Hi there! I hope you will like this chapter (though by now, I suppose only CurtisMcQueen8 still reads this story)! Honestly though, I'm quite curious about why no one else seems to appreciate it anymore. I would really like to know if there's any specific reason. Is it boring? Is is annoying? Is there too much or not enough of a character? Are the updates too slow? I won't attack anyone, I just want to have some kind of explanation. That being said, enjoy!
Eyes closed; Loki breathes. Slower, he thinks, just a little slower.
Establishing the connection is much harder than usual. He tries not to think about it, not to think about the fact that he can normally create a projection of himself in the blink of an eye, not to think about how exhausted he feels and how frustrated he grows, especially not to think about how he has just emerged from a state of sheer panic right before Tony's eyes.
Well done.
Wait, since when does he call him Tony?!
Norns, he has to focus. He breathes. Again. Again. As always, he must simultaneously visualize himself, as well as the person he wants to be seen by. Also known as Morgan.
Better. Thinking about Morgan, that he can do without much difficulty.
When he finally opens his eyes again, he is not staring at the sky anymore.
"Hey." Morgan simply says.
She is evidently surprised to see him appear before her all of a sudden, yet the placidity of her reaction is mostly due to the utmost tiredness which all her body expresses.
"Hi." He replies, just as tranquilly, also, as clueless as her about what to add (which is extremely rare for both of them).
Loki does not know exactly where she is, rather, where they are. The room Morgan is confined to has no window either. It has a bed however, and she is sitting with her back against it.
"How do you feel?" He asks, though he is more or less certain of what the answer is going to be.
"Miserable." She huffs, a sardonic smile on her lips "You're lucky not to have come earlier."
"Why so?"
"I spent something like an hour throwing up."
Loki does not react to her sort-of-provocation, an explicit way to say that his tendency to materialize projections of himself without prior warning may one day turn against him. Nevertheless, she looks much more relieved than irritated to see him. And Loki can say the same towards her.
But he also hates to see Morgan like this, so weakened and vulnerable. Though, contrary to him, her face bears no new bruises, the dark circles under her half-closed eyes are dreadfully impressive, and their effect is doubled by her abnormally pale skin. The bandage around her head has been changed, yet her laborious breath indicated how painful the wounds on her skull and chest must feel. At least she is not wearing any cuffs, which, let's face it, is the most stupid and ineffective way one can think about in order to hinder her power.
"What about you? Are you hurt?" Morgan questions, her voice marked by uneasiness.
Loki tries to appear as reassuring as he can, though he knows that he is wasting his time. As ironical as it is, there are limits to how he can shape a projection of himself. It is one thing not to show his black eye, it is another to display a perfectly confident face when he is everything but confident, at the moment.
"I needed to see you." He admits, openly choosing not to answer.
"Where are you now?" Morgan inquires, on the same, if not even more, anxious tone.
"Outside the compound." He winks "Ready to get both of us out."
"Sounds good." She nods "After all, nothing really holds me back here."
Of course, Loki thinks, why would she wish to stay among a plethora of individuals each able to harm her, imprison her, kill her if needs be? Why would he, Loki, wish to stay among the very same people who have defeated him, and, for most of them, still despise him?
Well, there is one major reason why. And it's not hard to guess.
"I see..." Morgan whispers "Your brother..."
Loki remains silent.
His brother, indeed. In the end, it always comes back to his brother.
He loves Morgan in many different ways. As a woman he adores to contemplate, as a friend he longs to listen and talk to, and even as himself. She is a mirror where he sees his own reflection, both identical and reversed. Whatever Loki chooses to do, he bets Morgan can cope with it, and the opposite is equally true.
But Thor... Ow. Different. Difficult. Discouraging, most of the time.
Sometimes, Loki hates him. Sometimes, Loki fears for him. In a split of a second, he can go from anger to relief, from jealousy to hope, when it comes to his brother. Loki can despise Thor, Loki can support Thor, in short, the only thing Loki can't do with Thor is to forget him.
