"It took me a millennia to master magic, don't be so harsh on yourself" Loki spoke
They were in the backyard of their new safe house, a rustic cabin in the middle of the woods, it was night time and three moons shined above them, the atmosphere a light blue tone.
She was panting after opening a few portals just like Loki had taught her to do.
"You might need something else" he told her "I can only explain magic the way I know it, but you have different abilities, and perhaps a different source if I dare to say"
"What do you mean?" She asked
"My mother once spoke of sorcerer's who mastered their elements through different techniques, I believe she mentioned the use of runes and ancient scripts" he explained
She sat on the ground "Like spells?"
"Yes, unfortunately Asgard's library is not available anymore"
"Where could we find something similar?"
"I don't know" he finally answered "perhaps Strange has something hidden"
Returning to Earth was not something on her agenda
"You weren't taught by runes?"
"No, I learned magic as I learned to walk, by instinct and as a natural force, I can only help you with what I remember my Mother teaching, and encouraging to open yourself to it" he walked over to her and offered a hand "I believe you have something...unique"
She sighed and reached for his hand.
"Out of curiosity" Loki added once they were both standing up "I know you can create illusions, but how real can they be?"
"What do you mean?"
He reached for her hair "You did this?"
"Yeah"
"Sorry" he apologized before pulling a strand
"Hey!" She complained
Loki dodged her punch and stared at the single strand of hair "Well look at that"
"What?" She was pissed
"It's still blonde" he answered "you changed your hair"
"Yes, that was the whole point-"
"Wanda" he tried again "I can also shift my appearance, even my self, but it's only a copy, a disguised mirror"
He turned himself into Thor
"See?" Even his voice had changed "take a strand of my hair"
She awkwardly reached for the blonde hair and pulled a strand, when she looked at it it was black, Loki returned to his normal appearance.
"How did you do it?" He asked
"I don't know, I just...I just focused" she admitted
He smiled excited "If only I could take you to the enchantment books, Wanda, you'd be an unstoppable force"
She had never pictured herself to be an "unstoppable force" like Loki spoke about, but she felt both flattered and lost that there was something in the dark that could help her understand herself completely, she only hoped to be able to find the answer someday.
It began to rain so the two ran inside, Loki put out containers through the cabin under the various gutters, they had placed the set up in the small living room area, two couches in front of each other a small coffee table and a fireplace that kept the cabin warm. The sound of soft drops somehow calmed her down as she sat down in one of the couches and checked the set up for any updates.
Nothing.
Loki lay down onto the parallel couch and handed her a fruit through the air, she took it and inspected it, it seemed like an apple sized blueberry.
She took a small bite, it had a similar texture to a watermelon, but the taste was actually pretty close to a berry.
"Thoughts?" He asked
"Above expectations"
"I'll take note of that" he joked and appeared one himself, he also took a bite "not bad"
"Hadn't you tasted it before?"
"It's a seasonal fruit" he explained "it only grew during a certain period of time in Asgard"
"Do you miss it?" She suddenly asked
"Asgard?"
"The fruit" she joked.
He chuckled and took a deep breath
"I cannot deny that my actions may be interpreted as the opposite, but in the end Asgard was my home"
Her expression was nostalgic, she smiled and took another bite, she thrusted him enough to talk about her past, in a way it felt reassuring to share it with someone.
"I grew up in a very poor country, we all joked about how it was only a matter of time for it to be destroyed, and yet when it was actually gone I missed it. Pietro and I joined the rebellion out of our hatred for America and what they represented, but also to leave Sokovia, in the end the place went down alongside our old ways, and I felt free but vulnerable at the same time, I guess a part of me couldn't believe I had been capable of abandoning something I had always tried to, as for Pietro...I know he died believing he had found his place in the world, and that it something not all of us can say"
She didn't expect a comment and less for him to share his own life, yet when he spoke she felt a tingling sensation.
"I was raised as a prince" he began, she gave him a small encouraging smile, and he continued "People always talked about how grateful I should've been, but the truth is I never felt like a fundamental part of Asgard, as much as they wanted me to believe, and so it took me a lot of time, and still does, to realize that I actually was a part of the Realm, even if only two people accepted me"
"Thor and your Mother?" She asked delicately, as if she was scared to say something sensitive that would stop their vulnerable conversation.
"The very same" he answered "too pure for their own good"
"Your mother sounds truly kind, and all that she meant..." She corrected herself "she means to you, is something any mother would be happy to hear"
Loki felt a knot in his throat but tried to hide it "What about your mother?"
Wanda smiled "She was kind too, she made our old and small apartment feel like the perfect home, I remember our parents would let us watch American shows even if it was illegal, just because we loved them. In the end it's really the little things that I hold onto the most"
Loki smiled "Your family sounds charming, may I ask about your brother?"
Wanda cleared her throat but nodded, she had support from all of her teammates, specially Vision and Sam, Pietro would always be a difficult subject to talk about but keeping his memory alive was all she wanted to do.
"He was fun, stubborn, rebel and pure hearted, Peter reminded me of him" she began and Loki arched his eyebrows surprised "I must admit Peter would be the nicer and genius version of him, but they both share the blind trust towards what they think it's right"
"Ahh Pete" Loki commented "I truly hope he's safe"
"Me too" she agreed in a low voice, sleep was taking over her, and so she couldn't help but to close her eyes.
Loki stayed in the comfortable silence, and after a few moments of hearing nothing more than the rain he turned to Wanda prepared to make a snarky remark, to his surprise she had leaned against the couch and slept peacefully, the orange tone reflecting on her peaceful expression, he found himself smiling and sending her another good dream, he lay on his back and closed his eyes as well.
A small beep came from the set up, both of them bolted out of their dreams, the rain had stopped and the fire intensity had lowered.
Wanda stared at the screen but couldn't seem to understand what she read, was she asleep?Suddenly she was a child again, staring at a bomb that could detonate in any second, her parents buried in the building and fear covering every inch of her body.
"Wanda" a soft voice calling her name, she turned to Pietro but saw Loki instead.
"Yes?" She asked
He looked worried "I'll make you something to eat, do you want to go back to sleep?"
She nodded after a while, with his index he touched her forehead and made her sleep, he helped her lay down on the couch and threw inside the fireplace more wood, he returned to the set up.
Thanos has the soul stone. Thor has destroyed the mind stone.
-Understood. WM
He typed.