Redemption

Flames

Loki and I made it to Stark's Tower in record time considering it was the middle of the day and we had a giant crowd to push through as we got closer. There was already something going on at the top of the tower, and I wondered how we would get up there. I was definitely sure Tony Stark wasn't going to let us just waltz on up there.

"How-"

"I have my ways," he cut me off. His blue eyes pierced through the shadow his helmet put across his face. He had changed back into the leather and armor he had the first night we met, and a part of me was scared of who this man really was. He seemed so angry, he almost shook.

I wished I could ask him what he saw, for him to show me what had angered him so much, but I was afraid. Afraid of seeing the true Loki.

As we were getting closer, I couldn't see the top of the tower anymore, the sun got into my eyes, I grabbed his hand and stopped him.

"Loki," I murmured, looking up into his eyes. His eyes met mine and he sighed softly, brushing his knuckles against my cheek. I leaned into it and breathed out slowly, "I'm...scared, I guess. What's going to happen today? I'm...I don't want you to get hurt."

He looked around us and then pushed me into an alleyway. "The Tesseract is going to open a portal," he muttered, closing in around me. "There will be creatures called the Chitauri, and they will attack anything at will." He leaned closer, pressing his forehead to mine. "I won't be able to control them, but they will do what needs to be done to make my plan work."

"You-you're going to kill...thousands of people...in revenge?" I asked softly, eyes widening. This man was pure evil, I decided. I shook my head, pulling away. "I can't- I don't-" I put my head in my hands, shutting my eyes.

"It's for a good cause-"

"You're going to destroy New York City, Loki! You think that's okay? Just because of what happened to me?" I rounded on him, anger and fear pulsing under my skin. "I-I can't stay here for that! I won't watch you destroy this city because I died!" I shoved past him, ignoring the outstretched hands that went to grab for me again.

"I can't lose you again, Eris!" He yelled after me, and I stopped, turning to face him. He looked broken, beaten down, and it hurt me to see him like that. My mind flashed me another memory, the look of pain on his face as I told him I couldn't handle the secrecy anymore. That he had to choose between me, or his father, as I left him alone in his room.

With another breath, I was back in New York City.

The logical, humane side of me understood that this was crazy, that killing thousands because of one person was chaos and murderous, no matter what.

"But I can't watch you cover your hands with blood that won't wash away, Loki. I'm sorry." I took a deep breath and then walked away again, pushing my way into the crowd and leaving him in the alley, tears streaming down my face.

§

Flowers and the harsh sunlight bathed me in a warm, wonderful glow as I sat on one of the golden benches in Asgard's castle garden. Loki had told me to wait here for him, and so here I was. I stared up at the sky, looking over the stars and planets I could see in the vast world above us as I waited.

The sky blue dress I wore had been pressed flat multiple times since sitting down, a nervous gesture I realized as I ran my hands over the legs of my dress for the third time in just minutes.

There was a clearing of a throat beside me, and I swung to look, seeing Loki there. No horns on his head and his green eyes looked mischievous.