, we're heading north east.” Natasha informed.

“What, did you stop for drive-thru? Swing up Park, I'm gonna lay 'em out for you.” Iron Man replied.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Iron Man banks around his tower. Sees Thor and Loki still going at it. Iron Man swoops down the street, causing a Chitauri to crash. Flying up, Iron Man puts the following Chitauri in view of the Quinjet. Red Wing takes out five Chitauri fliers with a Single lightning bolt. Black Widow takes out machine gun and fires at the Chitauri.

“Sir, we have more incoming.” Jarvis announced.

“Fine. Let's keep them occupied.” Iron Man  heads back to the portal.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Thor and Loki battle savagely. Loki fires energy from the,scepter, sending Thor sliding across the floor. Loki about to walk over to his brother to finish him  off but he feels someone behind him so he turns around.

“Y/n?” Loki voiced.

“You killed Coulson.” Y/n stated.

“You mean The Agent. Was he’s important to you?” Loki asked.

“The  ”the Agent” had a name and it was Phil.” Y/n said with fire.

When Loki looks down he realize Y/n  holding a sword.

“I will not fight you.” Loki declare.

“You took someone I cared about from me and in return I’m going to kick your ass.” Y/n proclaimed.

“Are you really.” Loki smirked.

“With out a shadow of doubt.” Y/n grinned.

Loki smirks. “I am very skilled swordsmen.”  

Y/n  begins walking forward towards Loki And he raises up he scepter. Robin fully unsheathed her Sword.

Just like Arata taught me

“When you are using the Japanese combat artist holds both arms straight out on your sides, Sword in one hand - Wood sheath in the other, like a bird.” Arata told Y/n.

Y/n  takes the stands knowing that she makes her phoenix proud of her. Loki and Y/n  circle each other. They Swing,Clash, Dance Separate...Circle...

Y/n leaps  in the air does a Somersault over the Loki's head, landing behind him.

She brings her Sword down in a Slashing Swing but Loki blocks it (barely). The Blades Clash and Lock. Loki and Y/n  faces come together as the Blades become entangled.

“Your footwork is exquisite.” Loki praised.”

“You keep talking like that you’re gonna make me blush.” Y/n confessed.

Y/n moves her arm in a counter-clockwise motion that loosens the grip enough to bring her sword handle hard into Loki's mouth Knocking him backwards.

Part 11

Kuddly Krab: @aesthethickks​

[loveisnotadagger]

Love Is Healing - Chapter One

Chapter 1/?

Description:  What if Loki wasn't sent back to Asgard after being defeated in 2012? What if his punishment matched Thor's and he had to live out his life as a mortal until he learned his lesson? Enter Arianna, a SHIELD agent with a special talent, who might just be Loki's saving grace. Not compatible with the Loki series as I haven't seen it yet.

Rating: T

Authors Note: There are mentions of rape in this story but I didn't tag it as a warning because it's not a major plot point although it is mentioned a few times because it's something the main female character went through as a teenager. It is a trauma that can still get to her even though it happened years ago - which is perfectly normal, in my opinion - but for the most part she's a functioning adult. There are just triggers that make her relive certain aspects of it. There is also mention of the trauma Loki has been through at the hands of Thanos and his on going recovery from that .That being said, I tried to make this as painless as possible, but some pain is necessary for the sake of the story. So there is definitely some angst sprinkled in.

I will tag chapters that mention the rape and any other triggers I can think of and will put a warning on them as well above the start of the chapter

Arianna Grace stood on the top floor of the Stark Tower looking out on Manhattan. She hated that she was stuck inside while all of her friends and coworkers were out there risking their lives. Arianna, however, wasn't a field agent even if she did work for SHIELD. She definitely didn't consider herself a hero.

She didn't own a mythical hammer as Thor did, and she didn't have super strength or a prolonged life span. She wasn't from another realm and she didn't have tales told about her as if she were a god. She wasn't a genius as Tony Stark and Bruce Banner were, and she didn't have a man-made suit of metal to help her fly around and save people. She definitely wasn't a science experiment gone wrong. She didn't turn into a huge green rage machine when she got angry, for which she was grateful. She wasn't an experiment gone right, either, as was the case for Steve Rogers – or Captain America as she had previously known him. She couldn't handle a weapon like Clint Barton – Hawkeye – and she couldn't fight to save her life . . . or anyone else's. Natasha Romanoff had tried teaching her and the only thing that came of that was Arianna not being able to move properly for a few days.

So no, Arianna wasn't out in the thick of things. She was safely tucked away in Stark Tower because what she could do wouldn't be needed until after everything was over. She could do something that the others couldn't do. She could heal the wounded. And she was sure a lot of people would be wounded in the aftermath of the battle that was now taking place.

She hadn't been kept completely up to date on the latest disaster, but she knew the gist. Thor's brother, Loki, was trying to take over Earth. Loki wanted to be Earth's king and maybe even Earth's god – she wasn't sure on that part. She'd seen a news clip of Loki trying to get people to kneel to him in Germany and most had.

The band of heroes that were called The Avengers had arrived to bring Loki in, to lock him up and had succeeded for a little while. He had, however, escaped and now Loki was in Manhattan. Hence the chaos outside.

From what Arianna had been told this whole situation was happening because of some stupid power source called a Tessaract and an idiot with a god complex. She knew the Tessaract was supposed to be a huge source of sustainable energy and that Loki had taken it, which was why the Avengers had been called together. She didn't know what Loki wanted it for. According to Thor, Loki was plenty powerful on his own.

Thor had also said something about Loki leading a war against Earth. Supposedly there was an army coming. The Chitauri, Thor had said. Loki would be able to rule with their help as long as he gave them the Tesseract. Would Loki really let go of all that power?

This Loki frightened her and she'd never even met him. He was an unknown threat. Natasha had warned her about him. He was a master manipulator and he had a way of controlling people. That was what Arianna feared most about him.

Arianna had only just been called in, so she hadn't been with the others when they'd captured Loki, but from what Natasha had said . . . he was something else. He'd even shaken her a bit by threatening Clint. Hawkeye had been put under Loki's control for a while. He'd since come back to himself.

Natasha had also told her about her confrontation with the Hulk, Bruce's alter ego. Natasha had almost been squashed, had almost been killed. Her physical training had saved her life.

Nick Fury, the director of SHIELD, had placed Arianna in the Tower because she needed to be close at hand once everything over. ----------

Arianna had been up in the Tower for almost three hours and had been kept relatively far away from danger . . . until now.

Now Loki was standing on the balcony of Stark Tower. Some science type person was there with him and they had what had to be the Tessaract with them. She could feel how powerful it was and to her it was a good kind of power. In the hands of Loki and people like Loki . . . that power wasn't good at all.

Arianna was hiding inside. She was in the living room of the penthouse. She'd flung herself behind the bar that Tony had deemed a necessary accessory to the room as soon as JARVIS had let her know someone had broken in. A security image had appeared and she'd seen the tall, black-haired image of Loki.

She didn't know how long she'd been hiding, but she hadn't been able to move for fear of being spotted. The whole room was faced with windows. The want-to-be-king couldn't see her or he would kill her or, far worse for her, place her under his control. She'd rather die than be forced into anything.

She heard doors open and then a smooth voice said, "Please tell me you're going to appeal to my humanity."

What? Had she been found out? How had he seen her? She was in the only spot in the room that would've been considered a good hiding spot.

"Um . . . actually, I'm planning to threaten you."

Tony! Loki had been talking to Tony. The doors she'd heard opening must've been Tony coming in.

"You should've left your armor on for that."

"Yeah, it's seen a lot of mileage."

The suit had been damaged? Tony was going to face Loki while unprotected by his suit? Had he lost his mind?

"You've got the blue stick of destiny." Tony was now behind the bar as well. He barely glanced at her, but Arianna could tell he had seen her. "Would you like a drink?"

"Stalling me won't change anything."

What scared Arianna the most right then was how calm Loki sounded; he was so sure of himself. She could tell that not only did he want to take over the Earth, but he believed that he should, that he deserved it somehow.

"No, no, no. Threatening. No drink? You sure? I'm having one."

"The Chitauri are coming. Nothing will change that. What have I to fear?"

"The Avengers. It's what we call ourselves. Sort of like a team. Earth's mightiest heroes type of thing."

"Yes. I've met them."

"Yeah, takes us a while to get any traction, I'll give ya that one. But let's do a head count here."

Arianna didn't know Tony Stark that well. She'd only met him on two other occasions, but she liked him enough to not want him to die. She hoped he wasn't doing something stupid. He was supposed to be a genius.

Tony stepped away from the bar and went around. Arianna was sure that was an attempt to keep Loki from her.

"We've got your brother, the demi-god; a super soldier, a living legend that kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breathtaking anger-management issues; a couple of master assassins, and you, big fella . . . you've managed to piss off every one of them."

"That was the plan."

"Not a great plan. When they come, and they will, they'll come for you."

"I have an army."

"We have a hulk," Tony said.

"I thought the beast had wandered off."

So they were missing the one person that could actually probably defeat Loki? This was going great.

"You're missing the point. There's no throne; there's no version where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it's too much for us, but it's all on you. Because if we can't protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we'll avenge it."

There was a tense moment where Arianna wanted to know what was going on. She was tempted to peek and would have had she not realized how stupid that would've been.

"How will your friends have time for me when they're too busy fighting you?"

There was a ping and then another ping and Arianna felt tears fill her eyes. She'd understood that threat. Loki was going to take control of Tony and use him for destruction, use him as a distraction – and Tony knew where she was!

'You can stop this,' she thought. 'You know you can!'

"This usually works," Loki said, and for the first time Arianna heard something other than smugness come from him.

"Well, performance issues, you know . . ."

There was a thud and Arianna knew that was Tony falling to the floor. If she turned her head to the left, she could see Tony's body. He was able to move so he couldn't be but so hurt, but if she could see him then he could see her. If Tony could see her, then Loki would be able to see her if he went for Tony – and she knew he would.

A few seconds later, Tony was being thrown through a window and over the side of the building. She couldn't help it; she screamed, alerting Loki to her presence. Before the lunatic could get to her, however, a red pod looking thing shot out of the elevator in the front of the penthouse and sped out the window after Tony.

Mere seconds after that Tony, in his Iron Man suit, was back and firing shots at Loki, who actually fell over. At least they knew Tony's ammunition system could impact Loki, even if it was just for a little while.

Arianna knew she had to move now before Loki got his bearings. The trouble was . . . where could she go? If she went toward the front door, Loki could get her, but the same thing would happen if she went for the window.

Suddenly there was a terrible boom and Arianna had no clue what it was or where it had come from.

"Right, army!" she heard Tony say. "Arianna, run!"

That set her in motion and she scrambled to her feet. She motioned for Tony to go. The world mattered more than she did. As long as she could make it out of the penthouse –

A flash of blue light hit the wall right in front of her, effectively destroying her escape route.

"Stop!" Loki demanded.

Arianna had no choice but to listen as her exit was now blocked.

"Turn around."

She obeyed. She noticed the pleased expression on his face. His smile would've been beautiful if he hadn't looked criminally insane.

"Were you there the whole time?" he asked, moving toward her.

Arianna didn't know how Loki was still standing after being shot with what had been a missile, but there he was.

"I – I was." She hated the shake in her voice, so she took a deep breath to steady herself. "Why are you destroying my world?"

"I don't want to destroy it, Midgardian. I want to rule it."

Loki was so close now that he was towering over her. She had to bend her head back to meet his eyes. She noticed how blue they were. They were another thing that would have been beautiful had they not seemed maniacal.

Her breaths came out in pants and she began trembling. Men like Loki scared her. He could be charming, she was sure, but he could also be cruel. That was a deadly combination.

"Look at you. Lost, alone, frightened . . ."

The way he spoke, he sounded disgusted with her, and to be honest she was disgusted with herself. She was not this little shell of a person. She may have been once, but not anymore. She shouldn't let Loki get under her skin, but he did and she couldn't help it.

"Loki! Turn off the Tessaract or I'll destroy it!"

Thor! Arianna had only met him hours earlier, but she would recognize that deep, authoritative voice anywhere. More importantly, it drew Loki's attention away from her.

"You can't. There is no stopping it. There is only the war."

----------

So . . . should I continue?

[jayxscripta]

The Mahaigner - Chapter Six

Aaaand this is where things really start cooking. And by that I mean there are so many characters and unresolved plot points to pick up from the films, and characters I decided to create and add in for some more flavor, because otherwise this would be too easy, and--

Madeline woke with a deep ache resonating throughout her bones, throbbing wrists, and a rhythmic pounding in her head. She had blacked out—she knew that much—but her memory failed to inform her why. It was probably a miracle she had even woken up at all.

She pried open her eyes, trying to blink away the blurriness. She was lying on her side, against something cold and hard and probably metal. She tried to move her hand to push the hair away from her face, but the motion was cut short with a clink. Surprised, she looked down to her wrists. Handcuffs. Protruding blue veins were stark against alabaster skin. These must be the power draining cuffs Stark had threatened her with.

She finally lifted her head, trying to blink away the blurriness, when a familiar voice jolted her from her stupor. “Cozy, isn’t it?”

“Perfect, actually,” she groaned, forcing herself up into a sitting position. The bench was unforgiving and indeed made of metal, as was the rest of the room. Loki sat across from her, the picture of indifference. They were moving. She was in an armored truck. She looked around, panic creeping in when she realized that, for the first time in years, Astrid wasn’t with her. “What happened? Where’s Astrid?”

“I believe they took her as well.” He sounded sympathetic. “Are you alright?”

Madeline’s first instinct was to respond sarcastically, but after the conversation she had overheard between the two brothers, she couldn’t bring herself to. Loki was trying, and her guilt begged that she give him the benefit of the doubt. So instead, she nodded, somewhat numbly. “I’m not dead yet. But never mind that—” she winced, “—how long have we been in here?”

“Several hours. After the incident, one of the officers called the General. The Vision tried to stall for time, but even with his help Stark couldn’t hide hundreds of Asgardians and the Hulk. Or the quinjet that crashed through the hangar roof.”

“He took everyone?” she asked, confused and disbelieving. “Even Strange?”

Where could the General possibly hide all of them? Did he have some sort of massive, secret bunker just to stash arrested super powered people?

“I don’t know where the other Asgardians were taken. Banner is in government custody, and you and I the same, as war criminals. Stark argued for Thor’s immunity. When we were arrested, the doctor was still unconscious.”

She nodded, numb. How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly? She had learned to deal with the guilt after the last incident, but this was different. She could have killed someone—she might have even killed Strange. That was why the cuffs were on her wrists. But at least she was alive. At least someone hadn’t put a bullet in her head.

She buried her head in her hands. “So, I’m a war criminal now?” She doubted her years as a law-abiding American citizen mattered at all to General Ross. Not after what had transpired. Not when he didn’t even extend grace to the Avengers.

“You don’t seem like one.” Unsurprisingly, Loki was rather calm. Probably because he had been in this sort of situation before. She could always hope he could provide some plan, some assurance that they would be fine. But that didn’t seem likely at the moment.

Unsure of how to respond, she settled for, “thank you.”

Angry voices and thumps pierced the wall separating the drivers’ compartment from the security unit. She started, turning towards the wall as if that would somehow provide an answer. Had she imagined it?

Her confirmation came seconds later. “Did you hear that?” Loki asked, and she nodded. As she leaned forward, trying to hear if anything was being said in the driver’s cabin, there was another shout. The truck swerved sharply, braked too hard, and Madeline lost her balance, flying forwards out of her seat. Loki caught her by the shoulders easily, the cool metal of his restraints skimming her arms. He was so close to her face that she could see that his eyes were green. Then she cleared her throat, wondering why that was the first thing her brain had noticed.

She barely had time to apologize before the doors to the truck swung open, and light flooded in, the shadows of a woman and a man cast before them. She recognized both almost instantly, despite their altered appearances.

Ivanoff’s eyebrows furrowed. “This isn’t what I was expecting to find.”

Loki released his grip on her arms, the shocked expression on his betraying that he recognized the rescuers. But somehow, he didn’t seem that enthused with their appearance. She could understand why it was awkward, given the circumstances of their last meeting. And now they were rescuing him from being imprisoned again. A bit ironic, actually.

On a normal day, Madeline would have laughed at the sheer absurdity of the situation. How could she have ever imagined she would be a war criminal, locked in the back of an armored vehicle with a demi-god, and rescued by two superheroes? But she was speechless, largely because Ivanoff was supposed to be dead.

“Are you two getting out?” Ivanoff pressed, raising an eyebrow. “We’re on the clock here.”

“Right.” Madeline turned to the open doors, legs wobbling. There was no real way of knowing how the power cuffs were affecting her body, but they had definitely weakened her. She hopped down and would have pitched forward into the dirt had Ivanoff not steadied her. “How did you find us?” Madeline asked, scanning her surroundings. They were in a desert—one like you see in movies, with cacti, towering red rocks, and the obligatory tumbleweed. There was no way Ivanoff and Captain America had stumbled upon them by accident.

It made sense. If Ross had been sending them to a secure government facility, there was definitely one hidden in some desert somewhere.

“We used a tracker,” Ivanoff answered vaguely. Her eyes flickered to Madeline’s cuffed wrists and she grimaced. “We have to get these off. I know the feeling. The suppressant will last for a few hours but after it wears off your powers should come back.”

Madeline winced as Ivanoff’s hands hovered over the cuffs. She didn’t know what she was doing, but it hurt. “That could be a bad thing.”

Ivanoff raised an eyebrow. “Well, at least you’ll feel better,” she murmured. She was concentrating on the cuffs, the palms of her hands glowing a faint purple. “These shouldn’t be hard to get off, but I don’t want to fry your wrists.” Then suddenly the purple glow grew in magnitude and brightness. There was a snap and a clang as the handcuffs fell to the road.

More shouts sounded from the front of the armored truck, and it was only then that Madeline noticed Captain Rogers had disappeared. “Are you sure you’ve got this under control, Miss Ivanoff?” Loki ventured, making a point to jingle the chains of his cuffs together when she looked up.

“Don’t piss me off,” Ivanoff warned, “Thor sent us here to rescueyou; he never said I had to set you free.” She jerked her hand towards Madeline and hooked the cuffs onto her belt. “I’m sure we have room but I will gladly make up an excuse to give your spot to her.”

“Thor sent you?” Madeline recoiled in surprise. Suddenly it all made sense. That’s why they were here. Except, she didn’t know how Thor had managed to contact the ex-Avengers while under lock and key at the Compound. “How?”

“It was through this.” Ivanoff held up her wrist and showed them a simple metal bracelet, engraved with strange symbols. Probably Asgardian. Madeline followed as she and the Captain stepped off the road and into the barren desert. “I’m sure Loki recognizes it. It gives off a strong distress signal at any point where its match is activated. Thor gave it to me a few years ago before he left. Said if he ever needed us, he would let me know. Of course, his timing was perfect. I was halfway through a stack of blueberry pancakes when it lit up. But we figured it was important, so we followed it.”

Loki looked down at his arms, as if realizing something important, and sighed heavily. “He must have slipped the other beacon onto me when he hugged me.”

“Sounds like Thor’s getting better at being sneaky,” Ivanoff remarked. “You ready, Sam?”

Madeline heard a faint crackling, but nothing else. She cast a quizzical glance towards Loki; based off the knowing look in his eyes, he had some idea of what was happening. She took a few steps further but was stopped when a chain adorned arm reached out to stop her. Before she could ask just what he was doing, he nodded in the direction that she had been going. His lips twitched upwards, like he was withholding a grin. “Might I suggest looking up before you walk?”

