Loki's fall (sequel to loss and Loki)

We Thought Love Could Change Our Names

"Oh my god, Ace!"

I whipped around, catching sight of a tall blond man making his way towards me, and immediately I felt my tensed shoulders relax a little as I smiled and ploughed into his embrace, holding on for dear life.

"Christ, Steve...You're okay." I sighed into his shirt, hearing him exert a shuddering breath before he pressed me closer and pressed a soft kiss on my scalp.

"How are you doing?" He queried gently, and the tone in his voice hinted at him knowing exactly who I was grieving for, and how many losses I'd broken down over recently. I pulled away lightly and fixed him with a slight smile, trying hard to keep my tears at bay.

I opened my mouth to utter the lie I was so used to telling...that I was fine. That I would be fine. But the grief in his gaze, and the way his eyes held me paralysed before him, in a comforting embrace that softly stripped me apart down to the weak pain sitting boldly in my chest. I sniffed, suddenly seeing through blurry vision as I blinked back at him.

"I-I can't lose any more, Steve. I can't." I sighed out in a shaky breath, seeing his own expression crumble into one of understanding, one of sympathy. He wiped his own eyes, before reaching to cup my face and wipe my smudgy mascara from my cheeks.

"Jesus christ, Ace, your eye!" Steve exclaimed quietly, brushing back a little of my fringe to inspect the scarlet slit down my cheek. I shrank back a little, but let him look over it. After all, he'd known me years and here I'd faced an indescribable change to my appearance, and mentality. He'd need to see it to get used to it.

"I mean I'd heard about it but I didn't- I didn't realise."

"I mean it's really not that bad when you put things into perspective...not that I can do that anymore y'know...One eye ha!" I sniffed, cracking a laugh as Steve froze, a slight smirk twisting up the corners of his mouth, before he let out a quiet, despairing laugh and let go of my face.

"Ace, you are the worst." He shook his head wearily.

"Woah...is that..?" I gestured over to the man stood by the corner, looking over at us periodically with a strange look on his face.

"Bucky? Yeah...He's back. And he's free, finally." Steve grinned, glancing back at Bucky with a look in his eyes similar to that of affectionate relief. I smiled happily, holding my gaze with the soldier.

"He's certainly not very discreet is he." I chuckled softly.

"No. I think he finds you a little intimidating...and hot." Steve shrugged, finally tearing his eyes from the deep blue gaze flashing between the both of us. I scoffed.

"The winter soldier? Afraid of me? I don't believe it." I sniggered, watching Steve's face relax as he laughed lightly.

"And I don't think it's me he finds hot." I quickly added, before pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek and making my way over to Sam.

"Well, well, well. I don't think I can sing 'ding dong the witch is dead' when I wake up every morning anymore." Sam smirked as I stopped in front of him, arms crossed over my chest.

"I wish you could." I sighed jokingly, rolling my eyes when Sam's smile faded a little, and he pulled a dramatically shocked expression.

"Well someone got a little edgy didn't they. What happened huh? They play my chemical romance in hell or something." He laughed lightly, his gaze straying to my scar as his eyes widened a little and he cleared his throat quickly.

"Nah it was purely the birdie song on repeat."

"Fair enough. That would turn even me depressed." He smirked.