His brother is always here, and with him the chaotic memories of their more than chaotic life (which apparently is another thing Loki is supposed to be the god of, but let's be serious, have you ever thought about managing chaos as a profession? Chaos can't be managed, that's why it's chaos. Morons.) In the end, no matter how he feels towards him, Loki cannot ever not care about Thor.
Even when it has to do with Morgan?
Even when it has to do with Morgan.
"Do you really want to get out of here?" She queries.
Loki moves closer to Morgan, sitting with his back against the bed (the back of his illusion, to be more accurate).
"I foolishly thought it was over." He hisses.
The memories will not go away. Not only the memories of the everlasting whiteness in which he has been trapped for so long, or the memories of the countless times he thought his end had come by the end of the Mad Titan, but also memories of the red light making everything surge back, designing the most frightening hallucinations one can think about just for him, and memories of his own paralyzing terror, as he found himself trapped, alone.
Not only will these horrors not go away, even better, they keep adding up.
What is wrong with him? How can his mind be so frail?
"I don't think it's foolish at all." Morgan affirms, after a moment of silence "Or if it is, I'm just as foolish as you."
"Are you?" Loki cuts, feeling a wave of resentment, no it is even stronger, of jealousy, submerging him "You appear to be holding on quite well, facing the Scarlet Witch twice, with astounding ease."
There is a part of him he loathes to look at, yet he cannot completely silence. An ancient, scornful voice, reminding him that this Midgardian, whose life is so short, so fragile, seems so much more resistant, so much more powerful, and that this is not how it should be!
However, Morgan's reaction is not the one he expected. Instead of reacting to his words with her owns, either calmly, either in a more vehement way, as she sometimes does, she just... remains silent.
She tightly hugs her knees against her chest, then closes her eyes. A small tear escapes from one of them, and she wipes it away in a rageful move of her right hand. Then, a second one rolls down her cheek. Morgan loudly sighs out of exasperation, and ends up pressing her hand against the upper half of her face.
"Yeah..." She murmurs "I appear... You're right. You've won. You can go."
"Thanks for your permission." Loki scorns.
He starts to regret that sentence approximately two milliseconds later.
Why is he doing that?! And, by Hell, what is he exactly trying to accomplish, here?!
"Get the fuck out of here." Morgan spits "Except if you enjoy looking at me breaking down. Because I deserve that lesson, right?"
Her words feel like a blow to his chest. No, he would never enjoy that, never...
Would he, though, the nagging voice he tries to repel continues, because after everything he endured, after having been degraded so many times, isn't he desperate to keep some control over someone...?
He is hurting her, Loki realizes, as Morgan is turning her head away from him and vainly attempting to calm her already erratic breath, he is hurting her in a way no one else in this compound is able to.
"Why are you here?" Morgan accuses, with a trembling voice "Why did you come?"
Because I am lost, he instantly wants to say, because I am hurt. And the only way I manage to express that is by hurting someone else.
Why is he like that?
"How..." He starts "How did you do it, after you got out?"
"Wh-what?" Morgan balbutiated, withdrawing her hand from her face, humid with tears and sweat "How did I do what?"
"After you got out of Whatever-its-name... how did you do?"
He desperately wants to know how. How did Morgan manage to survive after so much pain, how did she do it and why is he uncapable of doing the same?!
"How did I do..." Morgan slowly repeats, staring at the wall in front of her "I don't know, I... I went to see Som..."
Loki's eyes widen. Som, Morgan's friend, maybe her only friend, he doesn't know, but her most important friend for sure, what could he do, exactly? As far as the god of Mischief is concerned, apart from the teleportation ring he stole from Midgard Masters of the Mystic Arts, he is not gifted with any powers. How did he manage to help her?
"The first time, I was so lost between what was real and what was not, I tried to cut my wrists with the pieces of a broken glass." Morgan whispers, still not looking at him "He was so panicked, and I couldn't even properly explain what had happened to me. I don't know how many times I went to see him, or just called him in the middle of the night because I couldn't take it anymore..."
"But..." Loki insists, increasingly confused "How did you do... on your own?"
