Chapter 20: Is there a limit to what can be forgiven?
They waited for her to return. A month later she still hadn't. Peter was still running missions, but was staying at Aunt May's for a while. Her health was deteriorating, and he wanted to be near her. Luke, Clint and Jake were in Austria, scouting out a possible Hydra base. The rest of the team were spread around the world, Bruce had gone back to India, Tony had gone to Australia for a meeting, and Steve and Natasha had just returned from a mission. Thor stayed in New Mexico, because after hearing what had happened, Jane refused to come up, saying she didn't want to impose while Tony was having a tough time. And Loki, well Loki searched the city, again and again, and cast spell after spell after spell trying to find her. He was a wreck, only eating when the team forced him to, and when Tony was around, they would sit in the workshop and drink, and wonder. Wonder what had happened, when she was going to return. When Tony had found out when he returned from Malibu, he had tried to kill Luke. It ended up with Bruce hulking out for them to realise that fighting was going to do nothing.
It was by sheer luck that Nat bumped into Alexis in a coffee shop. When they'd gone shopping, it seemed so long ago to her, Nat had taken Lex to her favourite coffee shop in New York, a small, family run one down a back street. Lex had loved it, and she knew from Loki that Lex had gone there every chance she got. Nat went in there that morning to get away from the tower, the depressing mood and a love sick Loki. As she ordered her coffee, she noticed a mop of black hair with its back to her, hidden in the corner booth. Once she'd got her coffee, she went to investigate. She was right. It was Alexis.
"Do you realise the mess Loki's been?" Nat asked straight away, and Alexis jerked her head up.
"Yes I do, actually. I hate that I left, but I had to do it." Alexis mumbled into her cup. Hot chocolate, Nat noted.
"Can you tell me what happened? You may not think it, but I don't tell SHIELD everything. I won't tell anyone, not even Steve. I promise." She reached over to Alexis and touched her arm lightly and looked into her eyes, showing through them that she meant it.
Alexis contemplated it, and running, for a moment then decided that she could trust the older woman. She began from the start, explaining her back story with Luke, and what had happened. Once she got to the recent parts, Nat got this look in her eyes, like she was contemplating the best way to kill Luke.
Once she finished, amazingly without crying, Nat had an idea.
"What was the girl's name?" she asked. She'd have to run the plan past Stark, and Steve would surely object on moral terms, but the girl who wrecked Alexis' friendship deserved her just deserts. She would also be having some words with Luke as well.
"Jessi Moore, I think. She was a bit older than us; she'd be about 19 now I think. We met her when we were in San Francisco."
"Okay. So are you planning on coming back soon? The tower isn't the same without you. Loki keeps trying to find you, and Luke hates himself. They realised you'd overheard them when Loki tried to find out where you were."
"I might. I don't know. It's nice staying with Peter, he's the same age but he's like an older brother. He's been tutoring me in science, so now I can actually understand what Tony goes on about. I've been helping him with his agility in return, and helped to look after Aunt May."
"Luke isn't there at the moment. It's just me, Steve and Loki, and Tony comes back tomorrow. Please. If you want I can teach you some suppression methods, its standard for all agents who've been in stressful conditions. I'm surprised Fury hasn't order you to get some. But it's up to you." Nat drained her coffee and began to walk off. That would get Alexis to make her mind up.
She got half way down the street before she heard the familiar thud of combat boots down the street. She turned around and smiled.
"Let's go. I better go prove to my boyfriend I'm alive, hadn't I?" Nat nodded at Alexis, who popped out of existence. Suddenly, she felt arms wrap around her waist and she spun around ready to fight, before she realised it was Steve, who was grinning.
"You got her then?" Alexis didn't realise it, but Steve had spotted her the day before in the shop, and told Nat. They hadn't told the team, just in case she didn't return. Steve was glad she had though, the team was falling apart.
Loki was sitting on Alexis' bed, rereading the note for the millionth time. It was getting ragged and frayed around the edges, and no longer smelt of her. He couldn't believe that he'd become this, pining away over a woman. He was almost… mortal, he hated to admit it, but he was. He was finally happy, he'd found his place, even if his brother was there. He started to cry silently, and didn't hear the small pop. He felt the bed sink behind him, and then arms reached round him and he heard the voice he'd begged s to hear again whisper in his ear, "I said I was coming back. Did you doubt that?" He shook his head, and then Alexis began feather kisses down his jaw, until he turned his head and they kissed, softly but passionately, putting all the missed kisses into it. They continued for a few minutes until Lex pulled back. Loki leaned in some more but Alexis put her finger up to his lips and said, "Later. I'm sorry. I didn't want to leave, but I had to. I needed space. I feel horrible for blocking the link, but I knew you'd try to find me. I promise you this though; I will never ever leave you again."
"It's ok babe. At least you didn't try to take over New York." He said this with a mischievous grin. Shit, he thought. I'm even joking now. She's changed me, for the better.
"Shall we go see Steve and Nat? They'll want to know I'm back. Well, Nat's probably told Steve but-"
"Wait, Tasha knows you back?"
"Yere she saw me in a coffee shop and basically told me to get my ass back. She's gonna give suppression training, so things look to be on the up."
They stood up, and Loki pulled Lex into a hug, burying his head into her hair.
"That's great babes. Remember, whatever happens, we're in this together. I'm always here for, whatever it's about."
She looked up into his eyes and whispered, "Thank you."
They pulled apart, and walked down to the lounge. As they walked in, Steve jogged over and pulled Alexis into a massive hug. Alexis laughed, and said, "I said I was coming back. Why is everyone acting like I was dead?"
"Come on Alex." Nat shouted from the couch. "We just put Rock of Ages on. I thought it would be a good idea, seeing as that's one of Loki's many nicknames."
"And my favourite" Alexis said, dragging Loki onto the couch.
The lights dimmed and the film began.