Bemused, she did look up. Then, tilting her head to the side in amazement, she watched as a jet silently materialized out of thin air. “Where are you taking us?” she asked, following their rescuers up the jet ramp.

“Not back to New York, if that’s what you were wondering,” Ivanoff answered. She was right, Madeline had been wondering. With good reason.

“Somewhere safe,” Captain Rogers assured. “You’ll be granted asylum there for as long as you need.”

“Are you sure you want me coming too?” Loki asked, almost sounding bored. “Last time I was on Midgard I got the impression you would kill me if I dared to come back.”

“That can be arranged,” Ivanoff offered.

“Tori.” Steve’s voice carried a strain of warning, and a tiredness that only occurs in someone who has been doing this for years. “Thor wants him alive, I’m sure.”

“Fine, I’ll try to play Switzerland. But I don’t have to be friendly.”

“Where are the others?” Rogers asked, ending the argument. “Are they still at the Compound?”

“No. General Ross arrested everybody, including Banner.”

“Bruce? Why?” Ivanoff asked, alarmed.

“Possibly because he’s still the Hulk.”

His answer seemed to take the three former-Avengers by surprise. That, or they were still trying to figure out if Loki was lying or not.

“Still the Hulk?” Rogers’ brows furrowed in confusion.

Wilson turned in his chair to glance back towards the assembled group, disbelief evident on his face. “Hold up, I thought the Hulk always turned back into Bruce once he—you know—de-stressed?”

“Usually.”

“Did Tony even argue to keep Bruce from being incarcerated?” Ivanoff asked, sounding frustrated.

“Not to my knowledge,” Loki said drily. “I was busy being arrested.”

That seemed to be enough of a confirmation for Ivanoff. She sighed and rubbed her temples. “Don’t tell me you’re surprised,” Sam cut in, an edge of disbelief to his voice. “That’s exactly what happened to us.”

“Is it a cop out to say that I’m more disappointed than anything?” she returned with a huff.

“Was there anyone else who Ross could have arrested?” Rogers questioned, shooting a look to his companions that clearly meant drop it.

“My dog.” Madeline faltered, guilt flooding into her stomach. “And Dr. Strange.” If he woke up and was healthy enough to pose a threat, of course Ross would arrest him as well. After all, he had helped her.

“Who?”

“Stephen Strange. He helped me while I was at the compound.”

“Stephen Strange?” Rogers echoed, glancing towards Ivanoff. “We’ve heard that name before.”

“From Sitwell,” Ivanoff confirmed. “Is he working with the Avengers now?”

Madeline pursed her lips in contemplation. “It was more of an ‘out of necessity’ partnership.”

“Then he’s already in too deep,” Wilson said, not turning from his position in the pilot’s seat.

“Never mind that. Personally, I’d worry about your dog,” Ivanoff replied.

Rogers turned his gaze on Ivanoff. “Seriously?”

She shrugged defensively. “It’s a valid concern.”

Madeline cleared her throat and tried to steer the discussion elsewhere. “If we’re not going back to New York, then where are we going?”

The conversation stopped abruptly, like they had flown into a brick wall. “The only place any one of us can be safe,” Ivanoff said, “Wakanda.”

“You’re joking, right? They’d offer us—” she gestured between herself and Loki “—sanctuary?”

“They did for us,” Rogers replied, “and their king said they would for you too. As long as you cooperate.”

“Define cooperate,” Loki joined in, sounding bored.

“Just don’t talk, and you probably won’t have an issue,” Ivanoff told him frostily, and then turned to Madeline calmly. “I think you should get comfortable. We won’t land for a few more hours and your powers might make an appearance before then.”

Madeline nodded her thanks, scanning the room and choosing a seat furthest away from the group. She craved her own personal peace; a few moments in which she didn’t have to worry about being arrested or dying or accidentally killing somebody.

She tucked her legs onto the seat and closed her eyes, thinking about everything that had happened in the last day or so. Where she was going, who she was with. It was like a fever dream.

As she dozed off, she wondered how she had never realized how much safer it felt to have Astrid curled up by her side.

[just-another-romantic]

How To Date a Broken God

Chapter One: Unfamiliar Faces and Uncomfortable Situations

Series Summary: A mere mortal teaches an almighty god how to be human

Warnings: nothing besides Loki being slightly depressed and having really bad issues, domestic avengers

Notes: GET READY FOR A SLOW BURN KIDDOS

“what is more unfair than having to choose between being a monster or being a hero? (-when you have to be both.) when you learn that the road to hell is paved with more than just good intentions.” -@dvoyd

Loki was having a really bad day. It barely ten in the morning and within the span of two hours of his waking - he spilt his coffee, managed to piss off Thor and cause a thunderstorm, got caught in the freezing May rain, and was now late to an Avengers meeting. Great, just great, he thought. They barely trust me enough to have me as a member of the team, and I’m already late to the first meeting.

The streets of Manhattan were mostly cleared due to the sudden storm, most people ducking inside whatever building to seek shelter, but the few unlucky pedestrians still on the street steered clear of Loki.  The whole New York incident still didn’t sit well with people, even with it being a good ten years (or five for some) in the past. The god couldn’t blame them, he hated himself for it too.

In the middle of an almost abandoned Manhattan street, Loki held his arms outstretched, trying to remember the way it felt to fly. Hundreds of years ago, when he was just a boy, he’d run across the bank of the lake outside of the palace, “flying.” He yearned for that time all over again - when he was young and innocent, unaware of the ways of the world, when nobody hated him and he didn’t hate himself. He longed for his mother’s touch and soft voice, and the wrestling matches between him and his brother. He missed the adrenaline coursing through his veins in the midst of a battle. He was a god, still is, but oh, did he feel so small. His hands that once helped forge the universe seemed powerless now.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold of the tower,  Loki was bombarded by no other than Agent Maria Hill. “Jesus Christ,” she exclaimed, grabing his wrist in a tight clasp and leading him through the building, “we let you out for one hour. One hour. And you turn up late.”

He swallowed his pride. “I’m sorry. I got caught up.” Loki was earning some interesting looks from the workers, most likely due to his appearance similar to a wet dog.

“Caught up reeking chaos, no doubt,” she seethed, reaching the end of the hall and pressing the elevator button. If the god didn't have a sliver of dignity left, he would have winced.

Instead, he coolly tossed, “You actually think that low of me, Agent?”

They stepped inside of the elevator, immediately beginning to rise to the fifth level where the conference rooms were located. Agent Hill turned to him, with a tight lipped smile. “Yes, actually,” she said. “After you destroyed half of New York, tried to take over our world like a maniac, and killed thousands of innocent people in the process, I believe I’m entitled to hate you, God of Mischief.”

Loki snorted. “There’s a line Miss Hill, and I’m the leader.”

The elevator dinged, cutting through the annoying music that Loki all but failed to realize, and opened its doors. He let Agent Hill lead him to the conference room, tracking water through the hallways behind her. After many twists and turns and passing too many doors to count, the pair arrived at the double French doors. Beyond them, sat the rest of the Avengers.

Once the door had opened, all eyes were on Loki, making him gulp. They were pleasant enough people, but he still hadn’t earned all of their trust. He had been their mission to take down for years, a villain to put in chains and shackles. Even after Ragnorok and the Blip, Loki doubted he’d ever be able to win their trust.

There was a new face at the table of superheroes, however. A woman of exquisite beauty, hair pulled into a simple ponytail, eyes vibrant and shinning, skin fair and clear. She was as gorgeous as any Asgardian woman Loki had ever met, perhaps even more so. Even in a plain blouse and jeans, she surpassed every beauty standard. 

Her (y/e/c) eyes locked with his and Loki felt...odd. He felt his insides turn to warm mush under her stare, electricity sparked in every nerve, and his heart seemed to have doubled in size. Oh no, that can’t be normal.

“You finally found him,” Director Fury said to Hill from his place at the head of the table, somehow managing to look annoyed and pleased all at once - an art. “Took long enough.”

“I apologize, Director,” Loki said, tearing his gaze away from the girl and to his boss. “It wasn’t my intention to get sidetracked and arrive late.”

“I don’t think that’s ever anyone’s intent, yet it still happens.”

Silvertongue remained quiet and Hill directed him to the only available seat, the one next to the woman. His hands felt clammy and for the first time in the past hour, he was almost thankful to be soaked in rain because he’s sure he’d be sweating otherwise. Why was he so nervous?

He lowered himself in the rolling chair next to her, and she looked him up and down through the corner of her eye, face flashing with...disgust? The woman stiffened, crossing her legs and positioning herself furthest away from Loki. His hear ached for the first time in a millennia. No, no, no, no. Stop that - stop that at once.

“You all may be wondering why I called you here today,” announced Hill, taking her place beside the director. “And why there is a new face.”

The woman’s cheeks turned pink under everyone’s gaze and she forced her lips into a tight smile, bashful.

Hill continued. “I would like to introduce to you all Agent (Y/n) (Y/L/n). Our newest addition to the Avengers team.”

There was an uncomfortable beat of silence before the sorcerer from across the table asked, “Pardon me Miss (Y/L/n), but Agent Hill, is a new member really necessary?”

Loki sensed (Y/n) practically sinking into the leather of her rolling chair.

With a deep breath, the Agent explained, “First of all, Doctor, she is ‘Agent’ to you. Second, its been a year since Thanos.” 

There was another pause as all of the avengers allowed the painful reminder to sink in. Loki’s eyes flitted over to the west wall, where the memorial was in place. Three huge portraits of the fallen heroes, framed in gold, with a matching broken avengers symbol above them. Underneath the first portrait of a red-headed woman was a plaque, reading, ‘Natalia Alianovna Romanoff, Black Widow, died for it.’ She was laughing in the picture, emerald eyes bright and dancing.

The picture in the middle was a man with a disheveled dress suit on, tie loose and hanging around his neck, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he worked on a laboratory table. Despite the grey hair’s sprouting in the thick brown locks, the man looked young and at ease. His smile flashed at the camera, teeth a pearly white. ‘Anthony Edward Stark, Iron Man, who died with it in his grasp,’ read an identical plaque.

The final picture was a handsome blond, looks so divine he could have been sculpted out of marble. His baby blue eyes sparkled with intelligence and a bit of mischief, a smirk to mirror it as well. He sat with a sketch pad in his lap and a charcoal pencil in hand. ‘Steven Grant Rogers, Captain America, died peacefully because of it.’

One larger block underneath read in bold print, ‘ALL DIED FOR JUSTICE.’

“We’ve been lucky to not run into any major issue so far, as it seems the universe itself is trying to get back in order. But what we cannot do is be naïve in thinking that it will last any longer. We need to face facts, we are down in numbers, and Agent (Y/L/n) is the only agent that has proven to me she is worthy of being a member of the team over the years I have worked with her.”

There was a loud crunch, coming from non-other than Scott Lang himself, munching loudly on pringles with his feet on the table. “So what,” he said through a mouthful of food, “does she have any powers?”

“What training does she have?” said one.

“In what ways is she qualified?” came another.

Finally, the new agent spoke. “I cannot turn large or small, nor can I fly or have a metal arm, but I have enhanced senses. Acute hearing and more than perfect vision, along with strength and agility. As for my qualifications, I’ve been trained as a skilled marksman and I’ve worked for S.H.E.I.L.D. for many years. I can take down a moving target from 250 yards away and I’ve been stationed on every continent for over six months.”

“Not to mention, in the past five years I gave her a medal,” cut in Fury, “And I wouldn’t give that to any wimp.”

“Most importantly, she has the character,” finalized Hill, leaving no room for discussion. With a sad smile and blank eyes, she gestured to the portraits on the wall. “I miss them too, guys, but we need to fill in the gaps. Thor and the Guardians are off world, Carol is doing who knows what, Clint will put an arrow through me if I drag him out of retirement again, and T’Challa has duties to his country. (Y/n) is not replacing our beloved friends, but we need more numbers for when something does happen.”

“So I’m assuming the Sokovia Accords are just gonna be disregarded now?” asked a witch.

“There really is no need for them anymore after the Snap. Today and over the weekend, Agent (Y/L/n) will be moving in and getting situated, but she begins training with you all Monday. Please for the love of God don’t scare her away.” Hill locked eyes with a certain god. “I’m talking to you Loki.”

He chuckled, crossing his arms, and in a fake promising voice said, “I would never! But a little prank never hurt anyone.”

“What about the time you stabbed your brother?”

“First, I was eight. Second, my brother and I are gods, madam. He’s survived much worse. I would never fatally impale a measly mortal.”

Agent (Y/L/n) huffed a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Two can play at that game, Silvertongue.”

He glanced at her, unnerved by her confidence. “Are you willingly throwing yourself into a prank war with the god of chaos and mischief, petal?”

In the blink of an eye, a dagger that seemingly appeared at of nowhere was poised at his throat. Loki could see her smile behind the hilt. Her voice was sickly sweet, “No. I’m just willing to prove I am no delicate mortal, Lord of Chaos.”

“God.”

“Same thing.”

Loki bit his tongue, raising his hands slowly in mercy. As quickly as it came out, (Y/n) sheathed her weapon in her boot, looking all too pleased with herself.

Hill clapped her hands together to draw back the attention, plastering on a smile. “Proof enough?”

-----------

(Y/n)’s day had been going well. First thing in the morning, she got called into her boss’ office and got a promotion to work alongside the literal Avengers, was introduced to the team shortly thereafter, proving her skills to the ones that doubted her by holding a dagger to a god’s next, and clicked immediately with some lovely people.

Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. Compassionate, sassy, and didn’t take any bullshit from anyone. Her room was adjacent to hers and she offered to help unpack. Then there was the sweet Peter Parker, the Spiderling (Spider-Man). Innocent, lovable, and too intelligent for his own good. It only made sense to befriend him as he followed Wanda around like a puppy.

So the trio sat splayed out in (Y/n)’s room, out of energy from hours of unpacking, but laughing non-stop, nevertheless.

(Y/n) was wheezing. It was the type of laughter that made your stomach hurt from laughing so hard; she hadn’t felt it in awhile. “Oh God,” she gasped, “then what did he do?”

Wanda sat perched on the newly made bed, wiping a tear off of her check with a polished finger. “Nothing! You wouldn’t believe it, he just stood there with a horrified look on his face. I thought he was about to shit his pants!”

(Y/n) smiled. “Your brother, Pietro...it sounds like he was a good man.”

The redhead twisted one of her rings around her finger, looking suddenly downcast. “He was. Really was.”

“Jesus Christ, does everyone here have terrible family issues?” piped Peter from the windowsill, laughing in hopes to lighten the mood. 

“It might as well be a requirement to be a hero,” Wanda said with a sad smile, before abruptly turning to (Y/n). “What about you, new girl? What’s your tragic hero story?”

The new girl looked down at her bare feet, a bashful smile on her lips, but before she could open her mouth to say anything, F.R.I.D.A.Y. made the announcement that dinner was ready. Saved by the bell.

“To be continued,” declared Peter, hoping up from his seat and taking off towards the dinning room. “Hope you like pepperoni pizza, (Y/n)!”

She did, in fact.

The scene was incredibly domestic, nothing she would've imagined as a normal night for the almighty Avengers. Stacks of pizza boxes and liters of soda lined on the bar counter - plastic utensils, cardboard plates, and Styrofoam cups close by. Those who lived permanently in the tower sat on the variety of sofas and cushioned seats, chowing down on classic American food. Unfortunately for (Y/n), permanent residents also included Loki.

She grabbed two pieces or pepperoni, a cup of cola, and a napkin, and took a seat next to Wanda on a love seat, Peter chilling on the floor at their feet with a stack of five slices in his lap. Superhuman metabolism?

After a few minutes of silence (minus the munching of food) Sam piped up, “So Agent (Y/n), where are you from?”

She smiled, wiping the grease from the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “(Y/n), please. I’ve been all over the world, but I’m originally from Brooklyn.”

“I like her already!” exclaimed Bucky through a mouthful of cheese and sausage.

She giggled, giddy like a child. Is this what home felt like? She hadn’t had a home in years.

“So how’d you get hired at S.H.E.I.L.D.?” asked a very green Banner, his plate of food actually an entire pizza box. “That’s no small feat.”

“My parents were actually Agents as well. I kinda grew up around here.”

Below her, Peter choked on his Sprite. “That’s so sick? Were they spies? Assassins? Snipers? Oh I bet they’re were snipers!”

(Y/n) ruffled the boy’s honey curls. “They were spies. My dad just had good aim, he taught me everything I know about guns and shooting.”

Peter chuckled immaturely, “Hehe...good aim...uh - Ow!”

Wanda had backhanded him upside the head.

There was a snicker from the far side of the room, where Loki stood emerged in the shadows. His pink lips were curled upward in a genuine smile, yet (Y/n)’s heart felt as if it had taken a bullet.

“What do your parents do now? Are they retired or do they still work?” Wanda asked from her side, but the new agent barely heard it.

Her face turned to stone, eyes now icy and cold as she stared at the God of Mischief. Of chaos. Might as well add murder to the list as well.

“They’re dead,” she stated, her voice spitting with venom. The room fell into an awkward silence, and Loki’s eyes met her own.

“In New York...the attack...the building collapsed on them.” Her nose scrunched in disgust. “All thanks to none other than the God of Chaos.”

---------

How to Date a Broken God - Taglist

@cosmic-souls-and-stardust​ @rinthehufflepuff​ @electroma89​ @madshelily​ @ultracolorfulnerdcollection​ @daddylouislittle @fanartdom​

[hopelessromanticspoonie]

To Keep You Safe

Title: I’m fired up and tired of the way that things have been

Chapter: 8/?

Author: hopeless_romantic_spoonie

Summary: Life as the assistant to Tony Stark was busy, but boring. All of that changed when I touched something I shouldn’t have and woke up with strange new abilities. If I thought that trying to figure out my new place in life as an Avenger was tough, I had no idea what was in store for me once I ran into the frustrating God of Mischief, Loki.

Rating: E (later on)

Notes: Friendly reminder that this is un-Beta’d, so please excuse any typos or grammatical errors I no doubt missed during revisions!

Also on Ao3 here :)

Warnings: Language

~~~

I quickly established a new routine without my training sessions with Wanda to distract me.

8 AM: Wake up, chug coffee, practice being social, get dressed.

9 AM: Run laps around the perimeter of the Compound.

10 AM: Get my ass kicked by Nat. Repeatedly.

11:30 AM: Inhale lunch.

12 PM: Suck at controlling my powers.

3 PM: Do more laps around the Compound.

5 PM: Zone out to reality TV in my room.

6 PM: Dinner with the gang. Play at being a human some more.

8 PM: Go to the gym to punch stuff.

9 PM: Shower, get ready for bed, pass out.

2 AM: Wake up from traumatic nightmares and fall asleep to more pointless reality TV.

5 AM: If I hadn’t exhausted myself enough, wake up again from nightmares.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

~~~

Over a week into my new work-myself-so-hard-that-I-don’t-think routine, I noticed that my carefully constructed schedule wasn’t fooling anyone.

Nat was staring me down with pointed glares in between each ass-kicking session. She mentioned that I was losing my edge. I didn’t know I had one to begin with, so that was a nice compliment.

One morning at breakfast Steve went full Captain America and pinned me to my stool with an insanely heavy hand on my shoulder, promising me that I can always talk to him about anything. It’s absurd how much strength that guy holds in just one hand. Probably more than I had in my entire body if I’m being honest with myself.

