Protector (EN)

Chapter 23

Tony's view

We hugged each other for a while. There was something Juli didn't know. Something that concerned me. I wanted to keep it to myself. I can't live with just the fact of how it was right now and how it could have been. As Juli grew on me, I regretted so many things in my life. But I didn't want to destroy that moment, which is why I decided never to tell anyone. I hate myself for it, but how much would others hate me, for my selfish self.

When we finally broke away, we looked at each other briefly, saying nothing. She smiled at me sheepishly and then looked away. I was still looking at her beautiful face. She looked very much like her mother.

Juli got up and went to the window and stopped in front of it. I think she needed a little time to herself, so I turned to the others.

"So, the first time we celebrate Christmas together. How is it?" I then asked the others.

"Christmas is very interesting." Said Thor. I nodded at him with a smile.

"Yeah, doesn't hurt to do it sometime." Said Steve enthusiastically. Yes Steve was excited. This sight is so rare that I wanted to enjoy it now.

A time passed and everyone sat and talked. It could be Christmas any day. I mean, no enemy to spoil our spirits. No one is buried in worries. Everyone is happy and smiling. It suits them. They should do it more often. They really should.

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Thor's view

Juli had been standing at the window for a while. I decided to go over and talk to her a bit.

"Hey." I started a conversation. Juli looked at me unexpectedly and smiled at me.

"Hi." She replied.

"Is everything okay?" I then asked. She was silent at first, as if she was thinking, but then nodded at me.

"Yeah it's all good. I think." Of the second, she said a little more softly.

"You think?" I inquired further.

"It's just..." She faltered, then looked deep into my eyes. "Is it normal that I 13 years, from the death of my mother can not get away?" She then suddenly asked. She had a sad expression on her face. 13 years? That's a really long time she was talking about.

"I think it's different for everyone." I tried to help her, though that wasn't really comforting. "I don't know your mom, but I think she'd be proud of you." I cheered her up.

"Really?" She asked, a little unsure.

"Yes. I mean, look at you. You dared to come to Tony Stark when you were a little kid. What kind of person is so brave and would want to stay here voluntarily?" I smiled at her encouragingly. She started to smile. That was a good sign, wasn't it?

"Thank you, Thor. I just needed that." She smiled at me a little more cheerfully.

"No problem," I replied to her.

~Loki's view~

I saw Juli talking to Thor. I sighed, because it bothered me. I couldn't stand to see Thor talking to her. Somehow I had a mixed feeling of sadness and anger. Had I been jealous? Jealous of Thor because he got along well with her? I couldn't watch this any longer. So I went to my floor. I don't think anyone would miss me or notice that I was gone. So I took my gifts and went towards the elevator.

When I was in the elevator, I realized how very sad I became. After all, I was just a bad guy. What else did I expect? A girl like July could never look at me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When the "pling" sounded, I opened my eyes again and left the elevator. Then I took off my jacket and threw it, with the books, on the sofa. I loosened my tie around my neck. I also took off my shoes and then threw myself on the sofa. I covered my face with my hands and then lowered them after a while. What was wrong with me? I hadn't been like this a while ago. I was bad. And now? Now I was "lovable." What was that all about?

I must have fallen asleep on the sofa when I heard a bang. I jumped up startled and saw that Juli was standing at the counter in the kitchen. There was a broken glass on the floor. The floor was also a little wet now.

Juli was resting her head on the counter with one hand. Did she have a drink? What do I ask? She was definitely not sober.

"Juli? Is everything okay?" I asked, to which she just nodded.

"You'd better lie down." I urged her.

"Maybe." She just said.

"You don't look happy. What's wrong?" I then asked, a little worried. She picked up the bottle of wiskey that was standing next to her and took a sip from it.
When she put the bottle back on the table she started talking.

"I just can't get over my mother's death. It's so hard." And then started to cry. I just looked at her in pity and nodded.

"I'm such a bad person."

"No you're not." I contradicted her.

"Yes I am." She sobbed.

"No."

"How do you know?" She asked me almost angrily. "You don't know me at all."

"Because you still haven't killed me." I said a little more quietly. "I mean, if another person was here with me, they would try to kill me. But you haven't done that." I explained to her.

She nodded and wiped her tears away with her sleeve. I took a step toward her, where she just lowered her head.

"Juli, don't cry. Please." I asked her. What was wrong with me. I mean, Juli was standing with Thor earlier and now I was still feeling sorry for her? What went wrong with me.

~Juli's view~

I then lifted my head and then smiled at him. Then I walked the last few feet towards him. I really don't know where I got the sudden courage from, but I guess the Wiskey was to blame. I pulled him down to me by his loose tie and stood on my tiptoes, then pressed my lips to his. It felt so incredible. Best kiss I could ever imagine. It was like fireworks exploding throughout my body. It took all of five seconds before Loki returned the kiss, which then made me grin. Slowly, we broke away breathlessly. My face was so close to his. By moment, I felt such happiness. Slowly I let go of the tie and I moved back half a meter. I bit my lips and then grinned at him. He grinned back. Slowly, I walked towards my room and then left him alone in the kitchen.

~Loki's view~

"Wow" I said to myself when she was already in her room. The kiss was so unexpected and so wonderful. I really didn't expect that. So there was nothing going on between Thor and her. This thought calmed me down, but still my heart was beating so hard that I felt it might leave my chest at any moment. I still had the taste of wiskey on my lips. She would probably even forget about the kiss, the way she was drunk. With a big grin, I went to my room to go to sleep, which was not so easy for me.