The Sound of Silence

Chapter 46

That evening you found yourself walking into the conference hall with your hand on Loki's arm. You were wearing a knee length sleeveless dress that would fit much more with the after party than it did with the press conference you had to attend. You had a demure sweater over it for the press conference itself. Nat insisted it looked professional.

You clutched onto Loki's arm as he helped you climb up onto the stage. It wasn't that you needed the help. He was just gallant like that. Just like last time, Cap made the announcements. You just had to look small, innocent, and at least relatively defenseless. Cap made a simple announcement that you were stepping down from active duty on the Avengers, that you were still a valued member of the team and always would be, but without your powers it was best if you stepped down. He also made sure to mention that you were married to Loki. He went on to discuss other goings on on the team and refused to answer any questions on how or why you lost your powers.

You were relieved when you didn't have to answer any questions and could get off the stage. You stayed close to Loki's side, intimidated by appearing in front of that many people. Loki wasn't pleased about announcing your lack of powers in front of all of these people either, though he was pleased you were announced as his wife. His claim was confirmed in front of the entire world and it gave you a large amount of safety. No one with any amount of sanity wanted to make Loki their enemy. Messing with his wife was the fastest way to make him their enemy.

You danced with him at the party afterwards. You twirled with him across the dance floor, delight in your eyes. Your demure little sweater was long abandoned. Loki stayed by your side and you weren't self conscious about your scars when he was with you. He loved you despite them and despite what had been done to you.

*

The next day you drove yourself and Loki to your mom's house, dreading the trip the entire way. "She can't do anything to you, love," he reminded you multiple times on the short drive. You just sighed heavily in reply. You couldn't sign while you drove. "You're a princess, a lady of Asgard, a witch in training, of legal age on Midgard, and a member of the Avengers. You're also my wife. There is nothing she can do to you. She cannot force you to live with her. She cannot force you to do anything you do not wish to. I know she means well for your safety, but she does not know what is best for you. Only you do,"

You gave him a small smile and nodded. You soon pulled up in front of your mom's house. You took a heavy breath before you would get out of the car. Loki didn't pressure you to move faster either. You made your way up to the front door and grinned when Sammi came running out of the house. Everything would be ok with Sammi here as a buffer. She nearly tackled you with her hug and you held her too tightly. Too many things had happened since you saw her last.

"Y/N, I've missed you!" she exclaimed. She spared Loki a glance. "Husband," she greeted him with a smirk before she returned her attention to you. You grinned at how Sammi never changed, no matter what else had happened.

"Lady Sammi," Loki replied with a smirk, earning himself a tongue stuck out at him, which made you all laugh. Still laughing, the three of you made your way into the house and that single moment was absolutely perfect.

Your mom was just inside the house waiting for you. Her glare of displeasure softened marginally when she saw how happy the three of you were, but she stiffened again. "I would speak to my daughter alone," she tells your companions. You touched them both on the arm to reassure them and went to speak with your mom. "You went off and got married?" she demanded.

You nodded. [I love Loki. I would have married him eventually regardless] you signed quickly. [We would have DIED] you snapped when she looked like she was going to argue. [Marrying the man I love wasn't even a price to pay for our lives]

"They were supposed to teach you to use your powers, not get you nearly killed," your mom protested about the team in general.

[They did] you protested [None of what happened was their fault and without their help I'd be on The Raft still or dead] you reminded her. She opened her mouth to protest more. [Mom, please. Please accept that I'm happy. I'm happier than I've ever been. I love Loki. I love the team. I don't care that I don't have my powers. They sucked anyway. I'm happy, mom] you told her firmly.

She wanted to argue more, but she had no leverage and she knew it. You weren't the helpless 17 year old kid who had been taken from her anymore. You'd grown in the last two years. Torture does that. But more importantly, so does love. And you finally convinced her that you were happy with Loki, that the decisions you'd had to make had been difficult, but you were happy with how everything had turned out in the end. You'd never wanted your powers and you were glad to be rid of them. They'd caused you almost nothing but trouble.

Your mom was definitely not one of the people you trusted with the secret of the procedure. It would kill her to know and she couldn't handle keeping the secret.

*

Things went back to normal at the tower, at least as normal as life with the Avengers ever got. You got your GED, refusing to go back to high school, and got a job at Stark Industries, starting as a lowly assistant, a grunt to whoever needed help. You didn't care. It was good work and paid decently. Also, it was Stark Industries, so your scars and signing were just accepted as a point of fact.

Loki continued his work with the Avengers. It hurt when missions kept him away overnight, but you loved every moment you got to spend with him.

You made trips back to Asgard once things had calmed down. Odin was displeased with you both, but he was always displeased with Loki. Frigga was glad to see you and said in whispers how proud she was that you'd both gotten free from Odin's orders. She said she was sad your powers were gone, but she quietly helped Loki teach you to use your new magic.

Your powers grew as you worked and studied. You'd never be as strong as Loki, but you had enough power for everyday things, and that was plenty for you.

The secret you held always stayed in the back of your mind, though. You knew it was dangerous, but you couldn't just forget about it either. You prayed that it would never come to light.

As per usual, your prayers went unanswered.