Existence

Seeing the past, Understanding the present

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"June!" A voice called from the other end of a long cafeteria looking room, both June and Clara, who had been quietly discussing something, looked towards the voice. June's flat response returned the yelling of her name, "Rodrick. What could you possibly have to say to me with Clara sitting right here?"

Rodrick gave Clara a quick smile, then looked back at June, "Oh there will be plenty of interacting with Clara later. Just probably not a lot of talking." His playful smile was met with a groan from June and a bashful, "Rod!" From Clara. Rodrick chuckled before stating what he had walked up to June to say, "I actually came to ask if you wouldn't mind coming to the orientation display for the new agents."

With furrowed brow June looked from Clara to Rodrick, "Don't you and Clara normally do that?" Clara smiled and nodded, "I will still be there." Rodrick shoved his hands into his pockets, "Fury decided he would rather have all of Team Blue there from now on. I just got done asking Hilda and Gregorio. After you I will be off go ask Kyle and Vince."

June raised a brow and looked at Clara then back to Rodrick, "Wait. Fury is asking? Not ordering? Did we all die and go to heaven?" Clara's melodious laughter was joined by Rodrick's deep one as June smirked at her own comment. Rodrick finally replied, "Nah, you are right. It's an order."

Clara placed her hand on June's from across the table, "We always say, 'Through every moment, no matter what'. Right?"

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"Seriously?!" Rodrick's excited voice rang out through common area outside of Team Blue's rooms. Hilda sat with June and Vince on the couch as all of them stared wide eyed at Clara, who stood beside a very excited and very happy Rodrick. Gregorio and Kyle stood behind the couch with jaws dropped. Rodrick embraced Clara then looked at her as she finally responded, "Yes. I got confirmation today."

Rodrick practically jumped for joy as everyone began shouting congratulations to Clara. Rodrick yelled, "I am going to be a dad!" He embraced Clara and planted a kiss on her lips before kneeling in front of her and began rubbing and speaking to her slightly showing pregnant belly.

June stood and when Rodrick also did and moved away a little June wrapped Clara in a hug, "I am so happy for you!" She turned to Rodrick, "And you Roddy. I think you will make a great dad." Hilda chuckled, her thick russian accent filled the room, "You will get that much needed vacation after all!" Clara giggled, "Perhaps."
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Willow's thoughts shifted to the last day she ever saw her beloved teammates. She was unaware of another presence that entered the library and was silently watching her from the shadows as the worst memory of her life played out.

As the final moments of the day her life changed played out, Willow was taken out-of her thoughts by the sound of a man gasping. She quickly turned around to see Loki standing beside a bookshelf. He had seen it all...

EARLIER

Loki and Natasha went their separate ways, Natasha heading off to find the others to prepare for her own mission, while Loki left to track down Willow. If Fury wasn't going to change the assignments, Loki knew they were going to need a game plan.

He bumped into Fury as he left the library, he spoke to Fury in a low tone, "Are you sure it is wise to partner the two of us up again?" Fury nodded, "Trust me. You and her are the only pairing that can handle this task." With a furrowed brow Loki crossed his arms, "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Fury sighed, "I give assignments based on skills. This particular assignment requires a certain level of coercion and verbal manipulation. Something both you and her are highly skilled in."

Fury began to walk away before he turned back to Loki, "There is more to her than meets the eye. When it matters most, she will come through." Then he left. Loki stood in front of the library door for several minutes contemplating what Fury said. Then he felt the energy seep under the door. As it licked at his feet he felt a wave of emotions course through his body.

He knew Willow was inside, and he also knew that if she was releasing waves of energy, her walls were down. He opened the door and entered the library, carefully closing the door behind him. Then he felt it, a strong wave that began to alter the reality around him. He slowly made his way towards the sitting area of the library as openings began showing him hazy images.

Like slices out of reality he watched as scenes played out in the openings. The faces of the people he saw were blurred, but he heard them clearly. They spoke of orientation for a group of new recruits, of needing a break, they called themselves Team Blue. As he approached where Willow sat staring out into the water, he watched as all around him became a new reality.

He focused his own powers to make the picture more clear, he watched the team announce a pregnancy, though the features to identify the speakers were still fuzzy he began to recognize one face he saw. He realized he was watching Willow's memories.

Then the tender moment flashed and changed, they were fighting...and dying...in horrific ways...the one who had announced she was carrying a child held another one, her partner, as he died, blades sticking from his chest like he was a human pincushion. Another woman was kneeling on the other side of the now dead man, when long thin blades pierced through the chest of one woman, and the stomach of the pregnant one, as they each began to fall their features became clear.

He saw Willow's face, as she looked from the other woman to the blade now sticking out of her body. He let out an involuntary gasp and in an instant, reality returned to normal and Willow was staring at him, a look of utter bewilderment on her face. He had seen, and she knew it.

Immediately she flew into a rage, "What the fuck are you doing in here?!" Loki found, he couldn't speak, he understood now. Why she was hesitant to let anyone in, why she was trying to avoid being a member of the team. He had felt every emotion as he had watched the memories and he knew how close they had all been.

Willow was now on her feet and marching up to Loki, ice spike in her palm, "I asked you a question!" Loki could only apologize, "I am so sorry." Willow looked to be on the verge of tears, "Sorry? How the hell did you even see any of that?" Loki spoke low and carefully, "I can access memories to an extent, but I did not do it on purpose this time. I saw them as I entered the library."

Willow was now standing only a foot from him, "Why the fuck are you here?" Loki put his hands up in front of him, "I just wanted to review the mission with you. I did not enter with the intent to peer into your past." Willow dropped the ice chunk and huffed loudly, "We don't have to review shit. Why didn't you leave when you saw them? Why try and tap into them more? You could have left and not invaded my privacy."

Loki looked away, "You are right, and I deeply apologize for violating your mental space. But it is for the same reasons I cannot remove you from my thoughts that compelled me to remain." Willow crossed her arms, "Why? Cause you have a deep rooted desire to figure me out? So you can what? Blackmail me later?"

Loki shook his head, "No. In the short time we have been acquainted I have grown to care deeply for you. And your wellbeing. You are my muse." Willow froze, she shook her head almost as if she was trying to rid her mind of some idea or another, "Am I supposed to feel flattered?" She finally retorted.

Loki took a step back, "No. I do not say these things to flatter you. I only speak the truth." Willow took a step closer to him, "The God of lies tells the truth?" Loki's gaze met hers, "I am a God of mischief, not lies. And I speak the truth more often than I am given credit for. And it is the truth that I care deeply for you and only desire to please you."

Several emotions flashed on Willow's face before she took several steps away, then she was gone in a flash. Now left standing alone in the library, Loki sighed heavily, he really hadn't meant to say it out loud to her. But something about her made him want to tell her everything he was feeling.

Though the memories that had played were limited, when he had used his own abilities to try and see things more clearly, he had accessed more of her past and more of her emotions. And it only fueled his desire towards her. But now he feared he had said too much.