She finally turns towards him again, eyes tainted by sadness.
"I was never on my own... Som has his life, he couldn't always be next to me or talk to me. And sometimes, he really was a mess too. But he was always on my side. And with that, I could do anything. Don't ask me why, I went to Australia on my own to deal with Whatever-its-name, and by the way it was a real bitch move because I told him at the very last minute and didn't phone him for months on end. But the reason I could deal with what happened to me was that whenever he would hear me call for him, he could come. And you see, he did."
Morgan pauses. Talking that much has apparently exhausted her even further.
"So, I can't answer you." She concludes "Because I don't know how I would have done without him."
Loki breathes out. He is almost certain that, was his conscience not tied to the projection of himself he created, he would also be crying. Fatigue, nightmares, he can feel his body slowly giving up under so many assaults.
So, he can't do it alone. He can't rely exclusively on himself. He actually has to show how vulnerable he is.
"It is going to take time." He lets out, on a visibly discouraged tone.
"It is." Morgan nods "And no matter how much time it takes, I'm on your side."
Something comes back inside him, a feeble, yet warm, sensation he has already grasped earlier on. Maybe his mind is not so frail. After all, even with all the powers she was born with, Morgan is far from being able to face everything on her own.
He tried surviving alone. Doesn't work. Well, it works to an extent, but on the long term, pretty poor results ahead. Maybe he just has to learn how to do it differently.
It is going to take time; of that he can be certain. His overwhelming pride and doubts are still there, and he can't get rid of them that easily. But maybe there is nothing utterly wrong with him.
"I am sorry for what I said." He apologizes.
"Apologies accepted." Morgan smiles "Oh, by the way, we've got company."
"Who?" He questions, remembering just in time that she can sense the presence of living beings around her.
"The Black Widow, ladies and gents. With someone else, that's strange, I don't know her name, I wonder... Not a threat, anyway. They're probably going to question me about all this mess."
"Do you want me to leave?" Loki cautiously asks.
For a couple of seconds, Morgan does not answer. She repetitively closes and opens her fists, a habit she has to release the tension.
"Can... Can you stay?" She requests.
Loki acquiesces. Morgan needs him too, the same way he needs her. Plus, let's admit it, he is looking forward to watching what's about to happen.
"This doesn't have to take long." The Widow informs.
"Terrible way to start, if you ask me. It's like introducing your sentence with 'it's not illegal'. Bad omens." Morgan sneers.
Loki chuckles. He simply adores this position, not seen not heard by anyone else than Morgan. This is going to be fun.
"If you insist, we can make that complicated. Up to you." Romanov dryly orders, leaning against the wall.
"And, you are?" Morgan casually asks the other woman, fully ignoring the Widow's warning.
"Here for a check-up." She readily answers, which draws a small smile on Morgan's face.
Her face vaguely rings a bell in Loki's mind, but he is unable to put his finger on it. She is not very tall, probably a little older than Romanov, and has long, wavy brown hair. Her face is marked by apprehension, but also by concern. Judging by the kit she just put on the floor, she is indeed a Midgardian healer, both wary of what Morgan is able to do and attentive towards whoever is wounded.
She looks honest and compassionate. Two traits Loki (and probably Morgan) would normally take advantage of, but which he is truly relieved to see, for the time being.
"I am going to take a look at your injuries." She informs "Then, Nat has some questions for you."
"Terrific." Morgan sighs "Right, Nat?"
Telling look from the Widow.
"I think she likes you." Loki comments.
"Is your head still hurting?" The other woman inquires, kneeling by her side.
Out of the corner of his eye, Loki notices that the Widow's casual position is only feigned.
"Romanov is ready to attack you if anything goes awry." He informs Morgan.
"Not at the moment." The later answers "Though an hour ago, it was hurting like hell."
"You have a minor concussion." The doctor informs "Any nausea, dizziness, light sensitivity?"
"Yes, yes and yes."
"Follow my hand with your eyes."