Bruce tried to get me to start going to daily sessions with him again. At the risk of bringing out the big guy, I never showed up to the meeting times he suggested--and that I never agreed to. He left well enough alone and only made F.R.I.D.A.Y. nag me about it once a day. Good guy, that Banner.

Thor seemed determined at cheering me up at any opportunity. He watched my favorite reality TV shows and sitcoms with me, kept me company sometimes when I couldn’t sleep at night, and even tried to help me learn some new techniques in the gym--that was the ass-kicking of the century. He was a sweet, lovable bear of a man who did give a mean hug, but sometimes he was just too much. Too loud and too big and too enthusiastic. He needed an off button or some sort of dial to turn it down.

The last one to break and say anything was Tony. He interacted with me much less than he used to in the past now that I was a mini-Avenger in training and not his Personal Assistant. I went into his lab every three or so days so he could check on any injuries I’d gotten from training, take a few blood or tissue samples, and update me on Wanda and Vision. It’s hard to get a surly word or fake smile in edgewise when he does ninety percent of the talking, so I flew under the radar for longer than I had expected I would. For a genius, he could be oblivious about interpersonal relationships.

His breaking point was when I just flat out didn’t respond to his latest status report on my magical voodoo coach and her door-hating man.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Jen? I just told you that they’re going to be out for at least another two weeks, and you don’t even bat an eye? Since when do you not care about your friends?”

I did care about Wanda and Vision, I did. Tony had informed me a while ago that the insanely smart Princess of Wakanda, Shuri, had successfully managed to remove the stone from Vision’s head and Wanda had promptly destroyed it. Vision was doing fine, but he was adjusting to having to use doors now that he couldn’t just walk through walls anymore. He couldn’t shoot beams from his forehead anymore, or alter his appearance to look human, but those were all minor setbacks when it came to destroying the Mind Stone and keeping him chugging along. Once they were finished with their Hydra brain-digging they’d be headed straight home.

My hands twisted themselves together in my lap. “I do care,” I insisted unconvincingly.

Tony took off his glasses and leveled me with a hard stare, his arms crossed over his chest. “What’s going on?”

“What do you want me to say?” I huffed, unable to meet his disappointed gaze any longer.

“Explain why I’ve had four of our friends and coworkers come up to me and ask if you were okay. If the tests showed anything negative because your piss poor attitude sure does. Did your favorite person get kicked off of Survivor? Did Ben and Jerry’s stop making Hunka Hulka Burning Fudge? What is it?”

I groaned, pulling my knees up to my chest as I sat on the exam table and shoved my face into them.

“You wouldn’t understand, Tony.”

“Try me, Poison Ivy,” he insisted, not unkindly.

“It’s dumb as hell.”

He came over to sit down on the table next to me and nudged my shoulder with his. “F.R.I.D.A.Y. told me that you’ve been having nightmares and I know you haven’t been talking to Bruce about it. I can get someone in here if you need it. A professional. Just gotta ask.”

“F.R.I.D.A.Y. is a snitch,” I muttered, fiddling with the handle of my knife on my thigh absentmindedly. I had taken to wearing it again, at Tony’s request, and it was equal parts reassuring and daunting to have that steady weight on my leg again. Of course Tony would check up on me when he noticed something. He was basically Dad of the team, and he’d been doing his best to take care of everyone, including me, for as long as I could remember. He would see my restlessness and work ethic and nightmares for what they were. It wasn't as if this was a new pattern of mine. “I don’t need to see anybody. I’m fine.”

“Then get the hell over it. You’re an Avenger now. You gotta sort through this shit however you need to so you can get back on your A-Game. Hydra is still out there looking for your skinny ass. They aren’t going to stop trying to breach the Compound’s defenses or lure you out because you’re throwing the world’s longest pity party for yourself. Wanda and Vision are out there risking their lives for you, so maybe show a little gratitude for their hard work and don’t act like a waste of space,” he snapped, his voice barely restrained as he poked my arm with each point until I looked up at him. He was right in my face, giving me every ounce of disappointment and rage in his clenched jaw and hard eyes that he refused to let out in his words. It was so paternal and there was so much care driving the speech.

And it broke me.

I pulled my eyes from him to stare up at the ceiling, blinking to try to keep the tears that pricked at my eyes from falling. It didn’t work, though, and they slipped down my red face anyway. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and crossed my arms over my chest as I worked as hard as I could to keep from crumbling under the weight of his disappointment.

“Oh, shoot. Hey, kid, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out,” Tony said worriedly, hands fluttering uselessly in front of him.

I took several deep, shaky breaths before I felt in control enough to get off of the exam table and put some distance between us. I needed to lessen the intensity somehow. Why was everybody in this damn Compound so freaking intense all the time? My hands clasped over the back of my head as I paced in front of him and just let my jumbled thoughts spill out of my mouth.

“No, it’s not okay. It’s frustrating as hell and I’m pissed and I can’t do anything about it so I just don’t but that doesn’t work because then I’m just bottling all of this up inside. That’s not good for my powers, so I haven’t been able to use my abilities and practice since it happened. And that’s not good because I need to make sure I can defend myself and that I don’t need anybody to help me. And I can’t sleep at night because I keep seeing those…” I sucked in a shaky breath, “those guys but then I wake up alone and it doesn’t feel safe and I’m so angry at myself and-”

“Woah, woah, woah. There’s a lot to unpack there. Let’s start from the top, okay?” Tony asked, raising his hands to stop the rambling tirade as it spilled directly from my brain out of my mouth. He waited until I had stopped pacing back and forth and was looking in his general direction before he continued, “What is frustrating as hell?”

It was too much to pick apart. “Everything.”

“One example, kid. Throw me a bone.”

“Can’t do just one. Better question,” I countered quickly.

Tony rubbed at the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger, squinting his eyes together tightly. “Okay... Why can’t you do anything about whatever is frustrating as hell?”

“Because I’m not the one who did it.” Well, kinda.

“Who did what?” he asked, his frustration clipping his words.

“Acted like an asshole. Which is to be expected of him, but it’s frustrating because I believed him and I trusted him and that’s a dumb, naive thing to do when it comes to the God of Lies and Mischief,” I explained, my voice sounding as deflated as I felt after my outburst.

It had been dumb to believe him. He didn’t have me. I wasn’t safe. He wasn’t going to be around like he promised me in that car. The look in his eyes had been a lie. The gentle touches and steamy kisses were easily faked to deal with a sticky situation. That’s all. I had known better than to trust him, I had every reason not to believe that he had changed, and I ignored it all because of two life-saving moments, some making out, and a halfway confession of mind control. I knew better.

He shifted on the table, shaking his head and blinking dramatically as if to make what I just said any less nonsensical. From his continued confused expression on his face, it didn’t work. “I’m sorry, Jen, but you’re gonna have to explain.”

And so, after taking a beat to gather my thoughts, I unloaded everything onto Tony. The admission in the car. The dancing and making out in the club. Our fight against the Hydra assholes. How he was in the car. How he was completely different on the rooftop. And how pissed I was that I was pissed that he was ghosting me now after he’d made himself such a staple in my life over the last month.

After all was said and done, I collapsed onto a nearby chair and hung my head, letting my thick hair fall to partially hide my face while I waited for him to tell me what I already knew: That I was an idiot. I was naive. I shouldn’t have expected any different from Loki. He was known for this sort of behavior, wasn’t he? When the reprimand I was expecting didn’t come after several pregnant beats, I peeked up at him to be met with a very guilty-looking Tony staring back at me.

“Oh, kid. I fucked up,” he sighed.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. “What did you do, Tony?”

“I, uh, overreacted. I might have flipped out. When Sam and Nat called to tell me what had happened with those guys I lost my cool. And then when you pulled up and I opened the door to see Loki holding you like that, while you looked so broken… It brought out this whole protective thing in me that usually just comes out around the Spiderkid.”

I got up and stood directly in front of him. “What. Did. You. Do. Tony?” I asked through clenched teeth, working very hard to remain in control as my pulse thudded in my ears.

“You know who he is. The Trickster God of Lies and Mischief. All I saw was this thousand-year-old god taking advantage of someone who’s had too many hard knocks in life. So I talked to him.” Tony held his hands up in surrender.

“No shit, Sherlock. What did you say?” I asked, feeling the familiar power roaring to life beneath my skin. It was nice to have it feel so accessible after almost two weeks of frustration, but I smothered it the best I could. I wouldn’t get a good answer out of Tony if I dragged him outside and made a tree give him a nice tight squeeze.

“I told him to stay away from you. That you were off-limits and he’s no good for you. You’ve been through too much to be chewed up and spit back out once he’d finished playing with the shiny new mortal-”

“Fuck, Tony! Damn!” I shouted, throwing my hands to my side. My knife came unbidden into my waiting hand, but I didn’t raise it against him. I wasn’t that far gone to my anger. “You aren’t my Dad! That’s not your place!”

He stood up so that we were face to face, his jaw tight as he glanced at the dagger before looking back at my tight face. “That’s right. I’m not. Because he got them killed. Did you forget that?”

It was like he had stabbed me in the heart and punched me in the gut at the same time. I shoved the unwelcome last images that I had of my father out of my mind as tears that I had just gotten control over pricked at my eyes once again. I took a stumbling step away from him, as if I could walk away from the emotional turmoil he’d thrust upon me. “No, I didn’t. But that wasn’t him. He wasn’t in control.”

“And you believe him?” he asked incredulously. “He’s a liar.”

I hesitated briefly. “Not about this. You didn’t see his face.”

“I don’t need to. I know what he is. You’re not thinking clearly,” he accused, shaking his head at me.

“I’m not doing this with you right now,” I stated, backing away from him. I stormed out of the room, fumbling and then shoving my knife back into its sheath. I missed on the first attempt, leaving a steadily bleeding thin slice down my thigh and ruining my leggings, but I didn’t miss a step. I had a god to confront.

I jogged to the roof, standing there panting with my hands on my hips and my head dropped to my chest. My breath condensed in the air in front of me, and I made myself try to slow everything going on inside of me, from my blood rushing through my veins to my power desperately trying to claw its way to the surface, way down while I waited for Loki to show up. He was always creeping around somewhere and he would have been curious about my argument with Tony, I was sure of it. We hadn’t exactly been quiet about it.

Sure enough, by the time I was in slightly more control of myself, the hair on the back of my neck raised at the feeling of someone watching me. I had talked to Thor about this odd sensation, and he agreed that my suspicions of Loki being to blame were probably correct. He was more than capable of messing with my head enough so that I wouldn’t be able to sense him there if he wanted to, which meant that he wanted me to know that he was around. He was too good at his magic to just slip up like that. No, he was playing with me just enough so that I would know he was being an invisible creeper without actually making himself known. It was like knowing that there was ice cream in the freezer while you were on a diet. It was there, but it might as well not have been for all the good it was doing and the torment it caused.

“Stay out of my head, Loki. Don’t be a coward. Show yourself,” I called, holding my arms up in the air challengingly.

“I am a god. A Prince of Asgard. I am no coward,” his voice hissed in my head.

Gotcha.

“You won’t even speak out loud or show yourself. Seems pretty cowardly to me,” I goaded him loudly. “Afraid?”

Loki appeared before me in a flash of green light, gripping my upper arms and shoving me roughly back against the door behind me. His eyes were crazed as they swept over my face. “Don’t you dare assume you know anything about me, mortal.”

I stared him down, telling myself that this was all show even as my body reacted very differently. I was practically vibrating with an electrifying mixture of fear and rage as his fingers dug painfully into my flesh and he towered over me. But he wouldn’t do anything me. I had to believe that. If he was going to kill me he wouldn’t have saved my life twice over by now. That was a little harder to make myself fully believe when he looked so manic and wrathful and I knew just how much damage he could do to me if he wanted to. Very easily.

“I know that Tony talked to you,” I said quietly, continuing when he opened his mouth to probably give some smartass answer, “I know that he treated you terribly. Like a monster. Telling you to stay away from me even though he didn’t have the right. Twisting everything around so it seemed like you manipulated me into trusting you.”

Loki tightened his grip on my arms, only releasing them when an involuntary wince twisted my firmly set mouth. He didn’t back away, though, his angered breaths blowing against my face as he sneered down at me. He dragged a long, cool finger across my jaw. “How do you know that I didn’t manipulate you? Mortals are so easily swayed, especially the fairer sex.”

“What would be the result of that? What would you get out of saving my life twice, tending to my wounds while I wasn’t even conscious to appreciate it, and helping me hold it together after the night of the club? What does that do for you?” I refused to move away from him. That was what he wanted. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

His brow furrowed for half a second, as if he was actually contemplating my question, but quickly replaced it with his mask of fury once again. “I was merely toying with you, love. It was in my best interest to go unrecognized in the club, and then afterward I would’ve been imprisoned again if I had let them take you. Your Avengers hold a soft spot for their new pet.”

He was just lashing out at me to avoid confronting his emotions. I had to keep on digging or we weren’t going to get anywhere.

“That doesn’t answer why you comforted me.”

He finally took a step away from me, and even that small amount of distance eased the rapid beat of my heart in my throat. From the way his eyes ticked to my neck I had to assume that my pulse was visible to him, and he had taken notice. Disgust dripped off of him as he replied, “Because you were pathetic. A warrior does not mourn those that they slay in battle. I had to keep your fragile psyche together long enough to get you to your equally feeble friends, who wouldn’t see it for the weakness that it was.”

His words finally achieved his goal, and I had to look away to try to hide how they had cut me to my core. He was just voicing what I had been telling myself. I did feel weak and pathetic for reacting that way, but it also meant that I wasn’t some robot who had no value for human life. Any normal person would be troubled by the knowledge that they had killed someone and gotten more men brutally killed just be existing. Either way, I couldn’t win.

But the aspect that hurt most of all was that he hadn’t acted out of concern for me. It was all to save his ass and get rid of me, just like I had suspected. At least, that was what he wanted me to believe. I couldn’t accept that completely, though, not when my gut was telling me otherwise.

I straightened up off of the wall and set my fiery gaze on him once again. “So explain this to me, and don’t you dare interrupt. You are going to hear what I have to say and then you can fuck right off to go haunt some other poor soul.”

I hesitated to see if he would try to stop me, but surprisingly he just stood there in stunned silence as if he couldn’t believe that I was standing up to him. It wasn’t like this was the first time. But I was fully done at this point and I needed to get everything out of my system and then I could just leave it. But he was going to let me say my peace, damn it.

“I don’t know how long you think that you can lie to yourself, but it isn’t going to work forever. I’m not going to let it. You spent weeks watching me like I was some fucking science experiment. You slithered your way into my life by constantly hanging around, by making me reliant on you when I wake up from my nightmares, by stopping bullets aimed my way with your own body, and then drop me on my ass. You don’t do all of those things for anybody. I don’t see you doing any of those things for Natasha. I know that girl has to have nightmares with all the shit that she has been through. I don’t see you throwing yourself in the line of danger for somebody like Sam. You don’t get to just thrust yourself into my life like that and then waltz out like nothing happened. I’m not some plaything that you can use and toss away. I’m a person, even if that doesn’t mean much to a freaking thousand-year-old asshole alien prince.”

“You do not get to tell me what to do,” he hissed.

But while his words were laced with anger, I could see the cool facade that he had constructed slowly cracking at the edges. Just a furrowed brow, his lips slightly parted, his eyes darting between my own. But it was enough to give me that last bit of oomph that I needed to continue.

“What are you going to do about it? Stab me? Kill me? I’m just a human woman. It wouldn’t be hard to do at all. If that’s what you want, then do it,” I seethed, pulling my dagger out and holding it to my neck for him, staring defiantly at him even as tension pulled my muscles taut. “Because either you admit that you did those things because you wanted to, because you felt something and that you’re too much of a coward to admit it, or you can get the hell out of my life. None of this halfway bullshit anymore. I’m too tired and too stressed and I’m struggling too much to play games with the Trickster God.”

His shining eyes took me in, and in one quick move he stepped up to me so that our chests were touching and his hand closed over mine, holding my knife at my throat. “I admit nothing.”

His grip hadn’t been very strong and I yanked my hand away easily. I sheathed my knife and shook my head, all of my rage melting out of me, leaving just exhaustion to weigh me down. “You see everyone else so clearly but yourself.”

He flinched at my words and closed his eyes tightly but I didn’t let myself question his reaction. I just wanted to be done with this conversation and never have it again. So everything needed to be said. I wasn’t going to have any regrets or thoughts of ‘what if’ when it came to this moment, consequences be damned. It wasn’t like he could hurt me anymore than he already had.

“If you won’t admit it, I will. That night, something changed. And I’m not just talking about when we were dancing together, or when we kissed. Yeah, that was really good, you weren’t wrong about that. But it had felt right. We… we fit. Even though you’re a giant compared to me, we fit. And then, after...,” I paused and took a steadying breath as I choked out the words around the lump of frustration in my throat, “you were the only thing that felt safe. You were the one that I trusted to protect me and hold me together. And I needed that, especially during my nightmares. And I hate that I needed that so much. I try to be so independent. But you had abandoned me.”

I ran a hand through my hair with a heavy sigh. “And that’s fine. You don’t owe me anything. I’m going to learn to live with what I did and what I saw in time. I’ll do it on my own. But I can’t do that if I’m also trying to figure out this situation on top of everything else. I can only handle so much at one time, and I have to take care of myself. You acting like an asshole to me one second and then treating me so tenderly the next isn’t going to cut it. You have to pick one.”

My hand settled lightly on his bicep. “I hope that one day you can be honest with yourself. Because I don’t think you are right now, and I think that’s hurting you more than you think it’s protecting you,” I whispered, squeezing his arm softly before walking away from him.

I didn’t expect him to stop me, and he lived up to that expectation. I didn’t run into anyone as I took the elevator down to the ground floor, and the few employees that I passed as I made my way outside didn’t even glance up at me as I moved quickly through them. The bite of the winter air returning to the exposed skin of my face was more than welcome as I began my usual jogging route along the perimeter of the Compound. I needed to think, and with Loki currently occupying my favorite thinking spot, this was my alternative that wasn’t the confines of my room. I wanted the open air right now.

I didn’t get very far before all of the emotions that I had cycled through in such a short period of time finally fully released themselves into hot tears that rolled down my cheeks. I always cried when I got overwhelmed. It was embarrassing. I let out a strangled shriek and stopped jogging, bending forward at my waist and pulling my sweater into my fists to wipe away the evidence of my emotions. Loki was right. I really was pathetic.

“I am not worth your tears.”

I straightened up and lowered my hands to my sides, digging my nails into the fabric clutched in my palms. I kept my back to him, not wanting to be seen crying for what felt like the thousandth time that day. “Oh?” I asked, cringing inwardly at the break in my voice on such a short word.

His voice was closer this time. “I am not. No one is.”

I barked out a harsh laugh. “Yeah, well, I guess I’ll keep that in mind,” I scoffed, walking away.

His slim fingers encircled my wrist gently to stop my speedy progress away from him. “Did you mean what you said?”

I turned around to face him, swallowing my pride and looking up to him. The cold hatred that he had worn earlier had gone, and in its stead, his eyes were soft as they took in my tear-stained face. Tentatively, he reached up and swiped away a tear as it rolled down my cheek. “Did you mean what you said?” he implored in a low voice.

“I don’t have any reason to lie,” I replied, just as quietly.

