Chapter Three
Her dreams were never sweet. She had long ago given up hope in having a peaceful sleep, but it wasn't as benevolent and merciful as she expected it to be. When the world swims in the night's lap with a kiss of tranquillity strolling in their dreams, Wanda walks around the corridors that were lit with frozen lights. The shade of the light glow strangely reminded her of her brother's silver hair. It was a secret that had made her stay intact, to preserve her sanity. She took it with a brave heart, all those sleepless nights, it was a curse for playing with people's nightmare, to manipulate with the ribbons of red vapours.
She knew of regret and guilt. She knew of mourn and pain. She knew the depth of being let down and chained.
And there was a similar small peak, a hidden memory among many, a memory that held much significance than the rest. Her eyes had gone large when her crimson tendrils brushed past the fragile memories of his.
He had felt her brush, her length, that tried walking in his brain and had blocked her with a wall that ceased her look in. But the small peak was enough to understand his complexity, the words of Vision about him being a man of complex had reached her ears. Yet, he was here, smiling and chilling among the ones that he had once tried to rule.
"And, I thought you were the one who served him" Loki said, his gaze streamlined to the one carrying the mind stone.
"I did and did not. I am me, I am not JARVIS. Though, I could see from his previous files, his memories do tell that you visited Tony many times during past years."
"Hn, and what are you doing here when he is there sulking in the corners of a worn out room?" The God asked, his back impossibly straight and tall. He could see the slight wave of remorse hitting squarely on the Captain's face. A flinch, a look of hurt swam in the blueness and Steve shifted his gaze to the floor.
"He wishes not to see us" The red skinned informed and Loki sighed.
"You blame us for the happenings?" Wanda asked, a tint of accuse was too evident in her tone. His eyes, his green bleeding god forbid beautiful eyes narrowed towards her and she shuddered.
"Stop getting in to my head, woman. You wouldn't like it if I tried to look in to yours" He said, his voice deep and smooth like a drip of velvet.
"It's Wanda" She said. Her teeth gritting, all the empathy that she had was duly thinned out.
"Like I care" The God of all lies, lied. Her name hadn't stopped rolling in his tongue from the moment his ears have heard it, the desires that he had thought were buried too deep within the fleshes were surging and it was becoming very difficult to maintain a cool bravado that wouldn't betray him or his thoughts.
She huffed and rolled her eyes.
"And I don't blame anyone for the misfit that you Migardians have so successfully managed to have. No, that's not the only thing I am here for. It was just too pitiful to see the Earth's mightiest force to be apart, and it is no secret. Divided, you fall. The Earth is vulnerable now and Thor is off to somewhere digging scrolls"
"Aw, Cheaptrick, are you concerned for us? You like us, don't you?" Clint asked, his lips framing a mocking smirk, the one that Loki so badly wanted to wipe off with a straight punch.
"No, arrowman. I do not wish to exert myself in a war to defend the planet that my brother had trusted me to protect in his absence. Do not mistake my fulfilment of my duties as a sign of affection to you or your fellow mates" The lie came out smoothly, the bluff was so brilliantly camouflaged in to a dripping truth with no trace of any deviation.
"Loki, did you talk to Tony?" Steve asked. His eyes still carried the burden of guilt and it almost stringed the God of Mischief to witness such a weight.
"I did. He still mourns for his sire." Loki answered. Steve sighed and the God among the mortals knew that he had to do something before the rift becomes deep.
"I will be back in a moment" Loki said and vanished in a thin air before they could all blink.
"Should we inform Natasha?" Clint asked, his eyes still waiting for Loki to reappear. He no longer harboured any hard feelings towards the man who had once controlled him, who had once forced him to kill his fellow comrades, who had once made him a threat to the planet he loved. He still had nightmares, but it came with an understanding that everyone should be given a chance to change. And the fact that Loki had indeed almost given up his life to save Thor had made him a hero and the hawkeye had thought maybe the God of Lies did deserve a chance to unfold the truth that he believes in.
"I already informed Agent Romanoff. She is on her way" Vision informed the others. His eyes were focused on Wanda. A look of weariness was too evident on her face and he was concerned.
The smell of magic rippled in the air, a second later they knew the reason for such a change. Loki re appeared with Tony. The billionaire was in a shock, almost mumbling that he should strengthen the security system back at home.