Morgan calmly compels with any given instruction, as the women checks her vision, her reflexes, then examines her wound. However, when she briskly jerks her head away with a moan, indicating the discomfort it causes, the Widow immediately takes the gun out of her holster.
"Jumpy." Loki notes.
"It's okay, Nat." The brown-haired woman assures.
"Oh, come on!" Morgan rolls her eyes "If you wanna shoot me, just get it over with already!"
"After what happened, you're never too careful." Romanov admits, putting her weapon back but not letting her guard down.
"I don't think the effects of your concussion will last long." The doctor declares "Though I would recommend doing a CT scan later on, just to be sure."
"Awesome." Morgan placidly says, which makes it harder and harder for Loki not to laugh "By the way, what happened to Doctor Banner?"
"He was treating Sam's wound, and now he's taking care of Wanda." The still-unknown-though-not-that-unknown woman replies, her tone suddenly much more severe.
"You seem to know them all pretty well." Morgan remarks, as the other woman avoids her gaze, focusing instead on checking her pulse.
"Don't answer her." The Widow advises her friend "And she couldn't harm you, even if she wanted to."
"But she can still think." Morgan quips "Let's see... I've definitely seen you somewhere, you're familiar with all the Avengers without being one, and you're very close to Nat... My bet is on... Drumrolls... Clint Barton's wife!"
The effect is immediate. The Widow frowns, whereas Barton's spouse downright jumps with surprise. As for Loki, he gives Morgan a thumbs up.
"Nice guess." He compliments.
"I mean, it was not that hard to find, you gave me way too many clues." Morgan giggles.
"Alright, that's enough." The former SHIELD agent decrees, taking a step forward "I told you it was a bad idea."
"Wait." The woman tells Romanov "Don't worry about me. As you said, she can't harm me."
"No need to be so dramatic." Morgan points out "I just want to know your name, that's all. Stop thinking I just want to mess with everyone's mind cause it's fun."
"Isn't that what you're trying to do, though?" The Widow inquires.
"Meh. A bit." Morgan shrugs.
The expression of Barton's wife suddenly darkens.
"Sensitive topic." Loki reminds.
"Oh... Uh... Sorry?" Morgan innocently smiles.
"You can be sorry by not saying a word." Romanov warns.
"Well, that's going to make your job way more diffi- aouch!"
Morgan's exclamation is due to Barton's wife personal vendetta, which was to apply a slightly stronger pressure right on the injury caused by Wilson's drone.
One more, and Loki kicks the door open, throws Morgan over his shoulder and runs away, regardless of who stands before him.
"That... was... low..." Morgan pants, doubled over.
"Not lower than what you did." The doctor accuses.
"Hey, if it reassures you, your husband already smashed my schnoz. You don't need to avenge him again."
"And you don't need to add fuel to the fire. As for your ribs, nothing serious either. Three of them are cracked, you will need to avoid any abrupt move over the next couple of weeks. I'll get you some painkillers."
She stands up and walks to the little bathroom next door.
"Just so you know, both Clint and I were strongly against her coming to check up on you." Romanov coldly presents "But she kept insisting."
"So, your point is...?" Morgan inquires.
"A little decency would not kill you."
"If by decency you mean submission, my answer is: niet."
Slow clap from Loki.
Barton's wife enters the room again, breaking the growing tension, and hands Morgan a glass of water and a tablet.
"Thank you."
Morgan's expression of gratitude seems to catch the doctor off guards. She picks up her medical kit and stands up, ready to leave the room. However, she stops right before opening the door.
"Thank you too." She tells Morgan "For... bringing us back."
Morgan raises her glass.
"Cheers."
"What did you do to Wanda?" Romanov immediately asks.
The door is barely shut that the Widow attacks. However, Morgan begs to differ. She takes her time to drink, then settles more comfortably against the bed, feigning not to care the slightest about the woman standing in front of her.
Oh, how much Loki enjoys that. Even at a clear disadvantage, Morgan is nearly impossible to break. And he is all the more flattered when he knows that his mere presence is enough to give her the energy she needs.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to say that I purposefully attacked her." She finally answers "Which I didn't do. I defended myself, and I would do it again if I need to."