In one swift motion he yanked me against him, encompassing me in his strong embrace. My face collided almost painfully with the hard muscles of his chest he was so fast. I remained stiff against him, even as one hand moved from my back to cradle the back of my head. I wasn’t going to let myself get pressured into enjoying how heavenly he smelled, or how comforting it was to my weary heart to feel his voice rumbling through his chest.

“Only one other woman has been able to see through me so effectively.”

A small smile cracked my lips. “Smart woman.”

“Yes, she was,” he replied, voice weighed down with a terrible sadness that tugged at my heart. “This will not be easy.”

I didn’t say anything for a while, letting myself process everything. If he said that I could see through him, that had to be his weird proud way of admitting that I was right. But what about? Everything? That’s what it sounded like. But my weary heart and mind needed more clarification.

I hesitantly lifted my hands from their place at my sides and rested them on his waist, sliding over the slick fabric of his shirt. “I’m going to need you to be more specific, Loki.”

A sigh ruffled my hair before his hands moved to my shoulders to hold me at arm’s length. That same softness was still there on his face, but it was now laced with a hint of vulnerability and fear that I wasn’t used to seeing on him at all. “I have grown quite attached to you, as of late, little one.”

Stifling the hope that soared within my chest, I raised an eyebrow at him. “No tricks?”

He pushed an errant piece of hair behind my ear and let his hand fall to rest on my shoulder so his fingers could lift goosebumps on the soft skin of my neck from his caress. “No more tricks. Not with you.”

Smiling wearily, I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face into the column of his throat. “Don’t make me regret this, Loki,” I pleaded, my voice muffled by his skin.

His arms crushed me to him so tightly that it was hard to take a deep breath, but it still didn’t feel close enough. I felt his smooth lips move against the skin just beneath my ear as he replied, “I wouldn’t dream of it, love.”

[lokishornns]

Make a Wish [2]

—

masterlist

—

— send requests!!

pairing: loki x reader (fem)

type: series, some humor?

rating: pg13

word count: 4,419

warnings: cursing? probably. occasional mentions of being killed. loki being annoyingly arrogant

summary:  You’re a new employee for the Make a Wish foundation, struggling to make a living in the ever expensive New York City. When your boss - who, for the record, hates your guts - assigns an impossible task as a way to get you fired, you do everything in your power to make a kid happy. Even if that does include getting face to face with the most hated man in the city.

notes: im actually dead but i managed to crank this out, so hopefully, this does well. also, a huge thanks to @lady-loki-ren for being a saving grace for this chapter!

send requests

—

“So, this kid wants to meet Reindeer Games?” Tony asks and you hum in acknowledgment.

“Yeah, not sure why, but I don’t really think it matters too much,” you shrug, eyeing the billionaire from the back.

In all honesty, he’s not super impressive. His presence is intimidating and practically terrifying, but presence set aside – he almost seems normal. He’s on the shorter side and his hair is starting to grey – from stress or age, you couldn’t really tell. His skin, however, is smooth as hell and you wonder what products he uses to get his skin like that.

Tony turns into a random room that’s shrouded in darkness and smells far too similar to a hospital. You glance around in the darkness, hoping to catch sight of everything, but you can only make out a few computer monitors. Tony goes to one, turning it on, the light piercing through the darkness.

“Unfortunately, Reindeer Games is hard to contact, but if I piss him off enough, he’ll answer,” Tony says, and you crack a bewildered smile at his words. They almost seem like teenage enemies.

Tony begins to type in some random credentials that you probably shouldn’t know or even be around to witness him doing it, but he doesn’t seem to mind, so you watch as he pulls up some sort of program, typing in what you could only decipher as code. He leans back in the chair, his fingers now interlaced and placed over his chest.

“What do we do now?” you ask, peering at the screen, unable to make out any of what Tony had just done.

“Give it a minute, Loki does not really care for the ever-pressing concept of time,” Tony explains as you nod. You resort to leaning back against a metal table, the edge biting into your skin in the slightest.

Time passes slowly in the room and the awkward silence seems to make everything significantly worse. On top of that, your stomach growls loudly, startling yourself and Tony.

I would kill for a piece of bread, you think, or maybe some hot chocolate.

“When was the last time you ate, kid?” Tony asks and you’re surprised at the amount of concern you detect in his voice.

“Uh, maybe last night? I’m not entirely sure,” you say, sheepishly.

“Well, we can’t have you starving, can we?” Tony says, springing up from his seat, then instantly regrets it. You watch as he sways in the slightest, his hand going to cradle his head. “There’s a price you pay for being a near-alcoholic,” he mumbles before regaining his composure and striding out of the room in his ‘Stark’ glory.

You’re not sure if you should follow, but you aren’t in the mood for being in an abandoned room that houses the only communication to the most villainous person in New York City, so you scramble after him, your feet almost tripping over themselves.

You soon reach what could only be described as a massive kitchen. There are white, polished wooden cabinets that are on almost every wall – save for the one wall that is purely windows – and around four or five ovens are pushed into one section of the kitchen. Drawers litter the kitchen and it’s hard to miss the impeccable stainless-steel sink that seems to be as big as your bathroom in your apartment. Your eyes land on two massive fridges that you initially thought were doors leading into the many rooms in this monstrosity of a tower.

“Whaddya want? We have pasta, some leftover beef roast, some pop-tarts; really anything you want,” he says, and you glance back at the massive room, surveying the large granite countertops and the grey backsplash.

“Whatever is fine, I don’t want to impose more than I already have,” you mumble and from what you can tell with his sunglasses on, Tony rolls his eyes in the slightest.

“Please. You know what, Bucky’s been annoying me lately; let’s just swipe some of his snacks,” Tony suggests – or more instructs – and heads over to some cabinets on the opposite side of the kitchen. He shuffles through some things before snatching up some chips and other random snacking items.

He motions for you to grab the snacks and follow him out of the kitchen, walking down the same hallway you had come from before entering the same dark room. He sets the chips and snacks on the table, grabbing a bag of chips and sitting down in his seat. You carefully pry some saltwater taffy from the pile, popping it in your mouth.

A loud beeping sound makes your heart jump and your attention is drawn to the monitor that is now flashing red and has words you can understand. Incoming call.

“Perfect timing,” Tony mumbles before hitting the enter button on the keyboard, answering the call. A loud, staticky crackling sound pierces your ears at first and you wince alongside Tony who’s practically cringing away from the sound. The crackling fades away to a light static sound before a voice comes through the monitor.

“What does my brother want now?”

You’re surprised at the voice. You had never heard Loki talk and his voice is surprisingly smooth – much smoother than Thor’s. He doesn’t sound like a villain.

“We have a special guest who is very eager to meet you!” Tony cheers with fake enthusiasm and you frown, not sure if Loki’s going to be all too happy with his enemy taunting him. But surprisingly, he bites back.

“A guest so special they came through you? How exciting!” the sarcasm drips from the monitor and you almost want to laugh before remembering that this dude terrorizes New York on a daily.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. I have someone from the Make a Wish foundation here,” Tony starts, and you hear what you presume to be a snort crackle through the speakers.

“And what does that have to do with me?” Loki asks, and before Tony can respond, you tap his shoulder gently, as if asking if you have permission to talk. He nods and you swallow thickly, your hands beginning to shake.

“There’s a little boy in a hospital right now who would love to meet you,” you pause waiting for some sort of evil comment. “He really idolizes you –”

“A terrible idea, really,” you hear Loki’s voice puncture through your sentence and a snort slips from you before you can control it. Who knew that Loki Laufeyson had humor?

“I was just wondering if somehow we could work something out for a visit? He’s in his last stages, so he doesn’t have very long,” you chew on your lip as you finish your anti-climatic speech to the literal God. You only get more nervous as the second tick on, feeling as if it’s been an eternity since you fell silent.

“This child can die happier without knowing me,” his words cut through you like a knife and before you can respond or plead for his assistance, the line goes dead and you freeze, your mouth open wide. At this point, you didn’t care about your job, but you sure as hell cared about this kid.

You groaned – loudly, staring at the now-blank screen. What were you to do now? Go back and tell this kid ‘hey Danny, what’s up, so you’re probably going to die without meeting your idol, sorry!’? You dragged a hand down your face, cursing the dumb villain that is too sure of himself and prideful to do anything for a dying kid.

Tony swivels in the chair, offering a sympathetic look towards you. You only smile weakly as reassurance before a loud clanging sounds from outside the room.

“Dammit, Bucky and Sam can’t work together to save their lives,” Tony mutters before racing out of the room to somehow stop a quarrel. You stand silently for a minute, surveying the room as your mind reels over the recent events.

Your eyes land on the keyboard, noticing a manila folder placed underneath it, as if a cheat sheet in a test. You hadn’t noticed it before so Tony must have put the folder there. You peer at the doorway, holding your breath as you wait for the Avenger to come back in, but he doesn’t, and the loud sounds are still erupting from the kitchen. You tiptoe over to the folder, gently scooting the keyboard off it. Your eyes widen a fraction when reading the name of the folder.

Laufeyson, Loki

You hesitate, your fingers tracing the small bends and creases in the folders as if it were ages old. You pry open the front, your eyes trained on the folder. In it are news reports, criminal records, and details of some of the encounters with the villain. You’re just about to shut it closed when a bright orange tab catches your attention. You flip the papers to the orange tab, shock filling you. There’s an address.

And it’s Loki’s.

You wave your goodbyes to the few Avengers, assuring that you would be able to navigate on your own, and thanking Tony and Thor for their hospitality. You actually cringe once you meet Steve’s gaze that holds a petrifying look, but you just escape into the elevator, giving an unsure smile.

You’re finally able to breathe in the elevator, your head pounding from the number of experiences you had gone through today. You had met with some of the Avengers, stole and ate snacks with Tony Stark, and contacted a Supervillain. Oh, and you also stole the address out of the file, but no worries. You may just get tracked down by a gang of superheroes and find yourself eternally imprisoned.

Why do they have his address, yet they don’t attack? You shake your head of the irrelevant thoughts. All that matters is this kid.

You meet Helda’s gaze as you step from the elevator, and somehow it makes you curl into yourself and reminds you that your clothes are still damp from the torrential downpour. You glance through the windows that are black and spotted with raindrops, your steps uneasy as you approach the doors that lead outside. You give one last look to Helda before pushing out into the rain.

You’re immediately met with burning cold rain that tears down your face and clothes, prompting you to shiver through the walk. You glance occasionally at the small post-it note that has begun to get ruined by the rain, the ink smearing slightly. You tuck it into your hands, hoping to keep it as dry as possible.

When you arrive at your intended destination, it’s well past ten and the sky has retreated its attack, only leaving a small drizzle in its place. You glance from the paper to the house, your brows furrowing. This was the right address. Loki lives in this?

It was a large, modern-style home with black doors and polished, white rock that made up the body of the building. Large, opaque windows stood ominously encasing the black doors. You gulped.

Well, Loki sure did have a flair for design apparently.

Your nerves begin to overtake you, anxiety springing through your bones like lava. Your hands are trembling, and you can’t tell if it’s from the damp clothes that are still on your back or if it’s from the prospect of coming face to face with the most feared dude in New York. You bit your lip.

You cautiously approached the door, knocking twice on the doors that now seemed much larger than when you surveyed them from across the street. You waited patiently, your eyes catching sight of a small and hidden camera in a crevice, the camera facing you. You narrowed your eyes at it before looking back to the house and knocking again. When you were once again met with only silence, you rolled your eyes, stepping up to the camera. You hoped this thing had a mic on it.

“Hey, uh,” you pause, not knowing what to say. Improv is obviously not exactly your forte. “I spoke with you over the weird communication thing with Tony. I know this is probably really weird and kind of imposing, but I really cannot have this kid let down. I am totally willing to let you kill me if it means this kid gets everything. Oh, and no Avengers are with me. Most of them didn’t seem all too happy with me anyways.” You glance back at the door, waiting a few moments for a response. You’re just about to give up when you hear a crackling sound.

“Ah, so this is the brave little girl who spoke to me on the phone. How delightful to see you for once,” you hear his smooth voice even over the crackling of an intercom and you think you’re about to pee yourself. You swallow your nerves.

“Listen, buddy, don’t think you’re slick by escaping me on the phone call earlier. I really, really just need a moment to speak with you. It won’t take long unless you’re down to let me camp out on your porch,” you call out and you sense a hesitation in his response.

“My, my, how mouthy you are. That mouth is in desperate need for discipline.” You can practically hear the smirk in his voice and your jaw drops. Did he really just insinuate that? You stand in shock, not able to process what he just said.

“I beg your pardon?” you ask incredulously.

“Oh, dear. You have much to learn,” he almost mocks and your stomach churns at the sound of his voice. You’re just about to lay one on his camera when a small chime rips your focus back to the door where it’s now swinging wide open.

You give one last look to the camera before stepping through the threshold, squinting your eyes in the darkness to make out details of the house. Two winding staircases meet at a second floor, a small table with a white orchid poised between the two of them. Further back you can see a sitting area, but for now, it mainly rests obscured from creeping eyes by darkness. You’re just about to start exploring for yourself whenever you hear footsteps approaching from above.

You glance up to find the Loki Laufeyson carelessly strutting down the stairs.

“You’re much more enticing when you’re not dripping on my floors like a wet dog,” Loki bites and you look down to see that you have indeed made a puddle around yourself and a small trail of water from the door. Your nerves hit you like a brick and suddenly you feel like fainting.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“Such a submissive thing. Shielding when one hint of criticism is thrown your way,” Loki taunts and your eyes narrow at the villain, forgetting that he could very well kill you right now.

“No, I just happen to have respect for housing and nice floors,” you snap and surprisingly, Loki’s smirk is soon replaced by what seems to be an amused smile before it quickly fades.

“Are you here to plead to me about your insufferable cause?” Loki asks, making his tone very dramatically exasperated and you roll your eyes at the notion. You freeze, realizing you just rolled your eyes at a notorious criminal.

Jesus Christ, I’m such an idiot. I’m going to die. Yep. It’s been awful, bye world, you think. You manage to find your voice through all of your anxiety.

“Yes, and by the way, it’s hardly insufferable for you. I’ve lost my dignity multiple times today. I was almost detained by a woman named Helda; can you imagine how humiliating that would have been?” you babble, not noticing the way Loki seems to be scrutinizing you until you stop. You wish you were smaller. Loki’s facial details were hidden to you by the shadow that lurked over him, making all that you could see of him a lean and muscular body.

“I do believe you have no clue what this entails in terms of my appearance,” Loki patronizes, and you press your lips together, awaiting his next words. “First, the hospital will go under complete lockdown. Then, the police will arrive, and Odin knows that when that happens, the SWAT team arrives. Then your precious friends. I’m not particularly fond of searching for chaos.” You crinkle your nose in confusion.

“Aren’t you the God of Chaos?” Loki sighs deeply before rolling his eyes.

“While I do like chaos, chaos usually finds me, not the other way around,” Loki concludes, and you look away. Weirdo.

“Alrighty, bud. Aren’t you the most powerful guy in New York? Like isn’t that enough to go to the hospital? I’ll make sure no law enforcement reaches you, but I can’t promise for the Avengers,” you sassed. You realized a second too late that it’s probably not good to feed into his ego, but he only gave a small smirk.

“I may consider this pathetic deal of yours, but I need something in return,” he says and raises an eyebrow. Your face distorts in disgust.

“Uh, if you’re into sex stuff, I’m probably the last person you should ask-”

“What? No. You’re not my taste,” Loki says, startled, scanning your figure with his eyes and you become hyper-aware of the dampness of your clothes once again. Your face flushes a bright red and you attempt to cough the awkwardness away.

“I guess you get attention out of it.”

“I get attention all the time,” Loki deadpans and you flush even redder – if possible.

“It’s good attention. Someone who genuinely thinks you’re super cool,” you try to remember the marketing class you took in college, attempting to throw random rhetoric strategies in your words.

“I do hope you realize I get far enough of good attention too,” Loki lowers his voice, smiling suggestively at you, and you have to restrain yourself from gagging.

“Fine, what do you want?” you ask, exasperated. For a moment, Loki seems caught off-guard, hesitating in the slightest before his lips curl into a smile that eerily resembles a sneer. Sheesh. Pretty teeth, though.

“For you to work for me.”

“No,” you say quickly, your facial expression only showing bewilderment and disgust.

“Ah, that’s too bad,” he hums. “You could have gotten your precious boy a visit.” You almost waiver at his bargaining, but you bite back.

“You’re scared? And that’s why you’re escaping this?” you ask, making sure your eyebrows were raised for an extra effect.

“No-”

“You must be. And let me tell you,” you take a threatening step forwards, the god following you with his eyes, “I sure as hell know how to make this a lot scarier. So, I suggest that you concede to me and we be done with it.” By the end of your little escapade, you feel your hands trembling, hoping that Loki doesn’t notice. But Loki only cracks a smile.

“My, my, you are far fiercer than I initially believed. You have quite a bit of fire in you, little one,” Loki says, his eyes sweeping over you once again as you huff, attempting to stand taller.

Why am I even trying? This dude could probably kill me with his eyes. Whatever. Girl power, am I right? Black Widow would be proud.

“I thought you already had shitty morals, but this is even lower. He’s a child for god’s sake. Can you extend any sort of kindness? At all?” you almost plead, realizing that pleading like this was most likely going to be the best way to convince him. Let him know he had the upper hand.

“Kindness is not in my nature.”

“But mischief is, and I promise you, this will take a lot of mischief,” you say, watching as his eyebrows draw together to study you. You attempt to smile, but you’re sure your lips just pull into an uncomfortable, thin line.

“Why do you care so much?” Loki asks and you stand for a moment, unsure of what to say. Why did you care so much? Why did you even come here, in the face of one of the most dangerous criminals, to plead with him for a kid? You didn’t know, so you let your mouth run away from you, hoping that will be the best way to a truth.

“I don’t have a lot of time in my life like you do, and I guess it’s human need to leave an impression. Plus I love the kid; he’s super funny,” you conclude, your shoulders slightly relaxing from some unknown tension. Loki hums.

“Human nature is a repulsive and disgusting thing. You mere mortals usually end up tearing yourselves apart,” Loki decides to say before abruptly turning back into his monstrosity of a house.

You stand in shock at first before he turns around, waving you forward. You stumble to keep up with his steps, his long legs taking impossibly long strides. Damn him and his long legs.

“However, although you are quite persistent and annoying, you are far more intriguing than most mortals I have met,” Loki speaks over his shoulder, and you glare at his back, wishing you could pierce holes through him with laser eyes. Screw being a villain, he was an annoying ass. You huff, following him through winding hallways, a thought popping into your head.

What if he’s leading me to my death? What if he’s trying to kill me? Oh, god. I guess I deserve it.

You almost sigh in relief when he leads you to an open and covered balcony. You study him, careful to make sure the psychopath isn’t looking.

He’s attractive. Dammit! You are not supposed to find him attractive! He’s a villain! He could kill you in an instant.

You feel the ever-constant, ironic want of death rise in your stomach, wishing to erase those thoughts from your memory. You glanced at yourself, horrified that you even began to think any such thoughts of the villain. It’s over for you if you find out you’re somehow attracted to criminals and psychopaths.

Do they have standards? you wonder.

You’re caught red-handed as you look back up to the villain, who’s watching you with a bewildered look.

Oh great, he probably thinks I’m a lunatic now. I guess they do have standards.

