Over the Love – Florence and the Machine

Chapter Eleven

Loki

Love was such a useless emotion. It clouded judgment and made one weak. What was the point in putting one's needs before your own? In the end, they would only betray you. It was such a futile thing, and yet I could not shake the feeling of loss I felt.

She had returned the soldier. Of course, she would. He was familiar to her. I had had her within my grasp for only a fleeting moment. But it would not be in vain, for I had come here with the intent of claiming her.

She would be mine.

"I have a mission for you, since Thanos has yet to rear his ugly head." I and the heroes had been called into the common area only a few moments before. Fury stood before us, much more relaxed than he had been in some time. The return of his daughter had eased his troubled mind and heart, and yet I had received no ounce of gratitude.

Typical.

"It is a simple mission but we need massive firepower. Shiloh, you're up. You'll be with Rogers and Barton-"

"Are you sure that is a wise idea? Letting her out in the open so soon?" I couldn't fight the smug grin as I felt the soldier glaring at me. If looks could kill…, "She is still in danger and she posed no threat to Thanos the first time he captured her."

"I went willingly! I knew if I didn't then I would hurt the team." Ah, her anger. At least she still felt something towards me.

"I volunteer to go in her place, sir. I shall prove my mettle." Chaos erupted around me as the heroes pleaded for Fury to not consider my offer. I noticed that the soldier stayed silent, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Let him go." Stunned silence filled the room as they all looked to their leader, "I agree with him, Shiloh still isn't safe. He can go in her place and if he tries anything funny, we won't hesitate to take action."

"So be it, you all leave in two hours." Fury gave a curt nod before striding from the room. Once he was gone, all eyes fell on me. My grin only grew wider as I cast a glance in Shiloh's direction and winked. She recoiled before grabbing the soldier's arm and dragging him from the room.

It did not matter how quickly she turned away, for I had seen the red tint of her cheeks. She may have chosen the soldier for the time being, but that had been merely a battle lost. The war still raged on.

To say that I preferred my Asgardian garments was an understatement. I did not quite understand how the members of SHIELD could such restricting garments but I could only wear what was issued to me. It was bothersome.

I was first to arrive at the jet we would be traveling in. The details of the mission had not been disclosed to me, as I was not to be trusted, but I knew that we were destroying something. It was simple, as Fury had stated, but simple situations could become complex in a just a few moments.

"Let's go," The soldier and the archer moved past me and boarded the jet, both acting as though I had not been standing there. With a sigh I followed after them and we were off.

Once we were up in air, the soldier gave us our orders. I was to destroy a fleet of missiles without causing an extensive amount of damage. The archer would offer air support if I was attacked and Rogers would guide me to each missile via radio.

"And Loki?" I cast a long look at him, waiting for the warning against betrayal and a death threat, "Thank you, for taking her place, I didn't want her out in the field. Not yet."

It was surprising but it would be dishonorable of me to not accept his thanks. Frigga had taught me better than that, "You're very welcome, Captain."

"You care about her, don't you?" His words startled me. Was I truly so obvious?

"It does not matter, she chose you, did she not?" I ground out, growing more agitated with each passing second.

"Yes, she did."

I wanted to slap the smile off of his face but we had reached our destination and the archer was ordering us to grab parachutes. The soldier dropped out of the aircraft first and I followed close behind him. As we descended to the ground, I prepared myself. Landing by the first missile, I made short work of it before moving on. Above me, the archer flew in a circle, watching for any adversaries.

We moved quickly through the field, only stopping to destroy missile after missile. By the fourth one, someone had noticed we were there and we fell to the ground to avoid the gunfire. Overhead, the archer opened fire, effectively clearing a path for us. Running, I knew I would not be able to contain the damage I caused if I was trying to defend myself as well.

Filling my power flowing through me, I launched several blasts of energy at the remaining missiles. I could hear the soldier fighting behind me, covering me. Flames erupted and spread as the last missile set off a chain reaction. Destruction and chaos surrounded us as I turned my attention to the final missile.

"Loki! Watch out!" I turned and my eyes widened as I looked down the barrel of a gun. The shot fired and I managed to phase quickly enough to avoid the bullet. Racing to the final missile, I prepared to destroy it but we forced to stop in my path when I realized the soldier was right in the line of danger. Surely he could not withstand the amount of shrapnel and debris. Clenching my teeth, I knew I had to make a choice.

If he died, there would be nothing keeping me from Shiloh.

Yet he had saved my life just moments before, even with the knowledge that I could possibly be in love with the same woman as him. I surely would have fallen if not for his warning, I owed him. Frowning, I thought of honor and what the right to do was. But the gain was worth so much more, and my choice was clear: Shiloh or Captain Steve Rogers?

Raising my hands, I offered no warning as I destroyed the final missile.

I have done many things in my long life. There have been honorable things and there have been dishonorable things. With me, the bad always outweighed the bad. I was the Lord of Mischief, after all. It simply a part of who I was. Base things such as guilt, shame, and remorse meant nothing to me. They were for mortals. My conscience could never be cleaner. I had no regrets of anything I'd ever done.

How could I have let myself do this? I was in full control but I felt so out of control. The choice should have been easy; I knew what I would always do. I would do whatever it took to get ahead, to claim my right to rule. It was who I am. This…this is not who I am.

I saved his life. I saved the soldier's life at a great cost to mine.

"He's losing too much blood! Where's Bruce?! He needs medical attention."

"What happened?"

"He saved Steve, Tash. And he's dying because of it."

I had seen the brokenness in her eyes before. I could not allow myself to be the cause of it, not again.

"Oh my god! Loki!"

"Shiloh, get back. Steve, get her out of here!"

"No! Let me see him! Let me go see him! Steve, let me go!"

How could I have allowed myself to fall in love? Love had seemed so trivial to me, because who could love such a filthy, evil being such as myself? It did not matter, I cannot change what is. No matter how much I may want to.

"Loki, you've gotta wake up. Please, Loki, for me. Wake up for me."

Iloveheriloveheriloveheriloveheriloveheriloveher

I love her.

a/n: review.