Lost in the Mirror (Avengers Fan Fiction)

[ 17 ]

Delaney stood on the roof of the Compound. She was suppose to be running errands for Hill and filing completed missions. However, she didn't want to do any of that. She wanted to think.

Loki had been watching her for nearly the entire time she was on the roof. She was good at standing still. Every now and again, she'd take a deep breath and close her eyes. When this happened, puffs of smoke would emerge from her nose or mouth. He could read her thoughts and that didn't help how guilty he felt for what he'd done. He needed to talk to her. If he didn't, the god would surely go insane.

"You've been up here for quite a while." He took steps towards her, his hands in tight balls by his sides. She spun around to face him, her eyes growing wide.

"Hi, Loki." A soft but forced smile came to her lips as she waved gently. "Do you.... erm, need something?"

"I do." Loki nodded his head. "I need to talk to you."

"Me?" Her eyebrows rose and her heart began to race in her chest. "Why? I-I didn't think you'd want to talk to me."

"I'm not good at conveying my emotions. It's not a specialty of mine." He came to a stop a few feet away from her left. "I thought what I wanted was to be away from you."

Delaney listened carefully to him but he didn't say anything afterwards. He just stared ahead, his jaw locked and his eyes shifting every now and again to something else.

"Is there a but somewhere in there?" She asked him. He looked to her out of the corner of his eyes and hesitantly nodded. The corners of Delaney's lips turned up into an honest smile. "What are you trying to say, Loki?"

He let out what sounded like an irritated sigh.

"I was.... hesitant to get too close to you, to anyone really, but a Midgardian woman no less."

Delaney wasn't sure if that was suppose to be offensive but she let it slide.

"You didn't—and don't—hold my past against me. You treat me like an ally rather than an enemy. Even my brother has difficulty doing that at times."

"Everyone can change." She reminded him quietly. "It'd be hypocritical if I judged anyone on their past. But.... you were really harsh the other day, Loki."

"I know, and I apologize."

"That.... I mean, it hurt a lot." Her voice became quieter as she looked away from him. "I-I've been beating myself up over the whole situation and you didn't even.... your words were so cold and you sounded so honest."

"The last time I trusted anyone the way.... the way I think I trust you, I lost a lot. But that doesn't excuse my harsh choice of words."

Delaney nodded her head, her eyes flickering over to meet his. The god of mischief was watching her closely. She couldn't help but smile and look down.

"I'm really happy you decided to talk to me."

Loki returned the smile and nodded his head.

"Me too."

•*•*•

A knock on the door to her office went unnoticed by Delaney. She sat on the floor by her desk, her knees curled up alongside herself as she read through papers and papers of her background that she had never touched.

Loki teleported through the door, anxious to check on her. Delaney was suppose to be in her office and she didn't answer him. He feared that she was hurt and took matters into his own hands. However, once the door was open and he could see the mortal woman, his worries dissipated.