"Tony-" The Captain started, ready to apologise and to justify his acts. But the inventor wouldn't hear any and gave a look of disbelief towards Loki.
"I see you don't have the strange bug man with you, your new best friend. Oh and where is the one who crushed my mother's neck?" Stark asked, his eyes were still heavy with rim of red defining his lack of sleep. He refused to close his lids, he could only hear his mother's cry when he slips in to the dreams.
Wanda frowned.
"Tony, please." She begged. His eyes softened.
He really didn't want to lock them up in a cell with a device that would rob them off their energy, it came as a news to him and he would have freed them all in a minute. But the loss of his was more and it had blinded him momentarily.
"Tony, I was under a mind control when Loki decided to barge in and make us kneel down like he was a God- No offence buddy" Clint started.
"None taken, but I am a God, you silly human"
"- and what would you have done if I had killed one of your friends, or your parents? I can understand the devastation, but the guilt is enormous. I am sorry for whatever happened man, but please, stop treating us like enemies for saving a man who had done sins when he was not himself"
"I need some time" Stark said and avoided the gazes of his fellow avengers.
"Oh, I can see the need to hug and cry Steve. But stop making goo goo eyes at Tony" Natasha came in with a smile in her face.
"Don't talk to me Widow. You lied to me" Stark said and turned away. Wanda had to bite her lips to stop the threatening giggle.
It didn't go unnoticed by certain God. He wanted to hear her merriment, her giggle, her little laugh that would make him feel all the more light.
"How is the green guy hunt going on?" Tony asked, still avoiding the apologising look of Captain.
"I may have narrowed down the location" Natasha informed, earning a small smile from the billionaire.
"I say, let him go" Loki said. It's not like he hated the big green guy, it was that Loki never liked him in the first place.
'Puny God' The voice was still lingering in the rims of his ears and he flinched.
There was a small giggle from the woman beside him. The one that had managed to look past the barrier that he had so strongly erected. He rolled his eyes.
"Woman, stop testing my patience" He gritted and her laugh ceased.
"The name is Wanda" She stressed and he gave her a look of smug.
"Like I care, woman. I do not wish to remember any names of weaklings" He repeated and her eyes had a glee.
"Puny God" She stated.
"What?" Steve had asked, his gaze shifted back to the adopted Asgardian clad in green and black.
"Nothing" Loki said, his eyes daring her to spill even a word.
She took the challenge with her chin held high.
"PUNY GOD" She shouted and bit her lower lip from giving a loud laugh that was edging.
"Oh, JARVIS had once told me that Hulk had called you that when he have you a slam" Stark snorted and joined Wanda in her laugh.
A second rolled by and there was a roar of laughter from every avenger. Steve was really trying to be a gentleman, biting the insides of his cheeks, but he did give out a light at the end.
"Its not that funny, you mortals" Loki said, his tone too deep. He gave a piercing look at everyone except the man with the mind stone. The android had a high sense of control and gave a small smile, nothing that would make the God feel down.
But strangely Loki felt a wave of relief flowing in his veins, to see then have a laugh with a cost to his pride. But nevertheless he was happy, though he obviously didn't show that. He would rather roll and freeze in hell, than to show them even the barest of his thoughts. Being a good guy would always make them to expect good and he really did doubt on his worthiness to live up to such expectations.
The laugh had died down, and Loki had hid his relief with a roll of his eyes. There was a muffled rumble from the skies above with lines of electric bolt streaking across the heaven. A thunder, a loud boom, salvos of blue light and then a shudder in the Earth was felt. Loki knew that his brother was one to be dramatic, but it did amuse him like always to witness the arrival.
There was a familiar hum of the overused metal hammer, and a flutter of red cape.
"Thor" Loki greeted with a smile.
"Brother. It's good to see you here. Heimdall must have known that I was coming here with a grave news to have you sent to Midgard" Thor stated, the echo of his voice hadn't end but Loki's smile had disappeared all together.
"No, brother, I came here with a different purpose. What is it that you are burdened with?" The youngest Asgardian asked his big brother with a worry sewed in his face.
"Avengers, the Earth is in a grave danger" Thor said and there was another rumble from the abyss above, a distant war cry as a lament for the tear in the sky.