Second Chance

Chapter 14

As we walk down the hallway toward the conference room, I see Loki looking around at everything with a puzzled look.
"Don't, touch, anything!" I smile.
"It is not necessary to tell me this." He chuckles. We turn the corner and head into the room. Everyone is sitting there talking until I walk in with him trailing behind me.
"What is the meaning of this Secret? Why is he out?" Nick asks.
"Did he brainwash you or something?" Steve asks.
"Try the other way around." Loki says. They all stop and just stare at him.
"Why did you call us all here Secret?" Nick asks. I can see everyone's judgemental glares. I feel like I'm in a court room, waiting to find out if I'm innocent or guilty.
"Actually I have no idea. I think Loki has something he wants to say." He stands up from his seat.
"This may seem strange, that I am actually talking to all of you. Thor believed me dead, and all of you see me as nothing more than a monster... And I do not blame you. I have done nothing to deserve your kindness. I have done nothing to show you that I am nothing more than the man that raged war upon your planet. But a very wise young lady has shown me that none of that matters. Once she told me that she could literally hate the air that I breathe, and still not wish badness upon me. At first, I saw this state of mind as foolish, but as I watched the way she cared for people, it all started to come together. She may have made some insults and threats toward me, but that was only to keep me in line. I never showed her any form of kindness, I have hurt her, I have made her angry, but she never stopped believing in me. She saw in me what no one else could. She gave me this ring some time ago, and she had it inscribed to say, be your own second chance. And ever since that moment, that phrase has become something that I hold dear to my heart. And all of this made me think, about how a couple of months ago, I wanted nothing more than to watch the world burn. But now, I want nothing more than to be by her side, grow together, and find a new path. I never thought I would ever be standing in front of you all, but that is the insane thing about all of this, that you never know when you will be presented a second chance. I could have plotted my escape, or taken this time to run away, but instead I chose to grab a hold of this second chance, and I don't plan on letting go." And with that he smiles, and sits back down. Everyone is taken back by what he said, so a silence lingers over the room for a moment.

"Wait, is she Secret???" Wanda asks, mouth agape.

"Yes, she most certainly is. She is my second chance, and I would not be here right now if it was not for her." He says matter of factly. I am taken back by what he has said. "I mostly came here to apologize. I have hurt everyone in this room, and there is no reason behind this. I cannot explain why I did it, but I can explain why I am sorry. I am sorry for all of the terror and destruction I have caused. I now know my purpose, and if you would, I wish to be of use here, with all of you. I wish to make amends."
"I'm just not sure the green inferno here can be trusted. You may have won over miss mysterious, but I'm not convinced." Tony says.

"I'd have to agree. How are we supposed to believe that this isn't all a trick?" Natasha asks.

"She has a point." Steve agrees.

"Slow down. This isn't a sides game. Look, I know that at every point in someone's life, you need a second chance. My second chance, was all of you. This team. I was just another girl who thought that she was doing the right thing. Saving lives. But I was ruining some in the process. What I was doing half the time, was more revengeful than rational. And then Nick came along and told me that I had potential, and I was destined for so much greater. For years, I turned down his offer. Until my eyes were opened for the first time. And if it wasn't for that second chance he gave me, that second chance that he gave Cassie, all of this would only be a dream. I wouldn't have gotten to know any of you. All of you have become so special to me. You aren't just my teammates. In my eyes, you're family. And that is really hard for me to say because I'm not actually sure what having a real family feels like. But in my heart I know this is it. All I ask, is that you give all of this a chance." I smile, trying not to let the tears escape from my eyes.

"She's right. At one point I was working for the other side. For ultron of all people. And you guys didn't hesitate to take me under your wing, show me the ropes, and make me feel at home. Even after I had made you see your darkest fears, you still showed me how to conquer mine." Wanda states.

"That's true. And even though I was raised to be emotionless, and trained to kill a target without question, shield took me in. They showed me what is was like to fight with a purpose. They taught me how to give a damn. This place was my second chance too." Natasha says, smiling at me.

"Since everyone is being overly sappy, I guess I can hop on the emotion train. Pepper gave me a second chance. And she saw me at my worst, she escorted women home that were previously in my bed, she even saw me as I was close to dying, but she never left. I guess we have something in common." Tony says, looking at Loki. Everyone sort of looks around, smiling. Nick addresses the group.

"Alright here's the deal. It sounds like to me that you have had a change of heart, but make no mistake. I will be watching you. Your every move will be monitored until you can prove that you have truly come to your senses. One false move and I'll take your ass to Asgard myself, understood?" Nick says.
"I am aware of the consequences."

"Then it's settled. You will be allowed to enjoy the facilities. But leaving is not negotiable."

"He isn't going anywhere. I can assure you of that." I say, nudging him.

"I must be going. Father is going to want to hear of this." Thor says.

"Thor?" Loki says. "He will not believe you. It is but useless. He will only send you back to take me away, and I do not plan on going back."

"The All-Father will see the good you have done. I will make sure of it. And I do not wish to bring you back there, if you so please." He pats Loki on the back, and smiles. Loki's eyes fill with tears, and he looks away. Thor leaves and Loki walks out. He goes straight to the room and collapses on his bed.
"Loki.." I whisper, nudging him.
"I am alright, my lady." He says, rolling over to look up at me.
"Since when did you start calling me " my lady", I was just getting used to you calling me a child?" I chuckle.
"I have realized that I need to address you properly."
"Well, how about you just call me secret from now on. And when the time comes, you'll know my real name." I smile. "Now, wipe those tears that you're trying to hide from me, and go to sleep." I walk over to my closet, change into pj clothes, and curl up in bed. I can't believe what has happened today. My heart is telling me to go lay next to him, but my head is telling me no. What is wrong with me?