This is my form of therapy after the last episode. Marvel made some kind of a sick joke to end it all in a huge cliffhanger….and when they decided that they'll make us wait for another whole damn year…I went…. Fine, I'll do it myself."
So this takes place….in between Dr Strange 2 and Loki season 2? I guess? Definitely not when Antman 2 is out yet. An AU of course, don't know how the next will happen, but this pops in my mind. This is my take on what happens next.
Enjoy.
Once upon a time, he was in her place.
His mother watched from the side to see his sentence, asking him…..begging him to reconsider, to come back to her, to stop this thrones obsessions…in a way. He saw her pleading, her plea to come back to her, to be as it were before all hell broke loose.
And yet, here he is, in his mother's shoes, begging now.
To see the woman who took his heart in his place all those years ago now, restrained by Dr. Strange's minions, a strong mist resembling chains circling around her neck, wrists, and ankles, limiting her movements and restraining her. Behind them are what he thought to be the agents whom he once confronted back in 2012, now under the new management by the name of S.W.O.R.D and the Avengers aren't complete since the last time he was defeated by them, though there are new faces among them. But to them, Loki is now a part of Midgard's allies now, and he them.
Thor was skeptical of his existence since he died in front of him, but thanks to this alien with antennas on her head, Thor believed that he is Loki. And the way he treated him was way different, they both were able to tolerate and respect each other now. It was a missing feeling he never thought he missed.
But not for Sylvie.
Loki wanted to trash all those so-called guardians and agents, take Sylvie, and just flee. But he knew running isn't a choice anymore, and it's not going to be any better for them both.
They must face this.
"Loki," his close friend Mobius called him softly, he knew what he was thinking. Perhaps he's been more open as of late or that Mobius knew him too well to pick up what he's feeling now, "Calm down. They won't kill her."
Loki could only nod, he adjusted his Asgardian armors, trying to look like it doesn't bother him when in reality, it did. It's not that he worries that they'll kill her, he knows that they won't do that.
He worries about her well-being now.
He had never seen her so….broken. In her armor of fiery, he can still see a crack in her. Unlike him the day his father restrained him, he walked tall with pride, believing that he wasn't wrong. Oh, how naïve he was.
But Sylvie….she regretted her actions. She admitted to everyone the day they reunited, whilst Kang is still on the loose. Thor's friend, Scott, and his other friends went out to look for him. And whilst they await any information from them, Sylvie's judgment in the Sanctum commences.
The Scarlet Witch called Wanda figured it out when she found her children when they were trying to figure out why this madness happened. Loki didn't dare to say anything, for he knew that they'll go after her. But by some magic from the red witch, she knew….or to be precise, her son Billy gave her some hints about a green lady witch that he saw in his visions.
They didn't catch Loki for enclosing this information, merely angry for enclosing her existence. Wanda asked him in front of everyone, about the existence of Sylvie and the one who caused the Multiverse war. Of course, he had to admit.
And thus, here they are. Giving her her judgment in Dr. Strange's Sanctum since it has more magical resistance for people like Loki.
"Sylvie Laufeydottir," Dr. Strange boomed as he gracefully floated down the training grounds, "We have decided that you are under our watch until we can deal with Kang, and that you are truly on our side, not your own agenda."
Sylvie only looked up to him, but her face switched from regret to anger, something Loki is very familiar, "I helped you all in this war," she growled softy, "What is it you want to know about me?"
Even though her tone was filled with venom, he picked up her grief as well, "Sylvie," he begged, the way his mother begged for him, "Don't, please."
Sylvie turned to look at him, her glaring eyes filled with tears, "You did this."
"I did it to protect you, to keep you safe" Loki immediately replied, trying to be as gentle as possible, "They wanted to execute you."
"Perhaps they should have," she spat, he knows she didn't mean it, but it still stung him, "I wasn't supposed to exist anyway."
"Enough," Dr. Strange bellowed, "Even though you have assisted us a battle, your actions cannot be easily tolerated of the chaos you shook the whole universe. We have our allies to look for Kang, and while they search for him, you are to acknowledge your own crimes."
"My crimes?" Sylvie hissed, "For what? Killing the man who took my life away from me? Orphaning little girls?"
"You knew very well the consequences should you kill him," the sorcerer retorted fast as if he had done this sort of debate before, "You were with Loki when he told the truth, and he tried to discuss this with you rationally. But you let your anger best you, and now, here we are. The timeline still in branches, the universe in chaos, and Kang still on the loose, and more of his variants creating havoc. If it weren't for Loki, you wouldn't be alive now. We have allies ten times stronger than you, you won't even stand a chance."
