Learning To Love

Chapter 8

When Sierra woke up, it took her a minute to remember where she was. She climbed out of bed and jumped in the shower, letting the hot water bring her fully to life. When she was done, she dressed in a hurry and peeked into Loki's room. He still laid spread-eagle across the bed, snoring lightly. She tiptoed in and shook his shoulder, but he didn't response. She shook more aggressively, hoping it would do the trick. He only groaned and rolled over.

"Five more minutes." he mumbled; his voice muffled in the pillow. Sierra glanced at the clock.

"It's eight-thirty. Get up," she said. She ripped his comforter off, and he reluctantly pushed himself up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Sierra had to dart her eyes back up to meet his as she realized he wore only a tee shirt and boxers.

"I'm going to have breakfast. Come up when you're dressed in regular clothes," she said, and scurried out of the room. In the kitchen, Pepper, Bruce and Steve were already eating. Pepper motioned to the pan of scrambled eggs on the counter with a "Help yourself!" Sierra grabbed some and slid into a seat next to Steve.

"Hi. How'd you sleep?" Steve asked.

"Good. I can't believe I was only gone for, like, five days, it feels like so much longer," she said, already shoving food into her mouth. Pepper grinned.

"It was weird without you," she said.

"Well, I'm back, so all is right with the world," Sierra joked. The elevator doors slid open, revealing a grumpy, tired Loki.

"Someone get up of the wrong side of the bed?" Sierra called, chuckling.

"I do when someone wakes me up. I didn't sleep well," Loki shot back. He scooped some eggs onto his own plate and slumped down across from her.

"You were sleeping pretty well ten minutes ago." She smirked through another bite.

"Is the bed uncomfortable or something, Luke? I can show you how to adjust it," Pepper asked kindly. Loki shook his head.

"I just couldn't sleep," he said, refusing to meet Sierra's gaze. She decided to change the subject.

"Where's Tony?" she asked, turned in her chair to face Pepper.

"Down in the workshop. I think he wanted to figure something out in one of his new suits," said Bruce. Sierra nodded and took a bite of egg, and they finished their meal in silence. When they were done, Bruce left for the lab while the rest of them helped Pepper clean up the kitchen. Eventually she left to get some work done in her office, leaving Sierra, Loki and Steve. The three of them stood awkwardly around the kitchen island for a moment, before Loki said,

"Sierra, can you and I talk about something? In private..." he added, glancing at Steve.

"Sure," she replied. "We'll be back in a few minutes." She shot Steve a quick smile. Loki started to head for the elevator and she trailed after him, letting him lead her down to his room.

"What's up," Sierra demanded when they were finally alone. "You've been acting weird all morning." Loki's face scrunched up.

"I know. I had a dream last night. A...nightmare to be exact," he started. Sierra sat down on the bed, pulling her knees up to her chest, and waited for him to continue.

"Sierra, we are all in danger," Loki said, his voice strained. A chill ran through him and his gut twisted. "I think it was a warning."

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Loki couldn't make out anything in the darkness. The dampness seeped into his bones; causing him to quiver from the cold. Though he couldn't see the walls, he felt strangely confined, but if the space continued on forever in front of him, he wouldn't know. All he knew for sure was that he was chained to a wall. His entire body ached so intensely that he could barely sit upright. The chains digging into his flesh caused open gashes on his wrists that burned. Loki's fingers brushed the damp stone wall. Through the blackness he heard a voice echoing around him.

"Know that this is your reward for attempting to escape me. You have defied me more than once and I have to commend your efforts, but nevertheless, I have always found you, over and over. This time is different. You will never get away again." The creature came into view, visible due to an unknown light source. They were tall and broad, and clad in armor that almost hid their blue-tinted skin. Loki recognized them: The Other, a servant of Thanos.

"You failed us, and we had no choice but to punish you. We must set an example for the others. In the wake of your failure, it is astonishing that you were foolish enough to escape. This time you will never live to see the light of day. You will long for pain, crave it, over what you are about to experience." He approached Loki, holding something, but he couldn't tell what. The Other's arm raised, and then-

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"Loki!" Her voice brought him back. "Loki...are you okay?"

Loki realized he sat on the bed, his head in his hands. He raised his chin and met her concerned eyes, trying to slow my breathing.

"Are you alright?" Sierra asked, her voice filled with fear.

"I-I don't think so," Loki stammered. "We need to find Thor, we need help. He's coming for us."

"Who? What are you talking about? What just happened to you?" she asked, all in one breath. He looked her directly in the eyes and spoke in earnest, his words jumbling together.

"The man -I think he's Kree- was The Other, and the servant of Thanos. They sent me here take over Earth, with the army of Chitauri. I failed, right, and Thanos punished me. I never knew who actually kidnapped me. I never saw Thanos or The Other, it was always their subordinates. This...dream...The Other could communicate with me mentally, through the power of the scepter. I could see him, speak to him, even be in the same room as him, but not really. It's how we spoke when I came to Midgard; how he gave orders. This dream wasn't a dream, it was a vision, planted in my head by them. I don't have the scepter anymore, but I think we still have a link. What I saw...I was back in their hands, I- I was being tortured again. The Other is trying to find me, I'm sure of it." He took a deep breath before he could finish his point.

"Thanos wants to kill me. It was a warning from them. I need to be prepared and...to be ready to face death at their hands. I'm sure of it. We have to find Thor. He can help us." Her expression was terrified but Loki could see the moment that she resigned herself to what he had said.

"Okay...we have to tell the others! They'll help us find Thor once they've heard the whole story," she said. She paused and then added, "So much for keeping you a secret. That lasted all of...twelve hours?" Loki almost laughed.

"Yes, our plan worked spectacularly. But we need to. Let's go." He jumped up from the bed.

"Jarvis," Sierra said as she also stood. "Tell everyone to meet me and Luke in the lab. We'll explain down there." A moment later, a voice said,

"Yes, ma'am." She smiled wryly.

"Thanks, Jarvis."

They ran down to the lab, adrenaline coursing through their veins. Loki knew that in the very least, this could mean another stint in prison. Everyone was already there when they arrived, and they all stopped talking and waited expectantly as Loki and Sierra slowed to a stop in front of them.

"So, you want to admit we were right and you're actually dating?" Tony asked before either of them could speak, leaning on his elbow on a counter. Sierra shot him a dirty look and took a deep breath.

"No. But there is something I need to tell you guys."

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