A figure shoots out in front of him, wisps of purple magic curling at their feet, the feet that rest within armored boots that climb up to slender knees, covered in tanned skin. Honey colored hair, hair so much like sunshine brushing against him for the very first time, kisses the tops of her slim shoulders, ivy armor covering every inch of her, her green dress billowing in the wind, dots of crimson blood dripping down its silky surface.
Crimson, like her lips, lips that used to kiss him with all the fervor of a secret lover, giggling in shadowed corridors as he pressed closer to her.
Crimson, like the blush across her cheeks when he smiled at her, laughing at one of her ill-timed jokes that she learned from him, her eyes alight with glee.
Crimson, like the suppressed anger upon her face when he'd refuse her, or even the disappointed pout in her eyes when she turned away to leave.
Crimson, because the deadly blade of his staff is lodged just above her middle, her back hunched over it as if to protect her gaping wound, and the choking sounds that bubble up from her throat are made even worse by the blood that trickles from the corner of her mouth, glistening as it makes a trail down her chin.
Thanos twists the staff, a sickening crack sounding as the tip of the blade breaks off into her chest, and he throws it to the ground, an evil smile upon his face as he turns to finish off Clint, who's nearly free of his mystifying bonds.
Loki can barely feel the beat of his heart, or the rush of his blood, or the sound of his breathing, because all he knows is Amora.
Amora, as she tumbles to the ground, limply falling onto jagged rocks that could do her no more harm than what's already been done. Amora, as Loki scrambles over to her, carefully lifting her into his arms as he pulls her close, shaking his head with sorrow, the deep red of his eyes fading as her skin warms him.
Loki has never hated books so much as in that moment, the front cover of one shielding her face from his curious gaze. He could twist and turn all he wanted, but to no avail. Her face would forever remain a mystery, framed by golden hair that outshone any sunrise he's ever known, her tawny skin bright in the dim candlelight of the royal library.
He could be snobby, like Thor, and demand that she leave, or he could be a gentleman, like he knows he is, and let her stay, even if only for a glance at her face. As if reading his mind, she looks up, a finger on the page, and Loki can't quite find the gentlemanly will to avert his gaze, and so he stares, dumbstruck, at this girl, whose upturned lips touch his heart in a way nothing else ever could.
Her eyes, so much like the deep waters surrounding Asgard, are as clear as the thoughts behind them, and he finds himself smiling, her rosy cheeks glowing at his attention. Her light eyelashes kiss the tops of her cheeks when she looks down, shyly trying to distract herself with her book, but Loki's crooked smile catches her attention as he leans over across the small table, his green eyes shining.
"I'm Loki. And you are?" She glances up at him and blushes even harder, wrapping a stray strand of blonde curls around her finger as he watches, mesmerized.
"Amora, my Prince. My name is Amora," she murmurs lowly, her youthful smile making his own widen, and for the first time since Loki can remember, he thinks that he's found a friend in the girl innocently sneaking glances at him from where she sits, his heart picking up speed as she giggles at him, the melody of it etched into his every memory.
Amora coughs against him and blood splashes onto his armor as he looks down at her, rocking her body back and forth, just like if they were children, and he buries his bloodied face into her hair, his shoulders shaking with grief. She trembles in his arms and he pulls back just far enough to see her face, ignoring the fact that Thor's up and fighting in front of them, Clint shooting arrows as fast as he can along with his teammate.
Loki covers her wound with his hand, futilely trying to quell the outpour of blood, and the tears in his eyes nearly make his vision swim. Sigyn watches, huddled at the corner of the mountain, in complete shock, devastation crawling into her mirrored gaze, her body frozen with fear. Amora's lips shine brighter than usual, and her eyes are vivid, and her cheeks are nearly grey from blood loss, and Loki leans over her with the brightest fear in his emerald gaze, the salty taste of tears invading his mouth as they drip over his chin. Past the gurgling noise that makes his skin crawl, and past the pained hiccups, he can just barely make out a small whisper, a slight sigh from her lips.
"I truly loved you," she whispers hoarsely, her body twitching with convulsions as he tightens his grip around her, and in her eyes he sees laughter.
He sees midnight smiles and drunken dances.
He sees warm hands and nightmares chased away with soothing words.
He sees moonlit faces and encompassing hugs, lessons gone wrong and jokes gone right.
He sees a love so strong that even years of hatred could not dispel it, and a love that had the power to destroy.
In her eyes, he sees himself, as she saw him so many years ago, and the image makes him cry harder, his one friend fading in his arms as she manages a weak smile, gazing up at him just like she always wanted to.
Sigyn watches with a fresh wave of grief as Loki takes Amora's hand, brushing his thumb over her pale knuckles, and brings his lips down to her forehead, kissing away the blood there, and he rests his head against her skin, closing his eyes against the hot burn of new tears, and listens as her breath catches, her hand tightly clutching his as she shakes, and he pulls away just long enough to watch the shine, the shine he fell in love with so many years ago, holed up in a library as she giggled at him, fade into a dimly burning ember, her eyelids falling shut just as her body goes slack, and Loki feels a part of himself die along with her.
Please R&R! Feedback is always appreciated! Are you surprised that Amora did what she did? Do you think her sacrifice will be in vain?
To DragonEmerald: Thank you so much! I'd love it if you wrote a fic! In the next chapter, I'll tell you more, since SPOILERS. Be on the look out! And I appreciate your guesses, too. Thanks again! ;)