Barnes woke up about ten minutes later. In that time, Rhodey had fetched some Tylenol for Loki and Tony had guided him to a chair. Loki knew he must still look pale and peaky and didn't blame them for the concerned looks they kept shooting his way when they thought he wasn't looking.
"Bucky," Steve breathed.
The sound drew Loki's attention. The super soldier was awake and... looked confused. But also emotional.
"... Steve?"
Tears ran down Steve's face.
"Yes, it's me," he whispered, lacing his fingers with Bucky's. "It's gone, Bucky, all of it. You're free."
"But..."
Bucky's view landed on Loki. Realisation dawned.
"Everything was red, but then there was green."
Loki knew the statement was just for him.
"Forget what you saw," Loki advised. "Those sights can lure even the wisest of men into insanity."
"Do you know who we are?" Tony asked, standing a few metres away and moving forwards into Bucky's eyeline.
Bucky stared at Tony for a second with a strange expression on his face, but then the moment passed.
"You're Howard Stark's son," Bucky said.
"Yeah," Tony replied. "We're the Avengers."
"I know," Bucky answered. "I know who all of you are, except..."
His gaze fell on Loki once again.
"I don't know who you are."
Loki got up off his chair and waved Tony away even as he rushed forwards, certain Loki would instantly collapse.
"My name is Loki and I don't come from around here."
"How did you save me?"
Loki stared at Bucky, judging what he would understand. He seemed like a bright man.
"I used magic," Loki said simply.
Bucky's mouth dropped open, and Loki saw the young man Steve had known.
"Magic doesn't exist now, does it?" He asked Steve.
Steve shook his head.
"Not for humans."
"Magic is just science you can't understand yet," Loki said kindly. "I wouldn't worry yourself over it. That... experience is nothing I can explain. Be grateful you didn't feel more of it."
Suddenly, a klaxon blared. Bucky winced, covering his ears with his hands. The others all shook themselves out of a daze.
"Avengers... Assemble," Steve ordered, and Clint, Natasha, Bruce and Rhodey all rushed out to grab their weapons and get into their outfits.
Loki transformed into his battle gear with a flick of his wrist, and ignored the tremble in his hands.
"I wouldn't, Loki," Tony advised. "You should stay here and rest."
"I'm fine, Tony," Loki shrugged him off, annoyed.
Tony gave him a look that said 'I know you're lying' but he still left them to it.
"I'll stay here with you, Buck," Steve said quietly.
"No," Bucky said firmly. "I'm coming with you."
"Buck-"
"We've been apart for decades, Steve. I'm not leaving your side, not when I can do some good here."
Steve looked like he wanted to protest but didn't argue with this.
"I'll stay with him," Loki said suddenly. "We'll be backup. You go on ahead, Steve."
Steve looked surprised.
"Thank you, Loki."
With Bucky and Loki left alone, Loki turned to the super soldier.
"Do you need anything?"
"To fight? Knives."
"Here."
Loki conjured up some knives. Bucky stared at them for a second before taking them and nodding his thanks.
"Do you have a problem with teleportation?" Loki asked him casually.
"Are we in a sci-fi comic?" Bucky asked, bewildered.
Loki laughed.
"I'm afraid not."
Bucky thought for a moment.
"I don't think there's anything weirder than feeling someone in my brain, so, however bad teleportation is, I'm sure I can handle it."
"Good."
*
Loki and Bucky appeared at the scene a second later. Tony and Rhodey were already there, blasting the enemy of the day, killer drones, and they'd given Steve and Clint a lift. Natasha had chosen the other form of transport: Hulk hitchhiking. The green beast was currently having a whale of a time smashing machines. Unlike the Hulk, Tony and Rhodey who were smashing anything and everything, Steve, Clint and Natasha chose to be slightly less destructive in their approach, choosing to be delicate with precise, fluid, targeted movements.
"Is this what the world has come to?" Bucky wondered aloud.
"Unfortunately yes," Loki replied, "but life without electricity was infinitely dull."
Bucky looked like he was about to agree but then internally questioned how Loki would know that and so kept quiet. He would find out who Loki really was later.
"Here's your chance to do good," Loki told him. "Trust me, I know what it's like to need redemption. If you have a chance, take it."
With that, Loki began throwing knives conjured from thin air at the drones or blasting them out of the sky with bursts of emerald magic.
Bucky stared at this bewildering sight for a second, then unsheathed the knives he'd just been given by Loki and ran forwards to enter the fray.
*****
A.N. Bucky is back and simping for Steve. It made sense to include the most popular ship in the fandom haha. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading and please comment!!!!
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Starting Over #2 - Loki
Fanfiction[SEQUEL] Loki has found his place among the Avengers, but when will his luck run out? The sequel to Starting Over.