This time, Sylvie didn't snark back, only glaring daggers to the magician. The other sorcerers and sorceress ready their stance in case she pounces on him.
"Yea, she's you alright," beside him, Thor murmured beside Loki. Loki could only shrug.
"And for the consequences of your actions, you will be in our mystic dungeons, where we can monitor your actions until we can apprehend Kang and know that you are crystal clear," Dr. Strange concluded, "Take her away."
The sorcerers and sorceress nodded and with a pull of their hands, their magic tugged the mists restraining her, tugging her like a dog with a leash on. Loki hated the way they did this to her, they couldn't understand the grief she bared in her heart, they still think of her as the villain. And she was making it difficult for herself too. Now, he understands what his mother meant. How truly ironic.
Please don't make this any worst.
They passed by him, not before he and she exchanged a quick glance. Loki can feel her grief, anger, guilt, and regret in her eyes. It's the very same eyes he saw in his own the day he saw his life flash in front of him back at the TVA. How ironic that it came back to haunt him but in the form of the person he cares about the most.
Loki slowly followed them before he came to a stop, he could only watch as they disappear in the portal they made. They took her god knows where.
"Where are they taking her, mommy?" Loki hears from behind, Tommy whimpering to his mother.
"To a safe place, I promise you, baby," Wanda whispered to her son, "She'll be fine."
I hope so.
"Loki," Dr. Strange called him, making him turn around. The sorcerer glides swiftly to him, his cape swaying along with the wind, "We cannot thank you enough for your assistance to manage the many branches of the timeline wars..."
Loki softly nodded, "It's the least I could do for compensation."
"And for capturing her," he finished. This time, Loki could only stay silent, he looked away from him in guilt and shame. No one should be thanking him for causing her anger, "I promise you that we will not hurt her lest she gave us no choice, but for the time being, we are going to monitor her, to ensure that she is not….hmm….how do I put this, the reckless you," Loki chuckled, "This is to prevent another betrayal whilst Kang is still out there."
Loki swallowed, he understands where he's going. He knows that her intention was good, but no one truly knows that yet the way he did….and perhaps the other Avengers. He looked down his boots and looked back at the man who made him fall for 30 minutes, "I understand."
Dr. Strange nodded, "I get that this is hard for you, but it was crystal clear that she was the cause of all this war. If she meets another variant of Kang, we fear that the same thing might happen again."
Loki sadly nodded, "Okay."
The sorcerer seems to understand his sadness, he placed a hand on his shoulder, "You are welcome to stay here for the time being, Wong will escort you to your room," and at that, he turned away and made a portal to God knows where.
Everyone slowly left, leaving him alone staring at the place where they took Sylvie. At least, he thinks he's alone.
"Loki," Mobius called behind him, "Shall we get going?"
Loki turned around, his friend and Thor stayed behind apparently, and Wong. Perhaps he isn't alone after all. Loki nodded, "Let's go."
Thor grinned at him, he skipped to his place and draped an arm across his shoulders as they walked back to the sanctum, "Haha, my brother is all grown up."
Loki smiled, his brother always found a way to change a droll subject. He didn't even know it tugged a string of longing in his heart, "To be fair, I'm still younger than you. I'm the Loki you defeated in New York."
"Doesn't change the fact that you are the Loki I remembered," he joked, making Loki irritated, "Do you remember we used to do 'get help'? Shall we do that to bust your girlfriend?"
He cringed at that phrase, "Don't," he warned.
"Ahhh ha," he poked his chest, "you are still my brother alright."
"I've seen that by the way, Thor," Mobius chimed excitedly beside his brother, "That was a really clever idea."
Thor brought his muscular arms back and turned to his friend enthusiastically, "Right? Oh, I have to tell you the other time about the snakes…."
Whilst Thor and Mobius excitedly discussed their childhood, Loki's mind zoned out to Sylvie. In his past, he wasn't afraid to be sent to the dungeons and showed no remorse.
As for Sylvie…..he can tell it's a totally different experience for her. She knows her mistakes, and she regretted it, and yet they still threw her behind bars. It was unfair, but the world is never fair anyways, he made his own way of justice and it turned out to be all wrong.
She must've felt alone now. He had, in a way, betrayed her to save her at the same time. There is a mix of guilt and relief, he's not sure what to feel now. All he wants to do now is to hold her, to let her know that she is safe and that she can trust him, and that she will get out soon.
But he doesn't know until when there are more of his variants out there causing damages. What can they do to stop them all?
And how long will that take? The longer he is on the loose, the longer Sylvie will be restrained, and he knows it's not going to do her any good.
"You okay, pal?"
Loki turned back from where he sat on his bed, Mobius was by the door looking at him with concern. His hands in his pocket.