“Why did you take us out here?” you ask, just as the cold begins to seep into your clothes, giving you a bitter reminder of what your day had entailed. Loki glances back to the door – which he’s thankfully left open (for needs of escape, of course) – and reverts his gaze back to you as if thinking that he couldn’t trust you. Haha, buddy. Very funny. You’re the villain here, Mr. Bad Guy.

“There are prying eyes everywhere, fierce one. In this storm, no one can hear us,” Loki says, this time his tone isn’t biting or sarcastic as usual. He’s serious and for some reason, that makes your stomach feel very unsettled.

You turn to survey the balcony. It was only what you could call enormous. There were occasional sitting areas and plants, leaves blowing in the wind. There was a firepit across the balcony and you wished you could somehow cuddle up next to a raging fire and fall asleep, warm and dry. You still shivered.

“Are you going to kill me?” you asked, apprehensively. You swear you almost felt faint when he chuckled.

“No, mortal, I have no needs or intentions to do so. You are not a threat to me, and nor am I to you,” Loki said, an amused smile on his lips. You almost felt comfort in his words. Almost.

“You’re the God of Lies; how can I trust you?” you ask, biting your lip again. He only cracks a bigger smile.

“Although I am the God of Lies, I don’t lie when I need to. What motivations do I have to kill you?” he asks, arching a teasing brow. Wow, his brows are nice. Ugh. This is so bad.

You think for a moment, trying to come up with some plausible reason that the bad guy in front of you would kill you. Your eyes narrow as you pick out a few reasons.

“I’m annoying you, plus, you get off on watching people die,” you state, pointing a finger at his chest before turning a dark shade of red and retracting your finger. Loki only quirks a brow, as if asking ‘Is that the best you can do?’.

“I happen to not find satisfaction in death. If I need remind you, I am the God of Chaos. I get off on chaos,” he says, and you furrow your brows. Uh-huh, sure buddy.

“Chaos makes people die, so, it’s basically the same thing,” you point out, thinking you have him in a corner, but he only laughs.

“Darling, we could debate all day about this, but unfortunately it is quite late, and I do want a good night’s sleep,” Loki responds, and you shiver at the nickname.

“I’m not your ‘Darling’,” you drawl, glaring at the God, but he pretends to not notice as he takes a seat on a nearby couch. You stiffly follow him, plopping into the seat across from him. Surprisingly, the seat cushions are warm and dry, contrary to the storm that seems to be picking up again. You curl into them.

“So, do tell, who is this boy?” Loki asks and you respond, filling him in on Danny – the one, who for some reason, loves Loki. Loki only seems to become more and more intrigued by each word, and soon it feels like he’s staring through your soul. You shift, unsettled by his stare.

By the end of your little biography of Danny and occasional, thrown in rhetoric devices, you blush, realizing you were taking quite a long time to explain it all. However, Loki doesn’t seem to mind as he leans back against the couch, his finger absentmindedly rubbing his chin in thought. He still studies you, yet this time is less intense, and for that, you’re relieved.

“Do you trust me?” he asks out of the blue, and you stare at him as if he lost a head.

“Of course not,” you respond, watching his mouth pick up the signature smirk that’s starting to annoy you.

“Clever girl, now, about the boy. Where is he located? We must plan this soon, for time is of the essence of you pathetic mortals.”

—

taglist:  @quenilla @darkprincessloki92

[canyousevmyheavydirtysoul]

Bodyguard III: Avengers Assemble (Chapter 10) (B. Urie x Reader)

Infirmary.

Stepping out of the room, you pulled the door shut behind you, leaving Aaron to sleep off the after-effects of the last couple of days.

Brendon had been waiting right outside the room, arms folded and back pressed against the wall just to the side of the door. He looked to you as soon as you set foot over the threshold.

Looking back at him, you drew in a deep breath and shut your eyes.

“Thank you. For saving him,” you muttered, opening your eyes and giving a small smile.

Furrowing his brows, Brendon pushed himself off of the wall and took a couple steps closer to you. When he spoke, he sounded nothing like himself; his voice was mellow, softer than you’d ever heard it before.

“What’s…” he stopped, almost as if he were second-guessing himself; raising your brows, you silently urged him on, “what’s going on between you two?”

The ambiguity of his question was quite clear, however you chose to go with an annoyingly genic response.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he huffed agitatedly, combing his fingers through his hair, “Are you sleeping with him?”

Slightly pissed off at the crudeness of his question, you scowled. “That’s none of your fucking business,” you deadpanned, and started to walk off.

He grabbed you by the arm and pulled you back.

“Hey, no, wait, please.”

He held you closer than you were before, swallowing harshly as he gazed down at you. The Brendon that stood in front of you was a Brendon you barely recognized; he looked… human.

“I didn’t mean-“ closing his eyes, he took a moment to steel himself, “I just… I need to know.”

You stared at him, silent and unblinking.

“Are you with him?” he clarified, finally managing to phrase his question in an inoffensive, polite manner, “Do you… you love him?”

Parting your lips, you lifted your hand and tenderly cupped his cheek, meeting his gaze. He leaned into your touch ever so slightly.

“No,” you said, “I’m not with him.”

You felt him expell a breath you hadn’t realised he’d been holding, but the worrisome creases on his forehead remained.

“That wasn’t my only question.”

Before you could attempt to respond, Steve came striding down the corridor, closing the window of oppurtunity for your conversation to progress.

“Sorry for the interruption, but I need you two,” he said, “We know what our next move is.”

Sharing a non-expressive glance, you and Brendon immediately turned and followed the Captain as he led the way to where Natasha and Clint were – a couple doors down the hall.

Clint was in the restroom, freshening up while Natasha sat on the bed, waiting. She stood up when Steve entered the room.

“Time to go.”

She furrowed her brow. “Go where?”

“I’ll tell you on the way,” Steve brushed it off, then looked at her questioningly, “Can you fly one of those jets?”

Clint walked out of the restroom, drying his hands on a towel. “I can.”

Cap looked at Natasha, silently querying if Agent Barton had successfully shaken off Loki’s mind control. She nodded in confirmation.

“Got a suit?” Steve cocked his head up at Clint.

“Yeah.”

“Then suit up.”

✧✧✧

Hangar bay.

Now fully suited and weaponised, the five of you walked side-by-side through the lower hangar bay, approaching one of the stationary quinjets.

As your group tread up the open ramp and onto the jet, one of the engineers held out both hands and halted you.

“Hey, you guys aren’t authorised to be in here.”

“Son,” Steve snapped, turning his head to the side, “just don’t!”

✧✧✧

The bridge.

Holding Coulson’s playing cards, Fury looked out over the air deck. Agent Hill walked up behind him.

“Sir.”

“Agent Hill,” he answered, staying still.

“Those cards… they were in Coulson’s locker, not in his jacket.”

Looking down at the ruined cards, Fury explained. “They needed the push.”

Raising his head, The Director caught sight of the quinjet and Iron Man taking off, soaring through the sky toward the city. The intercom sounded.

“We’ve got unauthorized departure from Bay Six.”

“They found it,” Fury straightened up, moving to his commanding spot, “Get our communications back up, whatever you have to do. I want eyes on everything.”

“Yes, sir.”

✧✧✧

Stark tower rooftop, New York City.

Tony flew in a haphazard pattern; the Iron Man suit had suffered severe damage in the Helicarrier engine, and was losing power fast. Toughing it out, Tony managed to make his way to the rooftop of the tower.

Just below him, Doctor Selvig – still under Loki’s control – stood ready to activate the device he had constructed with the Tesseract.

Iron Man inched closer, and JARVIS gave him the run-down. “Sir, I turned off the arc reactor. The device is already self-sustaining,” he informed, meaning that even though the device was no longer drawing power from the tower, it didn’t need to.

“Shut it down, Doctor Selvig.”

Selvig looked up at the suit, shaking his head and throwing his arms out. “It’s too late! She can’t stop now. She wants to show us something! A new universe.”

Not at all amused by the doctor’s seemingly crazed ramblings, Tony decided to take matters into his own hands.

“Okay,” he said, annoyed, before proceeding to fire his repulsors at the barrier around the device. The Tesseract simply deflected the attack, sending the energy outwards and knocking both Selvig and Iron Man back.

“The barrier is pure energy,” JARVIS explained, “It’s unbreachable.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Tony grunted. He looked down and saw Loki strutting on the platform just outside the penthouse. “I’m beat.”

Catching onto his boss’ intentions, JARVIS warned him against it. “Sir, the Mark Seven is not ready for deployment.”

“Then skip the spinning rims. We’re on the clock.”

Tony touched down on the landing pad, and as his mechanised system began pulling the suit off of him, he walked through into the tower penthouse, watching Loki carefully. The god walked in, too.

Inside, Loki trekked closer, as Tony headed behind his bar.

“Please tell me you’re going to appeal to my humanity,” Loki mocked.

“Uh, actually, I’m planning to threaten you.”

Loki’s lips curved into a smirk. “You should have left your armor on for that.”

“Yeah, it’s seen a bit of mileage. You’ve got the, uh, blue stick of destiny.” Tony waved at the sceptre, clutched tightly in Loki’s hand. “Would you like a drink?”

“Stalling me won’t change anything.”

“No, no, no – threatening,” Tony corrected, reaching for a glass, “No drink? You sure? I’m having one.”

“The Chitauri are coming, nothing will change that.” Loki gave a small shrug. “What have I to fear?”

“The Avengers.”

The God of Mischief’s eyes narrowed infinitesmally, and Tony half-rolled his eyes.

“That’s what we call ourselves,” he continued, “Sort of like a team. ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ type of thing.”

A dark chuckle. “Yes, I’ve met them.”

Playing to Loki’s ego, Tony acknowledged the rocky start that you’d all had. “Yeah, takes us a while to get any traction, I’ll give you that one,” he sighed. “But let’s do a head count here… your brother, the demi-god; your cousin, the demi-goddess-“

Loki scoffed, turning to look out the window. Seizing the moment, Tony slipped a pair of tech bracelets onto each of his wrists.

“-a super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breathtaking anger issues; a couple of master assassins, and you, big fella, you’ve managed to piss of every single one of them.”

Tossing a sideway glance Tony’s way, Loki smiled. “That was the plan.”

“Not a great plan.” Tony began walking to the centre of the room, to where the god stood. “When they come – and they will – they’ll come for you.”

“I have an army.”

“We have a Hulk.”

Loki arched his brows. “Oh, I thought the beast wandered off,” he taunted, in reference to Hulk’s unplanned skydive.

“Yeah, you’re missing the point,” the genius sucked on his teeth and shook his head, “There’s no throne, there is no version of this, where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it’s too much for us, but it’s all. On. You. ‘Cause if we can’t protect the earth, you can be damned well sure we’ll avenge it.”

Loki strode over to Tony, cockily pointing his weapon. “How will your friends have time for me, when they’re so busy fighting you?”

The god came right up to the genius, and placed the tip of the sceptre over his heart. It clinked against the arc reactor. Loki leaned back, stunned.

“This usually works,” he muttered, confused.

“Well,” Tony skewed his mouth to the side, “performance issues. Not that uncommon. One in five-“

Grabbing Tony by the throat, Loki let out a growl as he tossed him clear across the room.

“JARVIS,” Tony said under his breath, calling for his A.I. assistant, “anytime now.”

Loki grabbed him again. “You will all fall before me.”

“JARVIS. Deploy.”

Effortlessly, Loki sent Tony crashing through the window and plummeting to the ground.

“DEPLOY!”

From behind Loki, a concealed armory opened up and the Mark Seven suit rocketed out, flying past the god and out the window after Tony. It caught up to him and, locking onto the tech bracelets, attached to his body and unfolded into a full suit.

Tony was able to stop his fall mere seconds before hitting the ground, and flew right back up to Loki at the window.

“And there’s one other person you pissed off!” he called from inside the helmet, “His name was Phil.”

Iron Man fired a repulsor blast at Loki, knocking him down. Meanwhile, the Tesseract device had powered up, and shot a stream of blue energy at the sky. A portal opened up to reveal the Chitauri army which had been laying in wait.

“Right,” Tony mumbled, looking up at the hoard of aliens flying out, “Army.”

_______________________________

Thank you for reading x

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[pass-the-bechdel]

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Does it pass the Bechdel Test?

No.

How many female characters (with names and lines) are there?

Four (23.52% of cast).

How many male characters (with names and lines) are there?

Thirteen.

Positive Content Rating:

Three.

General Film Quality:

Loads of fun, though tonally dissonant; works best on first viewing. Easily the superior film of the Thor franchise, though that’s not a huge achievement considering its predecessors.

MORE INFO (and potential spoilers) UNDER THE CUT:

Passing the Bechdel:

Sigh.

Female characters:

Hela.

Scrapper 142 (I know, she is credited as Valkyrie, but since the name is never used to address her in the film it doesn’t count by the rules of this blog; if she didn’t happen to be referred to by her scrapper number a few times, she wouldn’t count as a named character at all).

Topaz.

Natasha Romanoff.

Male characters:

Thor.

Surtur.

Skurge.

Loki.

Stephen Strange.

Odin.

Volstagg.

Hogun.

The Grandmaster.

Carlo.

Korg.

Bruce Banner.

Heimdall.

OTHER NOTES:

The use of Immigrant Song is my favourite thing about this movie, to be honest. I don’t mean that as an insult, it’s just such a good choice.

The inclusion of Doctor Strange in this film feels like a pointless misstep, a distraction at what is really a vital early point in establishing tone, especially considering this useless scene is what leads us in to...

...the literal death of Odin and introduction of Big Bad Hela, all of which should be emotional and intense and is instead flat and dissonant in the extreme. Watching this for the first time, I was very concerned that the whole film was just gonna end up gimmicky and soulless. While it does pick up, I was also not wrong about that early assessment.

Not that I was attached to Thor’s friends from the previous films, but they sure do just kill them off without fanfare, except for Sif who just doesn’t appear at all (logically, we should assume she dies off-screen, otherwise there’s no reason for her not to be up-front with Thor at the end of the movie). Fandral doesn’t even get a line in before he croaks, that’s how irrelevant these franchise-veteran characters are. Emotional engagement in plot and character is for chumps, anyway.

*whispers* Jeff Goldblum is here.

“Piss off, ghost!”

Hulk reveal is pretty solid, if you manage not to have been spoiled (a tall order, since it was in the promos).

Heimdall is still the MVP of the Thor franchise.

Can’t believe it took this long for any movie to squeeze some real fun and heart out of the Hulk character. This is way better than embarrassingly forcing a love match on him.

The valkyrie-battle memory is soooo good-looking.

This movie is too recent to be using the word ‘gypsy’...

Thor’s story about Loki pretending to be a snake when they were kids is the good shit.

But, Immigrant Song is still the most inspired choice of the film. Not sorry.

So, this is one of those movies which I felt was pretty over-hyped, to be honest. It is great fun, don’t get me wrong, it’s fresh and hilarious and subversive and way the Hell better than the previous Thor films, plus it has a great cast and strong visuals and they used Immigrant Song really effectively...but the tone of the film is an absolute fucking mess, the plotting is a shambles, and there’s nowhere near as much heart and weight underpinning it all as what there should be for a movie involving the near-total destruction of an entire civilisation. The majority of the movie is handed over to a shenanigan-heavy side-plot of no consequence to the central conflict, while the central conflict - LITERAL RAGNAROK - is relegated to a handful of scenes sprinkled across the film, obliterating any chance of it seeming meaningful or even particularly serious. The strongest point of the story is the final act, once Thor and company finally get to Asgard to confront Hela, but the narrative doesn’t earn that strong finish; it just goes to show how much more engaging the rest of the film could have been if they had stayed on track.

This is a big part of why this movie - while a delightful surprise on first viewing - doesn’t age particularly well on repeat; this was my fourth time through, and by the third quarter, as Sakaar draaaagged through its roster of jokes and pratfalls, my attention span was waning fast. Even if the entire garbage-planet sidebar was not distracting from what should have been a very serious main plot, I’m not sure it would remain engaging long-term, since it is rather spare and low on emotional/character investment; it’s not a pitfall of comedy that has to exist (heavily-emotional and/or dark comedies are definitely a real thing), but unfortunately, this is not a movie that is very interested in what has come before it, and it expresses that disinterest by neglecting any element of the established Thor mythology which might have brought this plot a sense of meaning. As such, rather than feeling like ‘the Thor movie that finally got it right’, it’s more like a reboot, with old characters unceremoniously ditched and any sense of purpose or import in old story threads or histories gone right alongside Asgard itself.

I’ve seen people praise this film for its ‘anti-Imperialism, anti-colonialism’ message, but I feel it’s a point weakly made onscreen; any depth to that argument would require a more sincere effort from the script in addressing those scant Asgard scenes, and as such, I feel that this element - though it isn’t completely wishful thinking - is much more in the eye of the beholder than it is a function of the narrative itself. The attempt to engage with any thoughtful discussion on Asgard’s legacy is a swift casualty of the film’s overall superficiality, just the same as the devastation of Asgard and the decimation of its population is blithely underplayed because, hey, Thor vs Hulk is worth way more attention than genocide, right? It’s that tonal dissonance in the two pieces of the plot which keeps me from really relaxing and enjoying the lightness, because that lightness is both excessive and out-of-place; I feel uncomfortable being asked to just shrug and go with it, I want to be emotionally involved and moved by the plight of the Asgardians, and instead I’m stuck watching Thor get a haircut and an eyeful of Hulk dick. Under almost any other circumstances, I would be all about a hard-comedy version of Thor, especially after the generic drudgery of the earlier installments in the franchise, but at the same time as Ragnarok? Not so much.

That said? This film is definitely not without quality. Comedic quality, for sure (anything with Taika Waititi’s name attached is worth a look), and there really are some great casting flourishes (though I maintain disappointment that the Asgard plot is so undersold, because it means Karl Urban and especially Cate Blanchett are under-utilised); for the interests of this blog, it’s that Scrapper 142 aka Valkyrie who forms the highlight (and she’s a worthy highlight without the context of this blog, too). Valkyrie’s drunk, angry sauntering and her snappy disregard for Thor’s righteous pontificating positions her within an archetype normally restricted to male characters only, too loose and unseemly for a female character, who might be found dislikeable and (horror of horrors) too sloppy to be sexy, whereas a man in the same archetype is funny, a ‘lovable asshole’, and the perception of his appearance is not tied up in his behaviour the same way nor is he under the same pressure to prioritise his appeal for the audience in the first place. Angry male drunkards who begrudgingly tag along with the protagonist in the end because they’re surly but not bad, those are a dime a dozen, but a woman in the same position? A rare gem indeed. And Valkyrie is more than just a fresh twist on an old cliche; her personality is grounded, it has a relatable simplicity (disillusionment with a side-order of survivor’s guilt), and there’s a confidence about the way she and the unspoken parts of her life are presented, without need to force a connection with Thor and his personal plight in order to justify Valkyrie’s actions or relevance to the plot. She’s an entirely self-contained character who could just as easily have the story to herself with no further mention of Thor et al., and that’s the hallmark of any well-constructed character: the ability to stand alone.

