Lost Souls
Epilogue
Catherine and Loki stood in the middle of Central Park in restraints. If there was any sort of comfort to be drawn from this experience, it was that their restraints were linked together by a second chain. They stood quietly side by side as the Avengers spoke around them. Catherine looked up at Loki, her eyes shining with tears as she saw the metal muzzle they'd clamped over his mouth. It pained her to see him so restricted and gagged. She wondered why she hadn't been gagged either but then she remembered that Loki's other title was God of Lies so that must be it. Or perhaps maybe they didn't consider her that much of a threat.
She couldn't believe their plans had been crushed so quickly. She had been so sure of Loki's plans but maybe the humans had just had a card up their sleeve. Anyway it was over now and there was nothing they could do about it. They were finally returning home to Asgard together but it was in chains and facing a no doubt lengthy jail term. They'd be separated for years again and for the first time since she'd arrived on Midgard, Catherine was beginning to regret encouraging Loki to take over the planet. They'd be apart for much longer than two years and it was self inflicted.
Catherine didn't have many regrets over things she'd done on Earth; the deaths of Agent Romanoff and the others she'd killed like the men on the helicarrier or the woman in the mansion, they weren't amongst them. She'd done what needed to be done. But she regretted not talking Loki into coming back with her. There would be no mercy for them where they were going.
Catherine looked up and caught the eye of Barton who was flaring fiercely at her. She felt a slight lump in her throat as she found herself missing the possessed, loyal Barton who had helped her train her physical abilities up whilst Loki had been busy. Now he hated her because of who he had chosen to love. She glanced away from him, uncomfortable with his gaze.
Her eyes then fell on Thor who was receiving the Tessaract encased in a glass container with golden handles. He fastened it and patted Erik Selveig on the back. Catherine briefly met Erik's eyes and felt a little ashamed when he turned away. She found herself suddenly confronted with mixed feelings over her the impact of her actions. She felt a surprising amount of guilt for the pain on Barton's face and shame when Erik completely ignored her. They may have been possessed but once upon a time, they had been loyal to her, friendly even.
Thor turned to face her and Loki and his face was stern but his eyes were sad. Catherine swallowed uncomfortably. Nothing was ever going to be the same again. What had once been a kind of shared pain between her and Thor was now replaced with the disgust he felt at her and Loki's actions. Catherine turned away from Thor and placed a hand on Loki's desperate for someone who didn't hate her. She looked up into his face and saw that he was watching her sadly. To her relief, he took her hand and squeezed it.
Thor held out the Tessaract container to the pair of them. Catherine watched Loki put his other hand on the handle and she brought her other hand onto it too, looking up at Thor steadily. She glanced around at the other Avengers as Thor twisted his handle. A blue light lit up all around them, transporting them away from Midgard. Catherine watched as the scene around them disappeared and was replaced with blinding lights of different colours.
They were going home to Asgard.
Author's Note: WOOT! Finally finished this story! It's not finished yet but I feel like Catherine and Loki have been on quite an adventure together. I hope you've enjoyed it and I shall now start writing on the sequels. That's right, plural. The next stage in the story will be a one shot and then there'll be another full length one. Keep your eyes peeled peoples. Thank you for reading. Please let me know what you thought of the end!