"You know, it's a bit rude to knock into someone's room in the middle of the night," Loki joked, checking the watch he conjured, it's 11:30 pm.
"Well," he closed the door and sat beside him, "Can't sleep," he sighed, "Figured you would too."
"Hmmm," he hummed, "You got me."
They sat there in silence, just staring at the window where everything out there is dark save for the small lit lantern and the crickets chirping. Mobius grunted back, and looked around his room, "They got you a really nice room."
"One for a superior," he grinned, his room does seem fancier…well, big would be the proper word…. The bed was king-sized though. That's the only good one….but it didn't matter to him.
"Oh, please, you don't even want that since meeting Sylvie," Mobius chuckled before their face turned solemn at that name, "I'm sorry about her."
"Well," he stood up and leaned against the wall on his back, "She got what she deserved, it's the least for her to know a thing or two about the order." It was hard for him, especially him. The look on her face when he brought her here….the distrust in her face killed him.
Mobius looked at him sadly, "I wish there is another way than to put her behind bars," he sighed, "The TVA had robbed her life."
"She understands, Mobius. She knows you didn't know, we all didn't know that we were all played upon," Loki tries to comfort his friend, something very new to him. He doesn't like compliments nor pity, "We all have a thing or two that we are ashamed for."
"Well, in this case, ruining a little girl's life and traumatize her to death," Mobius sarcastically chuckled, looking away from him. He sighed again, "I'm really sorry."
Loki nodded, "Me too."
They stayed silent for a while, before Mobius broke it, "What will you do now?"
"I'm not going to leave her, that's for sure," Loki said without hesitation, he is not going to leave the lady who went through hell and back again with him. He knows what loneliness can do to one man, let alone a woman, "I'll stay here until she's allowed to go, I'm not going to leave her alone again."
"Figures," Mobius said.
"And you?" Loki asked, "The TVA took your life too you know. Although you haven't really burn it to the ground, it has no purpose at all now. You can go back to be on your jet ski." The former TVA organization is now in disarray and going away from their original vision, but they had been a huge help for the Avengers and everyone on Midgard. But once things are back and manageable, the TVA is no more. Loki is curious what will he do.
"Oh, there is," he said, "I don't have powers like you and your friends, but I do have skills. For long, the TVA was built to keep bozos away from screwing the 'sacred timeline', but I think that now, Kang is gone, the TVA can step in for that."
"You want to be Kang?" Loki kneaded his brows.
"Not Kang per se," he chuckled, "more like, preventing another Kang. But this time, with the help of your earthly friends." He pointed up the ceiling, indicating the guy who runs this sanctum, "Your magic friend with the funny cape seems very talented on these sorts of things. I can go around without causing crazy branches."
Friends, he never even thought about it. How odd to have that word in his dictionary now. It's new, but it sounds right.
"They are alright, I guess," he smiled.
"You've changed a lot," Mobius suddenly said, making Loki look at him, his brow lifted, "I mean, from the first I met you, all angry, wanting the throne, and now…..it's like I met another variant of yourself."
"Well," Loki cleared his throat, not really used to compliments, "I just have a mischievous pain in the arse of a friend to keeping me in check since the day I arrived at the TVA."
"And it turns out he was right about how the TVA is a liar," Mobius laughed, "You and me both, my friend."
"Guess we're even," Loki said.
They were quiet again for a while, thinking about the day they all met together. It was pleasant, and yet…..refreshing. Something he always thought it's a farfetched memory.
"She's going to be alright, Loki," Mobius suddenly said, making him look at him, "She's strong like you, she can handle a bunch of sorcerers on her own."
"Oh, I'm more worried about what she'll do to them instead," he chuckled, before it faded, "But it's her I'm more worried about." Sylvie has always been strong, always strong with her goal and passion, but it's also what keeps her dangerous if she's not in check with her own mind.
"I'm sure these guys would go easy on her."
"Let's hope so."
"So, you really do like her, huh?" Mobius teased, trying to prove his theory right the day when they caused the Lamentus-1 nexus event, "Am I right?"
Loki couldn't hold back a laugh, "Geez, what are you, five?"
"So, am I right?" Wanting to hear the answer even though he knows it.
"Yep," Loki finally confessed, a little bit embarrassed but it's nice to feel honest or once, "I suppose."
"I'm glad for you," Mobius chuckled, "What will you do while you wait for your Avengers friends?"
Without hesitation, he looked at him, "Keep her company."
So what do you think? I wanna know what you guys think so if I decide to make a sequel, I can have a bigger picture on their relationship thanks to your suggestions and comments. Leave them down below! It's a huge help
Claire.