As a whole, this movie is far from bad - when I call it overrated, I am very much talking about the fact that it’s mostly a string of shenanigans with minimal narrative underpinning, and while that’s not a terrible thing in itself, I do think the hype around this movie implied that it had something more to offer than just laughs and a retro look. For me personally, the lack of emotional engagement and character stakes is close to a fatal flaw, and so while I enjoy this movie on a superficial level, it gives me nothing I need in order to really dig it (for others, obviously, this is not a problem). It always rubs me the wrong way to see something completely disavow previous chapters in the same story - there’s a big difference between developing an idea in a new direction, and simply ditching whatever you didn’t like about what came before - and I would have preferred to see this film make its changes with at least a modicum of respect for the foundations it is building upon (basic as the previous Thor films were, they weren’t catastrophic embarrassments). And yes, ultimately, the burying of the Ragnarok plot under a pile of Planet Garbage (feat. Jeff Goldblum) is just a little unforgivable in my mind, and it’s the first thing I think of whenever this film pops up; I really, really wish that Ragnarok were not part of this plot at all, that the Sakaar part of the story (i.e. the part that The Powers That Be were actually invested in, clearly) formed the bulk of the second film in the Thor franchise instead, since that movie basically sucked and took itself too seriously, and then the Thor film which took itself seriously could have been actually about Ragnarok. Basically, I wish that Marvel had gotten their shit together sooner rather than later with this part of the franchise, because while this worked out fine for them monetarily, narratively it’s just not a step I can get behind.

[avidfanficwriter]

Spoken in Silence (Chapter 1)

Characters: Clint Barton x Tony Stark

Rating: Rated M.

Warnings: Cursing, Possible suicide attempt, depression, PTSD, self-doubt, angst, Cheating, Secret life, mentions of torture, romantic interest, one sided attraction (Kinda), bonding over pain, mentions/references towards child abuse not explicitly explained, Spoilers for Endgame in later chapters, (MORE TO COME AS UPDATED)

Summary:  Let it be known that nothing happened between Clint Barton and Tony Stark, nothing. Technically, speaking. It was just longing glances and unspoken words but they both know it’s there. They both know there’s a clear line of how far they’re caring towards one another can go without going to far.

READ ON A03

Nick Fury invited Tony Stark to the lab-to be more correct Fury demanded that Tony be present at the lab because he was tired of Tony breathing down his neck asking what was going on, it was easier to give him a taste rather than wait for Stark to discovered everything on his own. It’s a ruse, Tony knows that long before they arrived at SHIELD headquarters, he was sticking his nose somewhere it didn’t belong and Fury was getting antsy. “We show him the basic stuff. Things that won’t get his Stark brain running.” Was the original plan but things quickly went to shit. The damn tesseract, the cube they had spent forever searching for was creating problems conveniently when Tony was around. As Dr. Selvig put it: “She’s misbehaving.” with hidden concern masked in his voice.

“Did you buy her a drink?” Was Tony’s unhelpful response.

Everyone in the room was clueless, it’s a mystery as to what created the power surge even more so was trying to find a way to stop it. The tesseract flickers, blue lights emitting around the room mimicking the way fire acts as the building shifts again. The ceiling is crumbling, falling beneath their feet as Tony finds his way to a computer monitor hoping he can help but also taking the opportunity to insert his own flash drive into their systems. A large deep blue light fills the room, creating a portal behind the cube and Fury knows this day is only going to get worse.

A man appears within the light, long jet black hair with swollen red eyes dressed in a gold and green outfit with a terrifying smile on his face. His hand is tightly holding a spear that only worsens the fear sinking into everyone’s body, the look on his face, the threatening stance, he’s no friend.

Tony is suddenly picking himself up off the floor, his vision blurred and a high pitched ringing sound filling his ears. His memory is vague, the last thing he remembers was Fury shouting, curses spilling from his mouth, the sound of gunshots, blue glow and then darkness. A trail of wet cold blood falls down his forehead that he swipes his fingers at, he doesn’t remember blacking out, hurting himself or being so close to the wall. His body aches, head is pounding and he’s searching for Fury whose focused on another man, Clint. They’d met moments before chaos broke out.

Tony barely knows the man, didn’t remember his last name or his position, just a colorful moniker: “This is the hawk.” The man is trying to fight against the unknown assailant only to fail, he feels his chest constrict and lungs struggle to pull in enough oxygen.

Tony watches the man become a hostage and the pain he feels is unbearable. It’s as if his own heart is being viciously ripped from his chest, rips torn aimlessly and fingers clawing at his flesh to retrieve it. He was helpless, no suit at his dispense, his legs unable to move, he’s forced to watch. The man becomes a victim and soon after a monster.

It’s magic, Tony’s least favorite thing. Magic wasn’t fair, the magician can simple wave their fingers and the fight goes in their favor.

There’s a tinge of deep blue that melts into Clint’s eyes, a startling change in his behavior is evident. He stands straight, arms at his side and gun holstered. Tony should be trying to aid those who tried and failed to take on this villain but he can’t move. His brown eyes are glued to Clint as the man speaks, “I am Loki… of Asgard.” Is all he can make out clearly. He’s to focused on what’s going on with– or the lack of what’s going on with Clint. He’s frozen, oblivious to the anything around him. His eyes glowing and chest raising peacefully as he breathes. He’s been compromised.

Clint stands just a few feet away from everyone who could save him, bodies of the agents before him who tried to take on the villian lay motionless around him. The gun is still in his hand but he can’t move it, he can’t find the strength to make his finger pull the trigger, this spear that’s touching his chest is changing him. His vision blurs, his body changes and his brains fills with thoughts that are no longer his own. A voice echoes through his mind, “You’ll listen to me. Do what I say. What i ask for.” The words are on repeat, filling every orifice of his mind and threatening his very existence. He’s losing his grasp on reality, loosing who he is. He manages one last look around, the faces of his colleagues burn into his brain, it’s bad. The look of fear etched onto each of their faces says what’s happening to him is just as bad to witness as it is to experience it. His eyesight falls to Tony, the billionaire who moonlights as a superhero with over moussed hair and facial hair trimmed to perfection, even his face is morphed into pain.

It’s paralysis, Clint begins to realize, he’s unable to move or speak but his mind is still active. He can hear what Loki demands him to do but he’s not the one responding. He’s not the one controlling his body. Every decision and move is controlled by Loki, even the sounds of his voice is wrong. This voice, the new voice is deeper and dry.

He’s in a prison, he soon realizes, trapped inside of his mind while his body is forced to carry out horrible acts of violence. He can see it all, every order her carries out, every person he victimizes all play like a broken record. The lives he took and the people he hurt, he sees it all and worse, he remembers it all.

It’s Tony alongside his new/old friend, (He’s not entirely sure where they stand as of right now) Natasha that have the hardest time dealing with the events surrounding Clint. Tony can’t sleep or continue his day knowing that man was sacrificed and Fury isn’t doing a damn thing about it. His mind torments him with pleas to rescue Clint. It’s escalated since Tony’s met Loki’s brother, Thor. He’s interacting with this man who grow up with a monster, a being who believes he is the true ruler of man and nothing will stand in his way. “What the hell are we going to do about Clint?” Tony shouts at Fury as he enters his office. Fury seems to be the only person unfazed by Clint’s behavior.

“What does that mean, Stark?”

“Barton, he’s Loki’s bitch.”

Fury sighed with a shrug of his shoulders. “Barton was aware of the risks.”

Fury had pissed Tony off in the past, putting him on house arrest for starters was one time but now, refusing to help one of his own agents was more than irritating. “That’s what we are to you? Expendable assets?”

“Each of you is aware of the risks.” Was all Fury said turning his attention back to his work. “If any of you have a problem, you know where the door is.” It takes all the strength inside of Tony to not lash out on the man. He tries to let it go, tries desperately to forget what he said but he can’t.

Clint’s falling further down the rabbit hole as the days pass, the last remaining pieces of him are starting to betray him. He’s forgetting names and memories, it’s getting harder and harder to recall who people are. There were moments of the day, where suddenly he can’t remember where he is, how he got there or who the person who has his bullet inside of them is. It’s as if he’s sleepwalking. This his worst nightmare comes true, he’s fighting not alongside but against, his friend, his family Natasha Romanoff. Punching, kicking, weapons are involved, anything they can get their hands on is used against the other. He tries to fight it, tries to do everything in his power to prevent this from continuing. That this power Loki has over him can be beat. He can win. He has too. If he doesn’t, he’ll kill her.

It’s luck or an act of God when a metal clang reverberates through his ears and after what seems like years of fighting, he’s free. “Natasha.” He thinks he says but he’s not sure. The severe throbbing in his head is moving around his head like gel, slowly covering all areas of his brain and clouding his hearing. The last thing he sees is Natasha standing before him out of breathe, her fiery red hair glowing in the light and her fist coming straight at him.

The virus inside of his brain is gone, Loki is gone but he’s left with a wrath. A headache so bad, his vision is going in and out, his body feels as though he’s swaying and he can’t seem to focus on one thing for too long. Natasha saved him, “Cognitive recalibration… I hit you really hard in the head.” She explains with a smirk.

Clint’s thankful, more than thankful, he’s indebted to her.

The redhead leaves him with well wishes and small kiss to his forehead, reminding him he’s not responsible for his actions while under Loki’s control. The moment the door closes behind her, the memories haunt him. Screams and pleas to live, Loki’s damned voice demanding orders. He closes his eyes, clenches his jaw and tries to fight the urge to scream. He killed innocent people without a second thought, he become a criminal.

A voice pulls him out of the darkness, Tony Stark’s voice. The genius who graduated M.I.T. at some insanely young age and is in the news every day for some crazy antic as Iron Man is standing before him. He met him earlier, before his brain was shaken and stirred. Stark referred to him as Fury’s underling when they met and shared a few sarcastic jokes. This time, Tony has no wise cracks or comedic tone, it’s conversation he doesn’t know to react to.

“Brought you these.” Tony says handing him a small plastic cup filled with water and two white pills. “Romanoff said she cracked you in the head.” He lets out a small sigh and sits on the chair near the bed. “How are you feeling, Barton?”

No nickname again. It’s just Barton. it feels respectful, the notorious playboy is actually treating him equal. “Like a broken toy.” Clint responds in a groggy voice.

“You good to keep going?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to keep going?”

“Of course.”

“Good. We need all hands on deck for this one.” Tony reaches out and rests his palm on Clint’s shoulder, there’s no weight to his touch as if Tony doesn’t want to invade his personal space. Clint meets his eyes, his head still pounding and vision starting to come back. “I’m glad you’re good, Clint.” Clint swears and maybe it’s the pain in his body that is convincing him of this but the next thing Tony does and says has to be imagined. “I’m sorry it took us so long to save you.” He whispers and lets a quick smile across his face.

He nods, brows furrowed and lips pressed tightly together. It’s the drugs, he tells himself or the splitting headache. The painkillers kicking in or the sedative they gave him wearing off. Tony didn’t mean it. Tony probably wasn’t even there. He imagined it… he has to of. It doesn’t make any sense.

It’s the first moment, Tony realized he cared more about Clint than he should have. His heart speed up when he found out Clint was saved and his heart broke at the sight of him strapped to a chair while Natasha takes him off a ledge. His emotions were on high and he wanted to soothe pain that was radiating off of the archer. If Clint was a machine this would be easier, a complete reboot, a new circuit board along with a fresh coat of was, he’d be as good as new but with a person, Tony was clueless. How do you fix a person? How do you fix a person you barely know? How would he even start? They don’t know one another and Tony’s record with people isn’t a highlight reel.

Clint discovers an odd feeling burrowing in his chest for Tony Stark during their battle of New York, their all hands on deck moment. The first time the Avengers are together in battle. It’s a terrifying moment but it told Clint that he cared more about him than he intended on.

A nuke originally sent to save the world from alien destruction was now humanity’s biggest threat. It was a selfless act, one Clint probably would have done if he had the resources too, a one way trip. Certain death with no way out. In a split second, Tony grabs the Nuke and guides it into the wormhole. He was gone. Tony Stark, Iron Man was both the victim and the savior.

“Clost it.” Clint head over the ear piece.

“What about Stark?’ He shouts.

Clint can’t get his emotions under control as he watches the scene play out.  A ear piercing, "No!” finds it’s way past his lips. Panic fills his body as the wormhole starts to close and Tony is nowhere to be found. Tony wasn’t flying back to earth, he wasn’t cheering or demanding a beer for his accomplishments, it’s silent. Blue eyes search for Tony’s shining gold and red armour, silently praying he’s safe.

By an act of God, Tony was back.

Clint can recount every detail, down to the last second while he stood helplessly on the roof of a building and watched as Tony plummeted to earth. His breath caught in his throat, his skin crawled and his blood ran cold. The grip he has on his bow tightens threatening to break it as he holds back the tears. He’s going to watch Tony die.

Tony’s lifeless body, the lack of movement, it sends shockwaves through his heart.

He wants to jump off the building. He wants to do something. His brain has came up with hundreds of scenarios of how he can help but they’d both fall to their death. The archer remains on the building shutting his eyes, unable to bare witness to the scene any longer, he waits. Waits for it to be over. Waiting for someone over the line to say Tony had died.

The crack of Tony’s suit hitting the ground never comes, there was no call from other team members, the coms were silent. Until he heard the roar of the Hulk followed by a loud crash, he opened his eyes and saw the Hulk placing Tony onto the ground. “Is Stark okay?’ He asks once Captain America and Thor surround Tony.

The sight is horrendous.

Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours.

"He’s fine!” Cap says in a rushed tone. Clint lets out a breathy chuckle, ripping out his ear piece and tossing it to the ground with a heavy sigh. Tears fall from his eyes as he struggles to catch his breath, Tony is safe. It’s a strange feeling nestled inside of Clint’s chest when he finally watches Tony rise to his feet and take a few unsteady steps, the Iron Man suit reflects the glimmer of the sun as he grips Captain America’s shoulder. He’s safe. He tells himself, he’s fine. Breathing and okay.

“Worried about me birdman?” Clint hears Tony’s ask over his discarded ear piece.

Clint lets out a quick breathe as he picks his ear piece up off the floor and puts it back on. “Just worried about who’s going to pick up the bill for dinner. I’m feeling like steak.” Clint tries to hide the agony in his voice, the knot formed in his throat is slowly starting to dissipate but the racing of his heart has yet to cease.

“Have you ever tried shawarma? There’s a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don’t know what it is, but I wanna try it.” Tony says in an all to happy voice for someone who just nearly died.

Clint laughs, using his free hand to wipe the tears the streak his face. “Ye-yeah. That sounds good, Tin man.”

[mojoflower]

Bodyswap in my various fandoms:  fic recs

Trust Fall by Stoney E, 144k.  Sterek.

Stiles is fairly certain that a case could be made for every bad thing in his life coming back to Peter Hale. This time it's pissing off a powerful witch, who retaliated by swapping Stiles and Derek a la Freaky Friday, because sure. That makes sense. Um, there are GPAs on the line, not to mention the whole thing where his dad wants to shoot Derek on sight. Except who he sees as Derek is actually Stiles, and Stiles did not sign up for filicide.  //  Great. Wait...does this mean he's the Alpha until they figure this out? Holy. Shit.  //  ****  //  Derek had stood in front of the bathroom mirror for a few minutes trying to control the panic as he saw himself as Stiles. As the loud mouthed human friend of the pack. He was going to kill Peter. He was going to kill the witch, then he was going to kill Peter. Maybe even resurrect him again just to kill him all over.  //  They were going to have to play this cool. They would have to stay calm and focused. Which is of course why the universe threw him into this situation with someone who physically couldn't be calm and focused.  //  Of course.

Note to self: I'm pretty sure this is the one I've been trying to remember where Stiles is always asking why no one wants him as a boyfriend, that he'd be such a good boyfriend:

“If people would just look, they'd see that how I am, who I am is pretty great, actually.” Stiles quietly cleared his throat past the lump that was forming and blinked rapidly. “I could be pretty great if someone would just let me be great for them.”

Fuzzy Logic by Sparseparsley E, 7k.  Sterek.

Derek and Stiles switch bodies because of wizard reasons and Stiles just wants to know what that awesome scent is.Derek and Stiles switch bodies because of wizard reasons and Stiles just wants to know what that awesome scent is.

Perfect.

Bonds of Power by Miya_Morana T, 18k.  Sterek.

When Stiles suddenly wakes up as an Alpha werewolf and finds out that Derek has become human, he reluctantly accepts Derek’s pack as his while they attempt to find out what exactly happened and how to reverse it. But as they all try to adjust to the situation, the Alpha Pack is breathing down their neck, and they’re going to need all the help they can get to face that threat.

Such a delicious premise! Felt like a kind of abrupt ending, I'd love to see this expanded, but definitely worth the read as is.

Might Not Make It Back by GotTheSilver E, 23k.   Sterek.

Bodyswap. Because of the fun.

Sweet.

copywritten (so don't copy me) by etben E, 13k.   Sterek.

"Oh, shit," Stiles says, and flops as far backward as their mysterious body-swap connection will let him.

hot and funny (omg, ALL THE BONERS)

I'll Walk with Your Wolf by iCheat no rating, 38k.   Sterek.

When Stiles wakes up in Peter's body, he's understandably freaked out. As Stiles starts connecting with the man's wolf, he can't help but reconsider his opinions of Peter. Needless to say, it's a rather confusing time for all involved.  //  For Day 5 of Steter Week, Body Swap.

Good story. I was most interested in Stiles' intrigtuiging ability to resist, and even direct both other Alphas (and so was Peter, lol) even when he was in werewolf Peter's body. I'd love to pursue that and see where Steter shake out in the Beacon Hills Pack, because they're kind of sneak Alphas, both of them. Stiles learned a lot about Peter by being in his body, because Peter's wolf stayed there (there's a funny scene, on the first full moon, where the Wolf tries to get his Mate and his Man together in one place and hunker down.)

Synchronicity by LadySlytherin E, 36k.  Drarry.

When Harry returns to Hogwarts to complete his final year of schooling, he does so with an unexpected new friend at his side - Draco Malfoy. An accident in potions leaves both boys in an unusual position, which leads to a friendly wager. The wager leads to revelations, realizations, and - in time - a happy resolution that no one was expecting. Well, almost no one...

Draco snorted. “As if that’s all of my personality.” He rolled his eyes. “Let me put it this way, Harry. You are, quite simply, not gay. And I am. Rather openly, since coming out to you and then everyone else. So unless you have some secret fashion sense and flamboyant urges you’ve been subduing, you won’t be able to manage this.” ... Harry huffed in annoyance. “You’re being ridiculous. Besides, I’m in your body, right? So the whole gay thing should come naturally. ... I think I’m feeling gayer already.”

Draco blinked several times, then said. “You’re a complete and utter twit. You cannot feel gayer simply because you’re in my body. My body isn’t gay, I am. ... If you’re feeling gayer, it’s got nothing to do with my body!” Draco snapped, moving closer to Harry in his fury. He itched to hex the other teen, but reminded himself sternly that doing so would only damage himself. “Especially as I don’t feel any less gay.”

“Are you saying my body is equally as gay as yours?” Harry frowned at that implication, not sure how he felt about it. “Because that’s ridiculous. I like girls.”

“I’m not saying anyone’s body is gay.” Draco pressed his fingers into his temples, trying to stave off the headache that was forming. “I’m saying I am gay, regardless of the switch. Therefore, you cannot possibly be gayer simply because you’re in my body right now. That’s patently ridiculous and more than your usual level of stupid.”

“Maybe you’re just so gay that it soaked into your cells.” Harry suggested, mostly because it was funny to watch Draco’s irritation twist his face into new expressions. “So now I’m stuck feeling all of the gay that’s surrounding me. Did you ever consider that? Because I think it’s a valid hypothesis.” Ignoring the way Draco had curled his hands into fists, he added. “In fact, I’m positive that’s what’s happening. I’ve woken up newly gay because of this whole switch and now I’ll have to explore just how gay I - which is to say, you - are.”