"That was not what I asked." The Widow insists "Whether or not you hit her first is not my concern. I want to know what your powers did to her."
"I assume she hasn't woken up yet." Morgan thinks out loud.
"You do not ask the questions here."
"That was not a question, but an assumption." Morgan teases, and Loki can almost read word for word on her face I can play this little game for as long as you want "And I would have a hard job answering you. The mind of Wanda Maximov is... special. She is becoming someone I can't really describe."
"If that's so, why did you come to see her a second time?"
Morgan angrily sighs, crossing her arms.
"What do you want to know, exactly?" She defies.
"Pretty simple: I want to know if you are a threat to us." The former spy reveals.
"Then, today's your lucky day: I'm not a threat to you, unless you want me to be."
"You're really not making things easy."
"Well, thank you."
Loki stares at Romanov's stunned face with utmost delight.
"Implosion in three... two... one..." He announces, enjoying Morgan's deep breaths in order not to burst out laughing.
"How old exactly are you?" The Widow sighs.
"No, you, how old are you?!" Morgan suddenly reacts "You think I'm childish? Okay, you're right. But honestly, look at you people! You're desperate to find the bad guy! You want a villain to fight! You want to know what happened?! I messed up! Your witch friend, guess what, she messed up too! And don't forget your other friend, Wilson! He shot me in the chest, but that's fine, right, because it's a rubber bullet?!"
"You seem to be forgetting someone." Romanov cuts.
"Obviously..." Loki snarls.
"Yeah, cherry on the cake, right?" Morgan replies "Of course, it's definitely Loki's fault! After all, you fought him, so how could you possibly be wrong about him?"
A little mocking smile appears on the Widow's face.
"Is this love, Morgan?" She questions.
To say that Loki is the one holding grudges. Really?!
"Of course, it is love, Natasha." Morgan sarcastically mirrors.
"Which can make you blind." Romanov warns.
"Are you going to tell me about the dirty tricks he played on you? About the destructions he caused and the people he killed?"
Loki feels almost distant, watching the scene from afar. What a strange feeling that is, to watch Morgan listing all his deeds and claiming yes, I take all of that, thanks.
Even Romanov appears a little unsettled.
"Or maybe you could tell me about your life as an assassin before the one as an Avenger." Morgan continues "After that, maybe Tony Stark can tell us about how he went from the Merchant of Death to Iron Man?"
"And what can you tell me?" The Widow demands.
"I can tell you that I changed. Like... you. Like... ev-ry-one..."
Morgan's speech is suddenly becoming more erratic, as she has to take more frequent stops to breathe. She starts to wince, holding her chest with precaution, then to cough. When she withdraws her hand from her mouth, Loki and her simultaneously notice the blood on it.
"Oh, fuck." Morgan sighs.
"I'm getting you out of here." Loki decides.
"I'm getting Laura." Romanov declares, before apparently realizing that she has spoken the name of Barton's wife out loud.
"Wait, no... No need..." Morgan tells the two of them "I'm okay, I just... spoke too much... Poetic justice, I know."
"I didn't say anything." The Widow smirks.
"You were thinking... way too loud."
"So, what now? We just let you and Loki out, and that's the end of it?"
"Honestly, yeah... We all need a break... I mean, we fought Thanos... Big deal... And... Hey, you're all fuzzy now..."
"What?" Romanov reacts.
"I think I'm gonna pass out." Morgan whispers.
She does, two seconds later, which instantly brings Loki back to his body.
The sensation is brutal, because so unexpected. He briskly opens his eyes. Alright, not a second to lose. He has to get her out.
Though he might have a slight delay. The reason for that is standing right in front of him.
"I think you have some explanations to give me, brother." Thor starts.
Aaaaand, here we go again.
Yeah, Laura Barton is here! Her profession as a nurse/doctor is only a hypothesis, though if I'm relying on the Age of Ultron part where she can feel Clint's wound, I would suppose that she has some professional experience. But who knows.
