Valediction [Fólkvangr End, Book 3][Loki Fanfiction]

Chapter Twelve - A Clear Midnight

Author's Note: Hey all again! This was a little bit quicker than the gap between last updates because part of the chapter has been written for a while. Believe it or not, I sometimes have a plan! I hope you're all doing well, and for those of you who celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving! Hope to have the next chapter out soon! x

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This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,

Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson

              done,

Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the

              themes thou lovest best,

Night, sleep, death and the stars.

—Walt Whitman

I am being fussed about as I stand in front of the machine. Loki pushes Tony aside and then waits patiently as Bruce takes my vitals. When Bruce finishes Loki steps in front of me and turns me around to help me into the strange black cloak.

"I don't like this," Loki says with sigh as he rests his hands on my hips. I smile at him.

"Of course you don't. Neither do I," I reply.

Loki narrows his eyes. "I do not understand you. Every time I think I have you figured out you turn out to have a missing puzzle piece."

"I just like being difficult," I tease. He rolls his eyes, but I place my hand on my cheek and pull his face towards mine. "I'll be fine."

"You matter more to me than any of the Nine Realms."

"Okay, let's not be dramatic. Don't you go massacring people because I get a papercut, okay?"

"I would hardly quantify this situation as a papercut, darling."

I acquiesce. "No, no, I know you're right."

"Precisely why I don't understand."

"I don't think I really understand it either. I feel that I must. If this thing works then we have a chance of getting to Thanos. You know how important that is."

Loki purses his lips and nods but doesn't say anything in response.

"I love you, you know," I remind him. A smile tugs at his lips but does not fully emerge. "Are you going to give me a goodbye kiss or what?"

Loki rolls his eyes. "So demanding."

"And here I thought being more important than the Nine Realms entitled me to a few demands now and again," I tease. He leans close and presses his forehead to mine. He looks deeply into my eyes and sighs. He presses his lips to mine quickly and then pulls away.

"Excuse me, what was that?"

"Giving you incentive to come back," Loki smirks. I grit my teeth but smile and shake my head. Damn him. He drives me crazy.

Tony steps up and without any true pomp or circumstance hands me a small earpiece. "Put this in. It will be our only bridge of contact with you. As long as it works, of course."

"Of course."

"How are you feeling?" Bruce asks, "your blood pressure is a little higher than is ideal."

"Do you blame me?"

Bruce smiles and lays his hand gently on my shoulder and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "I will do my best to bring you back safely, okay?"