Draco snarled - literally snarled - before saying in a low, dangerous voice. “If you dare to pretend to be me, I swear I will convince everyone you are the biggest ponce to ever live simply by acting just as gay as I always do, while still pretending to be you. Don’t push me, Potter.”

My Only Hate by VivacissimoVoce M, 35k.   Drarry.

Harry has been cursed and now inhabits the wrong body. Draco Malfoy may be the only one who can help.

Hee, hee.

We're More Than Ordinary by digthewriter M, 13k.  Drarry.

After a freak accident, which was totally Potter's fault, Draco has to live as Potter for three days. It isn't a party for Harry, either.

Yellow Heart Emoji by HelloAfternoon E, 2.8k.  WIP.  Spideypool.

This had begun by accident at the zoo. Things exploded. People evacuated. Animals trumpeted and roared and bleated. Somewhere, Loki had giggled spectacularly.  //  Deadpool had thrown someone into the ape enclosure.  //  Peter had been thrown into the ape enclosure.

Ha! I love bodyswap, and this was delightful enough to make up for the fact that there is only one chapter. Go on, dive in, an unfinished fic won't kill ya: it's fun.

Displace by dontcareajot T, 10k, WIP.   Spideypool.

Peter thought he’d mentally prepared himself for… this. For seeing himself outside of himself. But it turns out he wasn’t prepared at all.  //  Wade evidently wasn’t prepared either. He looks Peter up and down, expression growing more and more incredulous. “What,” he says finally. “The fuck.”  //  (or, one of those body swap fics)

Aaaarrrgh, I love this. It's Peter's POV, and he's sweet, and reserving judgement, and kind of shocked at how much being Wade is actually physically painful, like, ALL THE TIME. And Wade is DELIGHTED to be Peter: to be young and pretty, but also, he's such a huge Spider-Man fanboy. And, just as they start sharing their lives and their thoughts and all that, ack, the story ends. Still worth reading, though. 4/?

Woke Up New by Zee (orphan_account) E, 22k.  Merthur.

Merlin and Arthur switch bodies; complications ensue.

Nice. The one where they switch, and Arthur figures out Merlin's magic because, oops, the magic stays in his body, and an angry Arthur accidentally levitates a chair. Also the one where Arthur starts to get off a little on being the servant and taking orders, and Merlin slowly wakes up to that.  [Dom/sub undertones.]

Buggre Alle This by Signe (oxoniensis) T, 12k.   Merthur.

Bodyswap.

"What now, then?" Merlin asks.  //  "Now, we sleep."  //  "Maybe we'll wake back up in our own bodies?" Merlin says hopefully.  //  "Yes, Merlin, that's what's going to happen. A powerful sorcerer has cast a spell over us, but it's just a harmless prank and it'll fizzle out in the night, and we'll wake up back to normal."

********

I love this author. You should also read "a tree and a bee and a flea, fiddle-dee-dee" (genderswap) here on AO3, and the fairy tale one where Merlin is the moon (which is only on LJ: The Prince and the Captured Moon).

And If You'll Come I’ll Take You Somewhere To Go by luninosity  T, 11k.  Cherik.

April Fools' Day mansion-fic. Which has to mean body-and-power-swap fic, right...?  //  “Yes,” Charles says, rather apologetically even though this can’t possibly be his fault, “you seem to be me. And I…well, I’m you. At the moment.”  //  “Charles,” Erik says, with what he considers quite remarkable patience under the circumstances, “how long is this going to last?”

Well, this was marvelous. Erik's POV, and he's a little ooc he's so utterly smitten, and his thoughts are something like Charles Charles so pretty Charles I'll protect him Charles Charles. It's kind of amazing he gets anything done, heh. And then they're switched, which turns out being rather more serious and unpleasant that you might guess, and there's some h/c, and some admissions, and some cuddling, and everything is lovely.

Amateur Theatrics by galaxysoup T, 27k.  Avengers.

In which Thor’s primary problem-solving method (a mighty blow from Mjolnir) fails to have the desired effect on a magical artifact, and his secondary method (a mightier blow from Mjolnir) proves to be actively disastrous.

Clint makes the absolute best Loki Daddy-uncle-brother-guardian-whatever. And kid!Loki is sweet as a pie. More or less.  [The bodyswap here, Bruce - Natasha, is pretty incidental.]

Being Dean Winchester by Anonymous E, 21k.  Destiel.

"You should show me some respect. I dragged you out of hell. I can throw you back in."  //  Who the fuck was this bitchy "warrior of God" doing talking to him like that? Fuck Cas-tee-el and his dumbass trench coat and abrasive motherfucking attitude.  //  Dean was done with this shit.  //  ***  //  Wherein a monster of the week steals the essence of Castiel's vessel, so he must use Dean, recently raised from hell, as a vessel instead.

Not technically a bodyswap so much as it is a bodyshare.  This is the one where Cas "assists" from inside Dean's head while he's with some girl, and then he lets Dean experience her viewpoint as well, and Dean notes that it's like Cas is fucking both of them... expertly, of course. It's pretty hot. Then they get to do it solo, later on. Nice.

Through Blind Men's Eyes by ladyblahblah E, 46k.  Spirk.

The obligatory Pon Farr story . . . with a bit of a twist.

absolutely gorgeous: sacrifice, angst, bodyswap (totally realistic, not at all intrusive), pon farr.... what more could a reader want?

[loki-hargreeves]

Loki Imagine, Illusions - Chapter 4

(chapter 3)

Your P.O.V.

A yawn caused me to wake up a little bit. I groaned tiredly and slowly opened my eyes. It was dim in the room. At first, I thought I was in my new apartment but I remembered everything quickly. Then I looked beside me, seeing a sleeping man there. Loki was sleeping deeply and he was holding onto my arm. My eyes widened and my breath hitched in my throat. He looked like he was sleeping well and I didn't want to wake him up.

''Shit'' I sighed and slowly began to pull my arm away from him. I managed to free myself without waking him up. Then I got on my feet, noticing how uncomfortable these jeans were after I had slept in them. Since Loki was still asleep, I decided to eat or watch TV. The second I opened the door, I noticed a disgusting smell in the air. I covered my nose and felt how my eyes stung. It was the dead body.

I nearly puked as I saw it on the same spot where we left him. The blood had dried down and his skin was dull. The smell was so bad, I couldn't even describe it. So I took a deep breath and then held it in. I lifted up the red carpet and dragged it onto his body. It was awful to do but I didn't want the smell to take over the entire house.

I was still sad that he was dead but I also realized that if he wouldn't have died, I would be dead. As I finished covering him up, I walked away from the corridor, searching for a kitchen. It didn't take me long to find a very bright and modern one. It was a little messy but I didn't mind. Hungrily, I opened the fridge and looked around. I ended up grabbing a leftover sandwich and then I walked to the living room I saw yesterday.

Curiosity woke up inside of me. I hadn't followed the news after the disaster in the city! So I grabbed the remote and turned on the huge television, changing to the news channel. It was nine am, which was the perfect time for morning news. I wasn't even surprised when I saw a video of the chitauri. It was shocking tho. I still couldn't believe it was real.

''..yesterday was a day of horror in New York. We were attacked by aliens and an Asgardian we know as Loki, Thor's brother. Although the heroes we know as the Avengers saved the city, there are no signs of Loki. According to the police he is armed and dangerous..'' The man explained to everyone watching very seriously. I rolled my eyes at his words. It was hard to believe that he man who slept beside me was dangerous. But I guess they were right.

''... He was last seen escaping the city with a woman we didn't recognize at first. New reports tell us that the woman is Y/N Miller, a local woman. Did she have something to do with the attack or is she a hostage?..'' Suddenly I was fully awake. I nearly dropped the cold sandwich as I stared at my photo on the damn news! First they showed a blurry picture of Loki carrying me on a flying platform. Then it changed to my passport picture, on display for thousands of people to see.

I turned off the television, not in the mood to deal with reality. I was in a dead man's house with Loki and we were both on the run! A shiver ran down my spine and I got up, deciding I should tell Loki. I made my way back and then saw my jacket on the floor. Loki was still sleeping but now he was shifting a lot. It's like he was struggling. Cold sweat appeared on his skin and he hummed something in his sleep.

''Loki'' I said his name and slowly walked closer to him. He didn't react to my voice. ''Loki, are you okay?'' I asked him a little louder. Then I touched his shoulder. It made him open his eyes widely and he gasped, staring at the ceiling quietly. I felt bad because he seemed so..scared. A few seconds later he sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the floor before he looked at me.

''Good morning'' He cleared his throat and looked around. I wanted to ask him about his dream but I didn't, afraid he'd get mad at me. ''I watched the news. The entire city is looking for us'' I told him casually but it still shocked me. I couldn't handle the fact that this was all real. The news just confirmed it to me and I felt strange, like this was all a lie.

''Well that's just lovely'' Loki chuckled sarcastically. I watched as he stood up and stretched his legs and arms a little bit. His hair was messy but it looked cute on him. He seemed less scary. ''Let's get prepared for the day. We should eat and drink and get ourselves washed'' He planned the day already. I nodded, not so excited to cross the body so I could shower but I had to.

''We can't stay here forever. Sooner or later someone will notice that the owner is dead and we can't risk getting caught this early now can we?'' Loki smirked as he looked at me. I was surprised that I didn't run away when he slept but I kinda liked this. I felt like I had a purpose in life as I ran away from my responsibilities. Loki made me feel alive. I had adrenaline in my veins and my heart was beating hard.

But it could be so wrong.

***

Only two hours later we were on the road again. Lucky us, I knew how to drive a car. We had showered, eaten food and taken a few water bottles with us. It's not like Loki needed them anyway. He knew what he was, he had super human strength. According to him so did I, but I hadn't learnt how to control my powers.

I even found a woman's leggings and a sweater so I stole the clothes and put them on. Loki was still in his green and black suit. His armor and headpiece vanished into thin air by just a movement of his hand. Then we took the man's car keys and his car so we could leave town. I shouldn't have done any of these things but I wanted to. By now, I couldn't care less about going to my unfurnished apartment and my new office job.

''Where should we go?'' I asked Loki as we got in the car. There was also a wallet here with cash. It was almost perfect. ''Far away, little one. If we want to return to Asgard, I must teach you a few things first. With out powers united, we can get back'' He let me know with passion in his voice. It was clear that Loki loved magic.

I got on the road and hoped that no one would recognize us. Loki could change our looks but he didn't, probably not feeling bothered. The car windows were darkened. I got on the main road and took a deep breath as I drove further and further away from the city. It was a little sad too. I didn't have any clue what my life would be from now on. Would I ever see my family again?

''Do you want to listen to music?'' I asked Loki, bothered by the silence in the car. It was quite unsettling to drive a dead man's car. But it was the only car we had for now. ''Why not?'' Loki shrugged. I turned on the radio and heard a classic song, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. So I added volume and attempted to relax.

''...Mama, life had just begun! But now I've gone and thrown it all away. Mama ooh-ooh...'' The song played smoothly in the car. I loved the song dearly but suddenly the words felt relatable. I chuckled as I listened to it closely. It was almost haunting.

After a couple minutes, Loki spoke up. ''This is quite different than what I'm used to'' He spoke about the music. ''Yeah but it's good'' I replied quickly. He just nodded and kept listening. That's how the long ride carried on. We listened to music and Loki seemed surprised each time the song changed. I guess Asgard didn't have rock stars. It was fun to see his reactions and thanks to the music, I forgot about how screwed we actually were.

The music ended and a woman's voice informed us it was time for the daily news. Immediately all the bad things flooded to my mind and I felt a knot in my stomach as I listened. ''The out of world terrorist Loki is still on the loose with Y/N, the woman he had taken with him. The police, the army and voluntary people are looking for this armed and dangerous man. His brother Thor has helped civilians to safety and he has been questioned about his brother-'' The news lady babbled on until it pissed Loki off. He shot the radio with magic and suddenly it was quiet again.

His magic startled me but I didn't drive off road, thank God. ''Why do they always drag Thor into everything?'' Loki groaned angrily. I wasn't sure how to respond to him and my mouth got dry. So I didn't answer him. The question was hanging in the air around us for so long until one of us would speak up.

***

'Welcome to New Jersey!' A huge sign said as I drove past it. We were finally out of New York. Loki used his magic to make us invisible for a little while. No one could see us crossing the borders so it was great. People would still think we were in New York, at least for a little while. We drove a little longer until we had to stop at a gas station. Loki didn't know how to fuel a car so I had to do it, anxious to step out of it.

I took a deep breath as Loki grabbed my wrist, this time more gently. Our eyes met and he used his magic, causing my skin to feel strange. I changed form into the same woman I was yesterday. It was probably a stranger Loki had seen on earth before. He let go of me and nodded, allowing me to get out of the car. I did and hurried to go and fill the tank.

As I stood there casually, a black Mustang pulled over next to me. I heard a window rolling down which filled me with anxiety and fear. That's when someone whistled loudly. I couldn't help but to turn around. I saw a man in the front seat. The sun wasn't even shining and he was wearing sunglasses. He had short blonde hair and sun burnt skin. ''Well well well, such a pretty gal shouldn't be alone'' He purred to me, making me feel disgusted.

I rolled my eyes and focused on fueling the car. The man didn't enjoy the little amount of attention I gave him. He stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut, making me flinch. ''You're a bad one, I like it'' He laughed dirtily, now being very close to me. I felt his nasty hand on my butt and I gasped. Loki noticed it too and he was about to open the door. ''Loki- No!'' I yelled, knowing there were cameras around here. Then I stepped away from the man who just touched my butt.

Loki didn't care about my warning at all. He stepped out of the car as well and got in between me and the damn pervert. I couldn't let him kill another human. So I grabbed Loki's arm and attempted to hold him back. ''Funny how I'm the bad one here although I know how to respect a woman..'' Loki growled angrily and pulled his arm away from me. I glanced at the man who had touched me and saw fear on him. He looked smaller and less tough. Loki didn't focus on me anymore and I turned back to my own self, probably scaring the man half way to death.

''I-I'm sorry'' He choked out an apology. ''I didn't know'' He added and I saw tears in his eyes. Loki clenched his jaw and grabbed the man's shirt, pulling him on his tippy toes. ''Loki, please don't kill him! We have to go'' I begged and stepped on his right side, putting my hands on his strong arm. Loki looked like he could kill but then he glanced at me. His anger faded a little bit, making his irises smaller.

''Please'' I whispered and then gulped, knowing it was risky to interrupt his fight. Loki groaned and pushed the man away. ''Fine'' He sighed, sounding angry. He glared at me and then groaned, finally getting back in the car. ''I'm sorry'' The man cried and hurried back into his own car. I watched as he drove away as fast as he possibly could, leaving smoke after him. He wasn't the only one in hurry. I paid for the gas and returned to the driver's seat, starting the roaring engine and I drove away from the gas station.

Loki was really pissed. It scared me and it bothered my focus. I tried to keep my eyes on the road and read the signs as well. But I thought about Loki. He was really protective over me, most likely because of my powers but still. I had never experienced this before. I'm sure he would've killed the man if I wouldn't have stopped him.

About half an hour later, I parked the car in the forest. Loki had told me to turn to our right to a forest road. We reached a camping site that was empty. Now the sky had began to turn darker. After all, we had been driving all day long. I was still tense after the gas station situation.

Loki and I got out of the car. It felt nice to stand after sitting down for hours. As Loki did his own things, I opened a water bottle and drank a few sips, craving water. ''You shouldn't have stopped me Y/N. He didn't deserve mercy'' Loki decided to speak about what happened. ''But he didn't deserve death, Loki. We got away easily. Besides, I-I'm fine'' I lied but I didn't want him to think about how weak I was or something.

Once again he narrowed his eyes as he looked at me and I figured he read my thoughts. It was annoying because I couldn't lie to this man. It made things truly difficult. ''Why are you lying, Y/N? He fucking touched you without permission!'' He wanted to know and he raised his voice. Loki knew how he made me tell the truth as well. I was leaning against the car and suddenly he stood in front of me. I couldn't escape this situation.

''I don't want to talk about it'' I mumbled shyly and faced the ground. ''Maybe after I've taught you some great magic, we can hunt down the man and you can punish him yourself'' Loki suggested seriously and I just nodded. The wind was cool, making the tall trees sway a little bit. It was relaxing to be in the forest after all that chaos.

''Let's begin then, shall we?'' Loki changed the topic and stepped a few steps back. I looked at him and saw excitement written on his entire body. I nodded happily and took a deep breath. This was something I had waited for ever since he proved me wrong. I truly had powers! It was such an exciting thought and it filled me with curiosity and enthusiasm.

''Before I teach you anything, I want to ask you something'' Loki confessed and studied my expressions. I raised my eyebrows and nodded, a little jittery about whatever he wanted to know. ''Have you ever experienced inexplicable things in life?'' Loki proposed me his question. It hit my head hard. I gave it a thought and a few things popped up immediately. Moments in my life I still thought about to this day.

A smile appeared on his face as I thought. ''Ooh, I like that. It's the expression of realization. Come on, tell me'' He encouraged me with a deep and raspy voice. My heart skipped a beat and I felt dumb for not thinking about this earlier. ''Well there's a few things. The first one has to be the time I was fifteen. I was being picked on at school by this older boy. He crossed the lines and I felt angrier than ever before in my life. He was bigger than me but that day I managed to press him against the wall, lifting him by his shirt'' I admitted to Loki and felt the same anger burning in my veins to this day.

''He didn't pick on me ever again. Usually my brother stood up for me but he had left school by that so I was alone'' I added more quietly. ''I'm glad you defended yourself. Anything else you remember?'' Loki wanted to know more. I chuckled as I remembered another strange situation in my life.

''My only ex-boyfriend Dylan was a total asshole. He was two-timing me and the only purpose for our relationship was sex, at least for him. I found out that I meant nothing to me and..that was my first heartbreak. I was convinced I was dreaming but now that I think about it, I'm not so sure..'' I swallowed hard, getting chills as I reminisced about it.

''Go on, dear'' Loki whispered, suddenly really close to me. I looked him straight in the eye. ''I had been crying for a long time. Back then, I thought I fell asleep from crying and that this was a dream. I was in my room and suddenly Dylan was there too. It was ghost like. It wasn't actually him. It was more like a copy. I attempted to hit him out of anger since he ignored me completely but he vanished into a purple light and then I was alone'' I  let Loki know something no one else knew. It felt good to talk about because it was one of the most realistic dreams I had ever had. I guess it wasn't a dream after all.

''Was it a little like this?'' Loki asked me. The next second I was surrounded by countless of versions of him. I gasped and looked around me, almost overwhelmed by the amount of Lokis I saw. My gut twisted but I was also stunned. So I tried to touch one of them, causing it to turn into a greenish yellow light and it vanished. My heart started beating harder in my chest. All the other versions faded out. I looked at the Loki I thought was real but he vanished too. Did he leave me alone?!

' 'Boo!''  Loki whispered into my ear from behind, making me squeal. I turned around, nearly stumbling in process but he caught onto my hands and he pulled me on my feet. I was really close to him so I cleared my throat and stepped back. ''This will be a joy, little one. You're mesmerized by illusions and soon you will be creating them''

(Chapter 5)

[jeichanhaka]

The Robbed That Smiles

Chapter Twelve

“You are out of line.” Thor growled at Stark, as Loki and Lokki teleported away. “What happened to you and your wife two years ago is no excuse to treat my family like that.” He strode forward, reaching Stark in three strides and grabbed the inventor by the shirt. “Sis has nothing to do with what happened to your daughter, and she obviously didn’t know….”

