My Allegiance (3)

Chapter 18

(Avengers' Tower, Y/n's POV)

"So, what's the plan?" Tin Man asks me as we sit at the round table.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you staying here, or did you want to go home. Cause if you're going home then you're not going alone-"

"I um, I don't think I want to go back home. Ever."

It's been two weeks since we got back, and I had to get out of that medical room cause being confined was driving me crazy.

"I don't think I could ever comfortably go back there, you know?"

"Yeah I get you. Well you know you're more than welcome to stay here."

"I appreciate that, I really do. But I was thinking, maybe, I could go back to Asgard?"

"Ah. Guessing you didn't hear."

"Hear what?"

"Um, Asgard kinda isn't there any more. There was a whole prophecy thing, about a war in Asgard. Turns out Thor and Loki have been on some really weird, messed up timeline, and this prophecy was fulfilled before it's time. I don't really know the ins and outs of it all, but basically Asgard was destroyed. There's nothing left of it."

"Where are they? Are they here?"

"Thor's around here somewhere. He um, doesn't know what happened to you, just as a warning."

"And Loki?"

"Also doesn't know."

"No I mean where is he?"

"Oh, he's in a holding cell. We managed to recreate the one that Fury built, but better obviously. There's some dispute about it though. You know, he helped Thor save the Asgardians and all that jazz, but he's still kinda a bad guy. So it's all up in the air at the moment, he's just in there as a safety precaution while we decide what to do."

"I know what I'd do."

He sighs, "Unfortunately I know what you'd do too."

"He's not all bad, you know? His childhood was robbed by a man who never really loved him, and he was promised things that he was never going to be given. He's basically been betrayed his whole life. Like....."

"Like you?"

I shrug, "Maybe that's why I feel for him so much. Because I kinda can relate to what he's going through."

"Alright. We'll see. You can visit him at some point if you want, but for now I think someone wants to see you."

He nods towards the door where a familiar red-head is fidgeting.

She looks nervous.

"I won't bite you, promise," I say to her.

I'm taken aback slightly as Romanoff quickly walks over and pulls me into a hug.

"Uh. Okay. What's happening? Are you ill?"

"I'll give you two a minute," Tin Man leaves us alone. Can't say I like it but it doesn't seem like I have much choice.

"Clint and I went back to Sokovia to look for List, but we couldn't find him. I'm sorry."

"It's alright," I sigh as she sits down in the chair where Stark was. "He's probably long gone by now. Pietro is crazy fast. He'll have taken List to a safe place."

"How much do you know about those two? We had a bit of a run in with the girl, but she didn't give us anything useful."

"Well, they're twins. Wanda and Pietro. To be honest I didn't know much about them until a week or two before you got me out. They seemed very private, but I was able to watch them train for a bit. Wanda has this weird telekinesis, mind control thing. And Pietro, as far as I can tell, just has his speed. But they were volunteers, List didn't snatch them."

She nods, "We'll get them. I promise."

"I know we will. List has this big plan, I don't know exactly what he wants to do, but they seem important to him, so he'll be keeping tabs on them or he'll be near them at all times."

"Got it. And I'm sorry, that it took us so long to get to you. It was thanks to Stark that we even figured out he'd taken you, and he wouldn't let us stop searching. As soon as we found a new base, he was the first to suit up. Always."

"Yeah I think he feels kinda protective of me. It's nice, I just don't want to be a burden to him or anything."

"You're not a burden. And if any of us have ever made you feel like that, then I'm sorry."

"It's fine, honestly. It's also just easier for me and all of you if I don't get too attached. List has a habit of killing everyone I care about."

"He used to. Not any more. We won't let him."

"Do you know," I fold my arms across my body protectively, "there were times where I was tempted to just give in. Do as he asked. I gave up hoping that anyone would come for me. I figured after we'd all gone our separate ways, that'd be it. Avengers over. But it's because of those people who died that I didn't just let him take what he wanted from me. He'd already taken enough, and I wasn't about to let their deaths be for nothing."

"No-one should've had to have died. He is a terrible, terrible man, and we are going to end him."

"I am going to end him."

"I understand your hatred for him, I really do, but don't let this take over your life. You're free now, and we will get to him, but don't let it darken your heart. You're a good person, don't let this change that."

"Okay," I nod. "I'll try."