A Worthy Adversary (Loki x fem!reader)

Chapter 9 - Past and Present

You sit on your large red velvet sofa, your cat Asami in your lap. 'Notting Hill' is playing on the screen in front of you as your black husky Korra leaps up beside you.

"You know, neither of you are meant to be on this couch," you make your voice sound stern. Asami lets out a hiss, "Fine you can stay."

You hear the front door open, "Alex? Is that you," you turn around and see Alex walk in with Bucky.

"Oh, we didn't think you would be home," Alex says when they see you on the couch.

"It's fine, I was thinking of going out soon anyway," you gently put your cat down on the couch where you were sitting, Korra snuggling up next to her.

"Really, I'm starved, you guys have fun," you slip on your black combat boots and grab your backpack, heading out of the penthouse.

When did you get so boring? You used to go out all the time, but it seems to have lost it's appeal. The rush you get from partying, drugs, alcohol, it's all great, but nothing comes close to being in a high stakes situation. 

That's what you miss, the exhilaration of being in a fight, going on missions, there's not much like it.

Walking down the streets of Manhattan, snow starting to fall, the first of the winter. You used to love winter's in New York. Wandering aimlessly through the city, you find yourself passing by Rockerfeller Center.

"Please, can we go ice skating, pretty please," you jump up and down, seeing the glimmering lights of the Rockerfeller Center tree in the distance.

"No, this was only meant to be a short break from studying. How do you ever hope to succeed if you don't put in the work," your mother, drags you by the hand back down the street. You glance at the luminescent tree one more time, and turn back around.

Your legs have to move a lot faster to keep up with her, before you speak up again, "Is dad home yet?"

"You know that your father's a busy person, as am I. Paula will be back to look after you tomorrow and take you to your karate lessons," she answers sternly.

"Does that mean we can play this evening?"

"Weren't you listening Y/N? You have to study this evening," she condemns, disappointing you once more.

"Oh don't be sad Y/N, you have a gift, I'm only doing my job as a parent to help you realise your full potential. You'll see that one day."

Your mother, a real paragon. You haven't spoken to her in years, not since you dropped out of college to focus on your 'passion,' also known as your suit. She never found out that you were an Avenger, and to this day probably thinks you're a failure, not that you really care.

Admittedly, you always wanted to be a hero, and you aspired to be like Tony when you were a teenager from the moment he said 'I am Iron Man' on tv. But you eventually found out the hard way, that being an Avenger isn't all it's chalked up to be.

Your mother wasn't wrong about everything though, and if she hadn't been so strict, you probably wouldn't be anywhere near what you are today. Although you're certain you would have been happier, and most likely a better person.

As for your father, well you text him from time to time so he knows you're still alive. He's your typical workaholic father, not as bad as your mother, but just not really there.

"Can you take a picture of us?" Snapped out of your thoughts, you only just become aware of the couple in front of you.

"Yeah, no problem," you take a photo of the pair, they're clearly enamoured by each other.