“About Morgan dying? I caught that.” Stark replied, flinching as he said his daughter’s name, his anger diminished. Replaced instead with numbness and a calmer rage, one as quiet as the blood smearing his palm. “I also caught Miss Nippy dropping the name of the person who decimated her universe. Thanos.”

Confusion spread over Thor, his outrage tempered by it. His grip on Stark’s shirt lessened. “What?” He muttered, staring at the other man. It took a moment for what the other said and its implication to reach through his bewilderment. “Don’t tell me all that was just a ploy to get Sis to divulge a name….” Beside them, Natasha and Barton held similar stares of disbelief, directed at Stark.

“Not exactly.” Stark replied and pulled his shirt from the thunder god’s grip, after which he looked over his wounded palm. “I am fucking pissed off. And I meant what I said. She’s to stay the hell out of my building.” His demeanor shifted from relatively calm to livid, recalling the emotions that had flooded him when he heard Lokki mention Morgan by name. For the shortest of short moments, he thought he’d get the chance to see his daughter. That she was alive in the goddess’ parallel universe and, with his parallel-world self dead, without a father.

The idea broke down immediately once he considered how selfish it was (his brain had not immediately registered what Lokki had said about Pepper in her universe), he couldn’t take this other Morgan from her mother. It was further devastated when Lokki revealed that the Morgan of her universe was dead. Killed by Thanos using the Infinity Stones. That was a blow, and delivered in such a direct tone. A tone he only now realized was that way from shock and not indifference.

“I don’t believe you.” Thor shook his head, unsure what angered him more: Stark’s outburst being real or a ploy. “Did...did my brother have anything to do with this….”

Stark scowled at the thunder god. “No. My outburst wasn’t fake and I’m close to having another at your obtuseness. Do you want me to tell you to get out as well?” He bristled when Thor glowered back and growled that the inventor didn’t have the power to kick him out. Barton and Natasha stepped between the two of them before Stark could retort and challenge the god.

“Enough. Alright?”

“Jeez…”

“Fine. But you better apologize to Sis. Regardless of things.” Demanded Thor. “Kicking her out is bad enough. Calling her creature like that is worse.” His eyes narrowed recalling his brother’s sensitivity at being Jotunn, a race that many Asgardians viewed as hardly more than beasts. His brother’s female double likely had similar, if not the same sensitivities.

Stark grimaced and clenched his jaw while cupping his injured hand with his uninjured one. After a moment he nodded. “Fine. That was a bit out of line. I’ll apologize later.” His face hardened when Thor started to demand he apologize right away. “Not going to happen.”

“Why not?!”

“Aside from me still wanting to pummel Miss Nippy? There’s no time.” The inventor snapped while opening the door to his workshop and collecting things for bandaging his hand from a first-aid kit on one of the shelves. Thor and the other Avengers followed, the Asgardian from anger and the others from caution. “Barton and Barnes arrived this morning with an agent Morfield. The same one that tried capturing you and Strange. And who is, according to Barnes, an ex-Hydra member. One that helped keep him captive and brainwashed.”

“What?” Thor stared at Stark, recognizing the name of the terrorist organization from helping his fellow Avengers expose and fight them a few times since coming to Earth. The group was very like its namesake, sprouting new ‘heads’ after every defeat. “I thought SHIELD and this planet’s governments exposed the remaining members of Hydra after they kidnapped….” He stopped and drew back, biting down on his tongue, while Stark tensed. The inventor’s back was to the thunder god, so Thor couldn’t see his expression. He felt it, though, in the uncomfortable silence that descended upon the room, and he quietly chastised himself. Behind him, Natasha swore and Barton quietly glowered at the thunder god’s back. “I’m...sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up….”

He faltered, the silence returning heavier than before.

“Then stop talking.” Stark growled, clenching a fist as Thor’s words brought forth excruciating memories. Memories that were two years old, but still painful. Anguishing.

Two years prior, in some last-ditch attempt to thwart the Avengers and SHIELD, a handful of Hydra members, who had managed to evade capture, kidnapped the children of various SHIELD members. A two month old Morgan Stark had been among those taken. And despite the beat down he and his fellow Avengers delivered on Hydra, it’d come too late to save Stark’s daughter. In their vindictiveness, the Hydra agents had experimented on the kidnapped children, without caring about results or the survival of their hostages. Morgan had been among the casualties.

“...as I was saying, Barnes identified agent Morfield as Hydra, and after a search into SHIELD’s files, I found evidence to support that.” Stark continued, swallowing back all his thoughts and emotions, except for those concerning the present situation. “Morfield was part of Hydra and only escaped prosecution because he left a year before they tried to take over and provided testimony against many of his former colleagues.”

Picking up on the emphasis Stark put on the word ‘former,’ Natasha raised an eyebrow and said. “His allegiance switch wasn’t real, then.”

“That is tricky to ascertain. According to SHIELD’s files, Morfield repeatedly claimed to have no real allegiance to Hydra and only worked for them for monetary reasons. Once they started refusing his pay raise requests, he left.”

“And yet this greedy bastard was given a position in the government’s new security department? The ‘Mediation and Evasive Defenses’ department?” Barton asked, a sour look on his face. Stark held a similar expression. “What the hell were the idiots who hired him thinking?!”

“That is the million dollar question. That and figuring out the extent of Morfield’s role in the attack on the New York Sanctum. If he knows this Mordo fellow….”

“He does.” Piped Barton. “When Barnes and I confronted him, there was a wizard in the back seat of his car who matched the description Strange gave of his former colleague. He portaled away before we could secure him.”

“Then we need to have Morfield tell us where to find the man. As well as spill whatever his and Hydra’s plans are.” Stark said as he finished bandaging his injured hand and flexed his fingers, clenching his teeth when the burning sensation in his palm flared up. Strengthened anew. He scowled.

~0~

Glancing around and calmly appreciating his surroundings, the decor of the Hong Kong Sanctum barely changed from the last time he was there, Stephen Strange contemplated the space for a moment. This Sanctum was the one Mordo had portalled from, as evidenced by the lingering traces the man’s magic had left and the statement of another wizard Mordo had coerced into allowing access.

According to the coerced wizard, Mordo had threatened to send the young man to a place much more harrowing than any place the man could imagine and then opened a portal. Where the portal led was unknown though as one of the people with Mordo had proceeded to coerce the young wizard in a more physical manner. Breaking the fellow’s nose and wrist, taking advantage of the young wizard’s under-developed magic. Although Strange suspected that Mordo may have dampened the younger man’s magic somehow.

“I...I should’ve defended this Sanctum better.” The young wizard stammered, standing in the doorway leading towards the Sanctum’s artifact room; it was in that room that the magic treasures given to the Hong Kong Sanctum to protect were kept. It was also the first room Strange had checked after Mordo’s attack.

Strange dismissed the young man’s words with a shake of his head and a hand gesture. His first thought was to agree with the other wizard’s harsh self-criticism, but refrained from voicing it. The young wizard was talented and young, still in his twenties. And if anyone was at fault, it was the Sanctum wizards that had left him to watch the place unaided. “Nothing was taken or destroyed here. Just make sure you do better next time.”

The younger wizard frowned, muttering something self-derisive, before leaving. Strange’s lack of anger and criticism of the man having had an opposite than intended effect.

“It’s...odd.” A cronish woman approached Strange, her asian and wizened features bestowing on her an air of wisdom. The sort that comes with age and experience, both of which the woman had a plethora from her eight decades of life. “He took nothing. And apart from the injuries his partner gave young Ray, harmed no one here.”

“Mordo knows the danger destroying the Sanctums can cause.” Replied Strange, his manner and voice calm, while inside his emotions and thoughts raged. He had no certainty what his ex-colleague would do or not, and he’d half expected to see the Hong Kong Sanctum ransacked. That it was left virtually unscathed, relieved him. It meant whatever Mordo’s plan was, it didn’t include earth’s destruction.

“Why attack the New York Sanctum then? He wrecked the place, didn’t he?”

“That he did.” Strange nodded, frowning. The damage Mordo had caused the New York Sanctum wasn’t nearly the same degree as Caecilius had, and was already mostly repaired. More damage was done to his and Wong’s egos through how Mordo managed to decimate their security measures. Including Strange’s Sanctuary spell. “But I wager he wasn’t planning on doing so. It was simply the only way he could escape with Sanctuary in effect.” He paused for a moment, thinking. If Mordo had wanted to cause more damage he could have, and he could’ve killed Wong. Aside from the damage to the building, the only major thing the ex-Sanctum wizard did was portal away Rogers and a handful of soldiers. ‘Was Mordo’s goal really just to deliver Miss Lokki a message as Loki implied? If so...how does he even know about her?’

“Ms. Lan, could you….” He started to ask, addressing the wizened woman beside him, only to be interrupted by the young wizard running back into the room. The young man holding something securely in his arms and looking bewildered. “What is it, Ray? What…” He went quiet, recognizing what was in the other’s hands.

“I...Doctor Strange, I don’t know how it got here, but this was…” Ray muttered handing over what he held, a massive volume of archaic text.

“The Og Infinium.” Strange gazed over the volume’s cover, curious and alarmed. He had secured the forbidden tome at the Kamar-Taj last week, not long after Lokki’s arrival and his decision to house her at the Sanctum. By all accounts, it should have still been there, protected under layers and layers of magic. “Where was….”

Before he even got his question out, the volume opened of its own accord to a page filled with sanskrit text and an image of the book itself. In the image it lay on a reading pedestal much like one of the ones in the Hong Kong library. The text accompanying it was more detailed, answering Strange’s unfinished question.

Strange raised an eyebrow, reacting only slightly to the book opening on its own. He had after all experienced the occurrence once before, when he’d first discovered it amid the Ancient One’s collection. Back then he’d been muttering a similarly simple question, and it had opened on its own to the answer. “Interesting. Is that how this tome works?” He said while closing it, seconds later the book opened again on its own, to a page that held but a single word as answer.

~0~

“You’re curious, I presume.”

Reclining on a sofa next to the window of a deceptively small-sized apartment, his hideout away from his brother’s and the Avengers prying eyes, Loki glanced at his female doppelganger. The goddess stood on the other side of the room next to a bookshelf, absently trailing her fingers over the spines of various Midgardian volumes. Having been reticent since the mischief god brought her here rather than one of Strange’s Sanctums, Lokki’s statement drew a curious glance from the male Jotunn.

“I’ve been called worse.” Loki replied and returned to the book he’d been perusing, his demeanor showing nothing but a benign indifference. “But this book is worth the curiosity. It’s the closest thing to truly original Midgardian mythology, one not based on alien gods visiting the planet. Intriguing how violent and inventive they can be.”

Glancing over at the god and his book, Lokki rolled her eyes before plucking out a random volume from the shelf. She then sat down on a softly cushioned armchair situated an end table length away from the sofa. “Many Midgardians will not appreciate you calling that book ‘mythology.’” She frowned before opening her book, and pretending to peruse its pages. Her statement earned her an eyeroll and frown from Loki identical to hers. He refrained from voicing his retort and just continued reading, or feigning to, having already read the black-cover book before.

The two of them remained like that for a moment, waging a quiet battle of wills with the other. 

“Fine, I am curious about….”

“...I was married to my universe’s Thor, if that interests you.”

Both broke the silence within seconds of the other, the time difference minuscule.

“I am NOT at all interested in that tidbit.” Loki pulled a face, scowling at Lokki. His expression shifted when he noticed the bemusement on the goddess’ face. It was subtle and he studied it, placing down his book on the windowsill. After a moment the uncomfortable scowl returned to his face. Despite his quiet wish that his doppelganger was pulling a fast one on him, he realized she was telling the truth. Her bemusement came solely from his reaction to it.

“The Allfather arranged it. It was over in less than three centuries, though.” Lokki continued, watching her male counterpart’s discomfort with a smile. It grew wider when she caught hints of Loki using illusion magic to block out her words. “...It was all political nonsense to appease Vanaheim, anyway.” She finished with a shrug, and returned to her book.

“Appease Vanaheim…?” Loki muttered, scrutinizing his doppelganger with full intrigue behind an illusionary mask of indifference. “How would yours and bro...such an union appease Vanaheim? I’d have figured it’d be Jotun…”

“Jotunheim is gone. Destroyed centuries back in my universe.” The goddess interrupted, the bemusement faded from her lips and eyes. “I was being literal when I introduced myself as the last Jotunn. The Allfather destroyed it soon after he denounced and banished me.”

“Odin...what?” Loki dropped his illusionary stoicism, and gaped at Lokki. His surprise increasing drastically when he saw zero sign of the other lying. “Why the bloody hell would he….” The mischief god shook his head, disbelieving what the other said despite the truth in it. “...Father was too good and peace-preferring to….” He frowned. “Even if Jotunheim attacked, he wouldn’t have completely destroyed it. I….”

“...believe what you want.” Spat Lokki, leaning back in her chair and glowering at the mischief god. “I just assumed you’d want to be prepared for your next peeks into my memories. Being blindsided isn’t fun.” Switching her position on the cushioned armchair so that her legs hung over one of its arms and her upper body reclined comfortably against the other. “I’m famished.” She continued after a moment, one of her arms pillowed under her head. “Got anything to eat in this cupboard of a hovel?”

The mischief god just flashed his doppelganger a look, still frowning from her earlier revelation and even more from the insult to his hideaway. Not much larger than his room at Stark’s tower, the apartment was what the Midgardians called a studio, meaning everything aside from the bathroom and a closet was one open room. It being just a hideaway for himself, Loki had never been bothered by the limited space or the lack of appealing decor. There were bookshelves with enough volumes to occupy him for weeks and comfortable furniture, plus it was shielded against any form of surveillance. Even Heimdal.

“Unfortunately, this cupboard is closed. There are plenty of food shops and restaurants though, ten blocks east from here.” The god replied with a dry affect, gesturing towards the west. “I have excellent rapport with all the owners and they certainly will be delighted to give you anything you want if you mention me.”

“....uh huh.” Lokki just gave the god a ‘are you serious’ stare identical to the look he’d given her.

“You don’t believe me?” Loki asked in an affronted manner, a hint of a smile in his voice. His amusement increased when his doppelganger simply scowled in response and left her seat. Moments later she started walking towards the door, and his eyes widened and mouth twitched wondering if Lokki was falling for his lie.

All his barely hidden mirth shifted to confusion when his doppelganger entered the bathroom instead. Almost as suddenly, his bewilderment shifted into abashment and sheepish remorse when he heard her vomiting. Until that sound hit him, Lokki’s pregnancy had slipped his mind.

“Bloody hell.” Loki muttered under his breath, covering part of his face with his hand in a contrite gesture. In his automatic desire to retaliate against his doppelganger’s insult, he had tried to trick her into walking to shops that didn’t exist. Not in the direction he said, or the distance. Rather than be east and ten blocks away, the closest eatery that still served him was eighteen blocks north. Not exactly feasible for the pregnant Jotunn to walk without magic, and especially not with how risky her condition was. He stood up and headed towards the bathroom, knocking on the door after the sounds of vomiting stopped. “Selfie, what would you like to eat?”

Lokki muttered inaudibly behind the door, most of what could be heard garbled to the point of nonsense. The mischief god simply waited patiently outside the bathroom door, casting an illusion spell over the room to drown away all sounds that were not Lokki talking. A small gesture to protect his doppelganger’s privacy, while he waited. Not long after Lokki finished up and exited, muttering as she did so. “I said, did you really want me to answer that?” The goddess stopped just a step into the hall, cocking an eyebrow at Loki standing just a few steps away.

“Well? What would you like to….”

“Did you really need to stand just outside the door?” Lokki asked, grimacing at her male doppelganger and frowning even heavier when he shrugged in response. The pair just stood there waiting for the other to respond for a few moments, neither keen to be the first to speak and both viewing it as a personal challenge to stay silent the longest.

Rolling her eyes and sighing, Lokki walked back to the armchair she’d vacated, still not saying a word. Behind her, Loki similarly shrugged, but unlike his female doppelganger, didn’t return to his sofa. Instead he headed out, portaling away without a word.

~0~

The Arboretum was quiet, its flora spanning the whole area, although only a few of the plants were real. Even fewer were natural. The majority genetically engineered to thrive in the artificial atmosphere of the ship or to simply appear so. An illusion of science, and one that garnered a frown from an imposing figure stepping through the room.

Clad head to foot in armor made from a flexible textile material that was stronger and more durable than it looked. Dark gray, except for a few swatches of silver threaded through the hems. And on the clasps. On his head was a similarly constructed helmet, made from the same material and covering most of his face - only part of his mouth and a slit over his eyes were uncovered. Allowing only a small swath of his mauve skin to be visible, skin that was heavily scarred.

“Either she’s gotten lazy or she’s not here.” He muttered and glanced around, searching the quiet for some life beyond the greenery. There was none. No sign of anyone residing there or visiting. Nothing but the plants. The being scowled and took something from a satchel on his armor. Mangled with a few wires poking out and the mesh covering over the speaker broken off seventy-five percent of the way, it was a com device. One that, when fixed up, would match any of those the Avengers carried.

Hidden in the library along with Nar the bear librarian, Rogers watched the intruder nosing around on a surveillance camera. He stiffened when he noticed the com device, and instinctively reached for his own when the titan seemed about to try transmitting. Although Fen claimed that his com’s receiver was broken, making it unable to receive a message that would alert the intruder, Rogers felt wary. The device the being held was identical to those made by Stark, albeit damaged nearly to the point of irreparability.

It drove home what Lokki had said about her universe, that they, the Avengers, were dead. And that this stranger from the other ship, who he assumed was the ‘Thanos’ the android Fen had mentioned, had the com infuriated Rogers. It took mustering all the self control he had to refrain from lunging at the intruder and taking back the com.

‘Don’t even think about attacking. You’ll be killed.’ A voice whispered in his head, startling him just short of making him gasp. Biting harshly down on his tongue, Rogers managed not to make a noise as he held in his shock. The voice speaking to him the same voice as the man who’d portalled him from the Sanctum.

‘How the...how are you speaking to me?’ Rogers spoke in his thoughts, assuming that if he could hear the voice then the man who the voice belonged to could hear him back. ‘And why send me here?’

‘While I can sense your disdain, I cannot actually read your thoughts. This spell is limited.’ Mordo continued, his voice echoing in the Avenger’s thoughts. ‘Assuming you’re wondering why I sent you to Lady Lokki’s universe, my answer’s simple. I want you to uncover the truth.’

‘What? The truth about what? Why would I even consider helping….’ Rogers ground his teeth, focusing on the voice even as his gaze followed the titan’s moves.

‘Again I sense your hostility, and...confusion…. The truth isn’t for my benefit, though. It is for humanity’s and all sentient life.’ The wizard explained, the sound of his voice becoming distant and more echoey, as though reverberating through a tunnel. ‘Find out what actually happened in that universe. Do that and I’ll open a portal on the other side of the rift.’

Mordo’s voice left after that, the wizard not bothering to wait for Rogers’ reaction. Not even to gauge the man’s emotions.

Rogers grimaced and made an exasperated noise, akin to a sigh and mumbled grunt. His irritation vanished immediately after when he heard footsteps approaching and finally noticed

that the being he’d been watching over the surveillance cameras had moved completely out of view.